11/19/2003 - Women's Volleyball
Three Mids Receive Postseason All-League Honors in Volleyball
The Navy volleyball team saw a trio of Midshipmen receive postseason accolades from the Patriot League, it was announced today by the league office. Junior outside hitter Ashley Van Hartesvelt (Breckenridge, Colo.) and sophomore setter and outside hitter Ashley Musser (Industry, Pa.) were each named to the league's second team, while freshman middle blocker Beth McArthur (Roseville, Minn.) was named the Patriot League Freshman of the Year in voting conducted by the league's coaches.
This marks the seventh time in the last-eight seasons Navy has placed a player onto an all-league team, as well as the sixth time in that span at least two players have been named to the postseason squad. McArthur also becomes the fifth Mid and the third in the last-eight years to be tabbed as the league's freshman or rookie of the year.
"This recognition is a great way for not only these three individuals to end their season, but also our entire team which had a hand in Ashley, Ashley and Beth receiving these honors," said Navy head coach Mike Schwob. "I think this will motivate everyone to work hard during the spring and summer and be ready for the start of the 2004 season.
"The Patriot League is becoming more competitive each year, as is the competition for these awards. We are very excited and proud to have our program recognized by the league in this way."
Van Hartesvelt, who was named the league's co-rookie of the year and garnered Second-Team All-Patriot League honors in 2001, averaged 3.99 kills and 2.30 digs per game on the season. Despite missing four matches in September due to a back injury, she totaled 355 kills and 205 digs this year. Van Hartesvelt stepped up her play once the Patriot League season rolled around, averaging 4.36 kills and 2.98 digs per game in league matches, as well as 5.00 kills and 3.06 digs per game over the final-11 league matches of the year. She totaled 10 double-doubles on the season and put together back-to-back matches of 20+ kills and 20+ digs in October. Her 32 kills in Navy's five-game victory at Lehigh Oct. 24 marked the most by a Mid in eight seasons.
She also recorded her 1,000th-career kill this year, becoming just the fourth Mid to reach the mark since Navy moved to the Division I level in 1991, as well as only the second junior to achieve the feat.
"Ashley really raised her game at the start of the league season," said Schwob. "She was our go-to person all year and, even with every opponent knowing that and gearing their defense to stop her, she still consistently put the ball down. In addition to being a great attacker in the front row, she was a great six-rotation player who excelled at hitting out of the back row and at playing defense.
"I am very much looking forward to watching her continue to improve and raise the level of her game in the offseason, and then be able to watch her next fall."
Musser excelled this season while playing two different positions throughout the year. A six-rotation player all season, Musser served as an outside hitter while in the front row and as the team's setter while in the back row. The only Mid to play in all 100 games for Navy this year, Musser averaged 2.10 kills, 5.24 assists and 1.56 digs this season. In league matches alone she averaged 2.29 kills, 5.72 assists and 1.72 digs. Musser led the Patriot League in service aces per game with a 0.70 mark in league matches, as well as with a 0.67 ace-per-game average on the entire season. Her season ace average also ranks ninth nationally.
She knocked down 10 or more kills in nine matches, while hauling in 10 or more digs four times. Musser totaled a triple-double of 15 kills, 21 assists and 11 digs Oct. 4 at Holy Cross.
"Ashley did whatever was asked of her to best run our offense," said Schwob. "She more than managed at the very difficult challenge of playing a front row attacker and a back row setter. I was also very pleased at how well she handled all of the on-court responsibility we passed on to her."
McArthur led Navy and ranked fourth in the Patriot League with a .260 hitting percentage this year, the lone freshman in the league to rank in the top 10 in that statistic. She also ranked second on the Navy squad in aces (0.45) and blocks (0.78) per game, as well as third in digs (2.61).
The Patriot League Rookie of the Week for Oct. 20, McArthur totaled 10 or more kills in eight matches and 10 or more digs six times, setting season highs with 13 kills and 19 digs Oct. 25 at Lafayette. McArthur had a hitting percentage of over .300 in 10 matches during the campaign, and began the season by totaling 22 kills and zero errors in 33 attempts (.667) in her first-two collegiate matches.
"I think we have only begun to scratch the surface of Beth's potential," said Schwob. "She is extremely athletic and valuable to us in every position on the floor. She played in 96 of our 100 games this year, so she received a lot of experience. Now, with the experience of a season under her belt, I expect her to catch fire next season."
2003 Patriot League Volleyball All-League Team
First Team
Player, School Cl. Pos. Hometown/High School Previous PL Honors
Karla Kucerkova, American Sr. OH Olomouc, Czech Republic/Brno '02: POY, 1st; '01: POY, 1st
Cutrina Biddulph, American So. MB Reseda, Calif./Granada Hills '02: ROY, 2nd
Sabrina Vasconselos, American Jr. S Fortalezza, Brazil/Colegio Christus '01: Co-ROY, 1st
Sara Fields, Army Sr. OH Bloomington, Ind./Bloomington North
Jackie Leahy, Bucknell Jr. OH Plainview, N.Y./St. Anthony's
Brandi Trapasso, Bucknell Sr. OH North Tonawanda, N.Y./North Tonawanda '02: 2nd; '00: DPOY, ROY
Michelle Schwendenmann, Leh. Fr. OH Cincinnati, Ohio/Seton
Jeannette Singleton, Lehigh Sr. OH Claremont, Calif./Claremont '02: 1st
Second Team *
Player, School Cl. Pos. Hometown/High School Previous PL Honors
Natacha Cornaz, American Jr. MB Lausanne, Switzerland/Gymnase Auguste Piccard '02: Tourn. MVP
Courtney Mulford, American Jr. S San Diego, Calif./La Costa Canyon '02: 2nd
Abby Casciato, Army So. S Lake Worth, Fla./Lake Worth Community
Chelsea Anderson, Bucknell So. L Rancho Santa Fe, Calif./Torrey Pines
Breean Trapasso, Bucknell Sr. S North Tonawanda, N.Y./North Tonawanda
Caitlin Agostinacchio, Holy Cr. Jr. OH Bellmore, N.Y./Kellenberg Memorial
Ashley Musser, Navy So. S/OH Industry, Pa./West Beaver
Ashley Van Hartesvelt, Navy Jr. OH Breckenridge, Colo./Fountain Valley '01: Co-ROY, 2nd
Player of the Year: Karla Kucerkova, American, Sr., OH (Olomouc, Czech Republic/Brno) (third award; also in 2002, 2001)
Freshman of the Year: Beth McArthur, Navy, Fr., MB (Roseville, Minn./Concordia Academy)
Coach of the Year: Cindy Opalski, Bucknell (third award; also in 1995, 2000)
