2000 Division III New England Volleyball Regional Hosted by Wellesley College
Amherst College	Bates College	Bridgewater State
Gordon College	Johnson & Wales	Wellesley College

2000 NCAA Division III Women's Volleyball New England Regional Tournament Schedule
	(1) Wellesley
(4) Gordon College	Fri., Nov. 10 - 7:30 p.m.	Wellesley W 3-1 (15-6, 15-5, 14-16, 15-13)
Thurs., Nov. 9 - 5:00 p.m.	Gordon College W 3-0 (15-2, 15-3, 15-12)
(5) Johnson & Wales
(11/9) PRESS RELEASE	(11/10) PRESS RELEASE	Sat., Nov. 11 - 7 p.m.	Wellesley W 3-0 (15-11, 15-7, 15-4)
			New England Regional Winner
(3) Bates College			(11/11) PRESS RELEASE
Thurs., Nov. 9 - 7:30 p.m.	Bates College (15-9, 15-17, 15-6, 15-8)
(6) Bridgewater State	Fri., Nov. 10 - 5:00 p.m.	Bates College W 3-2 (15-12, 8-15, 1-15, 15-12, 15-13)
	(2) Amherst College

Amherst College

After a dominating regular season, the Amherst volleyball team - conference champions in 1999 after an incredible three-match, nine-game sweep of the league tournament - rolled through the 2000 championship. The Firedogs piled up four-game wins over Tufts University in the quarterfinals, Trinity College in the semifinals, and Bates College - the team they defeated in the 1999 championship - in the finals en route to the NESCAC title. With the three wins, Head Coach Sue Everden's Firedogs improved to 27-4 on the season, heading into their third-consecutive NCAA Tournament. Two-time first-team All-NESCAC junior setter Meredith DeMeules, a two-time conference player of the week, leads the Amherst attack with 1,017 (9.25/gam.) assists to go along with a team-high 270 digs and 136 kills. Her chief accomplice is classmate and second-team All-NESCAC outside hitter Erica Hewes, who paces the Firedogs with 408 kills (3.71/gm.), while freshman Lauren Wong is a threat at the net with a team-high 136 blocks (1.39/gm.). Meanwhile, senior Co-captain outside hitters Liza Abeles and Carrie Snyder provide a solid tandem up front and serve as the Firedogs inspirational leaders.

Bates College

The Bates College volleyball team has earned an at-large berth in the NCAA Division III Championship tournament following Saturday's second-place finish in the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) tournament. Under first-year head coach Jen Bowman, the Bobcats (29-8) are making their second appearance in the NCAA Championships and their first since 1993. This is Bates' third-straight appearance in the post-season. The Bobcats won the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Division III North title in 1998 and 1999. Bowman is making her second trip to the NCAAs, having coached Frostburg State College to its first tournament appearance last year. On the court, Bates is led by three All-NESCAC selections. Senior setter Kate Hagstrom of Portola, Calif., is a four-time first-team All-NESCAC selection, having been named conference Rookie of the Year in 1997 and Player of the Year in 1999. Hagstrom is Bates' career leader with 461 service aces, currently third on the all-time NCAA Division III list. She was also named the 2000 Maine Player of the Year. Junior outside hitter Lauren Fennessey of Joplin, Mo., was named the 2000 NESCAC Defensive Player of the Year, the first time that award has been presented. A second-team All-NESCAC selection, Fennessey averaged 3.20 digs and 3.17 kills per game, making her one of two players among the top 10 in the conference in both categories. First-year outside hitter Liz Wanless of Belleville, Ill., earned first-team All NESCAC honors and was selected as conference Rookie of the Year. She led the conference with 4.15 kills per game and had a .321 hitting percentage. Head coach Jen Bowman recorded her 100th career win in first round of NESCAC tournament against Wesleyan this year.

Bridgewater State College

The Bridgewater State College volleyball team (21-16) is making its second consecutive appearance in the NCAA Championships. The Bears won the Massachusetts State College Athletic Conference championship for the sixth consecutive season under coach Ken Duarte (7 years, 135-126). BSC has gone six straight years without losing a MASCAC match during the regular season. The MASCAC has had an automatic bid into the NCAA championships the last two years. The 2000 Volleyball Bears are led by junior hitter Jenn Cedrone who was named the MASCAC "Player of the Year" and senior hitter Stephanie Brown who is a four-time MASCAC all conference first team selection. Also earning MASACAC honors this season is junior setter Shawna O'Neill who was named to the second team. Cedrone led the team in kills (366), with Brown (284) and Kristin Propokas (268) right behind. Setter Marcie Polopek led the team in service aces with 69. Bridgewater will be looking for its first victory in the NCAAs after losing their opening round match last year to W. Connecticut State (3-0).

Gordon College

Enroute to the 2000 NCAA Tournament, Gordon College went 27-7 with wins over ranked opponents including Bates, MIT and Tufts. After tailing off at 6-6 midseason, the Scots established a school record 11 match win streak on their way to winning 20 of their last 21 matches. The team entered the final week of the season ranked #10 in New England. To secure an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament, Gordon won the Commonwealth Coast Conference Championship by defeating Colby-Sawyer College 3-1 (15-6,15-8,1-15,15-11). The team was a perfect 10-0 in the conference, 8-0 in the regular season and 2-0 in post-season play. The Scots were also flawless at home posting a 10-0 record, as well. The team is making its first ever NCAA post-season tournament appearance. Five Gordon players were recognized by the Commonwealth Coast Conferences coaches&endash;Rookie of the year: Lauren Barnes; First team All-Conference: Lori Clemens and Sara-Britt Johnson; Second team All-Conference: Kim Bohannon; and Honorable Mention: Stephanie Parker. Coached by Valerie Gin, Gordon begins the NCAA Tournament with the most wins during Gin's 12 seasons at 27. Coach Gin has a career mark of 260-188.

Johnson & Wales University

Faced with its most challenging schedule in its short, six-year history, the Johnson & Wales volleyball team set its sights high, took on the best that New England has to offer, and then used all of that valuable experience to capture a second consecutive Great Northeast Athletic Conference title. The Wildcats, 17-18 overall and 17-14 in regional play heading into the NCAA New England tournament, roared through the GNAC, and won the regular-season crown with a 9-1 record. JWU then eliminated Daniel Webster, Western New England, and St. Joseph College for the conference's championship. Two-time GNAC Coach of the Year Jamie Murray has several members of last year's NCAA qualifier back for this year's event. Sophomores Shana Eigen and Meredyth Merrill were named to the All-GNAC first team, and the team's only senior, Jen Litwin, was named to the all-conference second team. The Wildcats also boast the GNAC's Rookie of the Year, freshman hitter Sarah Haslem, who had 16 kills in the conference championship match against St. Joseph College.

Wellesley College

Wellesley College was one of eight sites selected to host the NCAA Division III Women's Volleyball Regional Round. The winner of the New England regional will advance to the Quarterfinal Round against the South region on November 18th at a site to be determined. Wellesley College emerged as the top New England seed with a 27-6 overall record and will receive a first-round bye. Wellesley has been ranked #1 in New England for the entire season and most recently #18 in the Nation. Wellesley's win over Springfield in Saturday's New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) Tournament Finals earned the team an automatic bid to its fourth straight NCAA Championship. Wellesley has hosted the Regional Tournament for the past four years. Wellesley's 1999 and 1997 team advanced to the NCAA Quarterfinal Round while the 1998 team advanced to the NCAA Final Four placing third in the country. Junior Mia Narell, a NEWMAC All-Conference selection, leads the Blue in kills and digs with 318 and 282, respectively. Junior Alice Yi, also named NEWMAC All-Conference, leads Wellesley with a .320 hitting percentage and 111 blocks. First Year Jennifer Pollakusky was named NEWMAC Rookie of the Year for her stellar performance this year. Head Coach Dorothy Webb, now in her eighth season, has compiled a 213-58 record. Webb, the second-winningest-active coach in the NCAA Division III, earned her 200th win on September 30th against the Savannah College of Art and Design.