PLU Volleyball Finishes 20th in National Poll

Pacific Lutheran ended up in the No. 20 spot in the final American Volleyball Coaches Association Division III Coaches Top 25 Poll released today. PLU had been ranked No. 17 in the last regular season poll released on Nov. 10.

The Lutes finished the 2009 season with a 20-7 overall record, the fourth consecutive season in which PLU has won at least 20 matches. The 2009 Lutes went unbeaten in 16 Northwest Conference matches to win the program's fourth straight NWC title and its fifth in the last six years. PLU made its sixth NCAA Division III postseason appearance, losing in the first round to eventual West Region finalist University of La Verne.

Junior outside hitter Beth Hanna (Clackamas, Ore. / Clackamas HS) earned AVCA All-America honors for the third straight season, this year receiving third team recognition for the second consecutive time. Additionally, senior middle blocker Kelcy Joynt (Wasilla, Alaska / Colony HS) and junior setter Sarah Beaver (Gresham, Ore. / Gresham HS) were named to the All-America honorable mention list.

At the conference level, Joynt earned NWC Player of the Year honors, and she was selected to the All-NWC first team along with Hanna and Beaver. Sophomore outside hitter Kelsie Moore (Oregon City, Ore. / Oregon City HS) was an all-conference second team choice.

- PLU -