By Jared Fields, Sports Editor
At the end of the 2004 season, Amanda Slate asked head coach Brek Horn what it would take to be an all-American.
“You get your team to the national tournament and get some national recognition, that’s what will make the difference,” Horn and staff said to Slate.
A year later, the Wildcats just finished making their farthest NCAA Division II tournament run in team history and ranked No. 11 in the nation. The team received national recognition, and so did Slate.
Slate, and fellow seniors Lindsey Martin and Michelle Bernhardt have earned all-American honors from the American Volleyball Coaches’ Association.
This is the first year that any Wildcat player has been named all-American by the AVCA, and three of this year’s players received recognition after finishing the year with a 31-4 record and a trip to the NCAA regional final match.
Slate earned 2nd team honors at middle blocker, and Martin received 3rd team recognition at setter. Outside hitter Bernhardt received honorable mention.
“When it gets to that point, it’s based on numbers,” Horn said. “If they knew each of the girls and their work ethic, personality and the kind of human beings they are, then they’d all be first team.”
When Horn called to tell Martin she made third team, Martin said she couldn’t believe it.
“My mom said I were like, ‘shut up, no way!'” Martin said. “I just had no clue, and it was definitely the most exciting individual thing for me.”
Placing three players on the all-American list does more than just highlight the players.
“It’s just another thing that adds to the standard that’s been set for everyone else,” Martin said about what the award means for other players. “It’s going to keep coming with the years to come.”
Horn said the awards help the team in recruiting wars as well.
“We can say that we have three all-Americans,” Horn said. “It also gives my returning players goals to work toward.”
Horn said her players get to see such a high level of work every day.
“Before, I hadn’t had any all-Americans on our team, and so it’s just always this ‘thing’ out there,” Horn said.
Horn said the awards are special.
“I’m proud of them and proud of the fact that I get to be a part of it,” Horn said. “They get to say, ‘I’m an all-American,’ and not many people get to do that.”
The next thing Horn wants to do is advance to the Elite Eight.
“Our next goal is to go to the national tournament,” Horn said. “We don’t want to have a dip in our progress because we’re losing four players.”
With the success of this season and the post-season accolades, Horn said her returning players are most interested in next season.
“I don’t think anybody’s satisfied,” Horn said. “We’ve sat around and talked about how well we did this year, but mainly what we’ve talked about is what we’re doing this spring and summer to get to that point next year.”
