Lahr Named Team MVP - Hamlin Defensive Player of the Year
Nov. 30, 2007
Abby Lahr (Manchester, Iowa/West Delaware) has been named the 2007 Most Valuable Player.The honor was announced at the volleyball post-season awards banquet held Nov. 27, in the Noble Room located on the Luther campus. This is the second time in as many years Lahr has been so honored.
Lahr had her best year in a Norse uniform and was selected by the coaches of the Iowa Conference as a second team all-conference performer. She led the Norse with 438 kills, averaging 3.81 per game. She also led the squad with an attack percentage of .242, and ranked third for both ace serves (22) and digs (324).
She completed her career ranked second all-time with 1,337 kills, while her career mark of 788 digs ranks fifth all-time. The remainder of her career totals included an attack percentage of .234, 32 assists, 60 ace serves, 33 block solos and 95 block assists.
Four other team awards were also presented. Grayce Hamlin (Spring Valley, Minn./Kingsland) was named the Defensive Player of the Year; Lauren Boleen (Monticello, Minn.) and Molly Morrissey (St. Paul, Minn./Cretin-Derham Hall) shared Rookie of the Year honors; Emily Ellson (St. Charles, Minn.) was named Most Improved; and Gretchen Schwanz (Inver Grove Heights, Minn./Simley) was presented the Norse Award.
Hamlin, who was an honorable mention all-Iowa Conference performer as a libero, set Luther’s single season digs record for libero's with 576. During her two years, she has recorded 881 digs that ranks second all-time for this position. She was also credited with 13 assists and 31 ace serves (second best on the team).
Boleen played in 102 games at outside hitter, while Morrissey played in 117 games as the Norse setter. Boleen produced 103 kills, 45 assists, 76 digs and 40 total blocks. Morrissey dished out a team high 709 assists, averaging 6.06 per game. She also led the team in ace serves with 59. She ranked fifth for digs with 158.
Ellson saw the majority of her time on the junior varsity but did see action in 19 varsity games. During her time on the varsity court, she was credited with 14 kills, 10 blocks and one ace serve.
The Norse Award is an annual award presented to the player who is considered by her teammates and coaches as the individual who provides the most team spirit and leadership throughout the year. Because of these attributes, Schwanz was also selected as a co-captain for the 2008 season and will serve in this role along with Heather Hoffman (Northfield, Minn.).
Four-year letter awards were presented to Lahr and Leah Sikora (North St. Paul, Minn./North). Three-year letter winners were Ally Czechowicz (Madison, Wis./East) and Chandra Skinner (Ankeny, Iowa). Second-year letter winners were Hoffman, Hamlin, Tiffany Kruse (Greeley, Iowa/Edgewood-Colesburg) and Amanda Lincoln (Colesburg, Iowa/Edgewood-Colesburg). First-year letter winners were Boleen, Morrissey, Amanda Eckhardt (Blue Earth, Minn) and Anna Simonson (Galesville, Wis./Gale-Ettrick-Trempealeau).
Under first year Head Coach Jane Gibbs, the Norse took a major step in the win-loss column. After posting a total of 19 wins the three previous seasons, Luther finished the 2007 campaign with a mark of 15-15.
