With nine days to stew after its only loss of the 2011 season, the Washington University women’s volleyball team made sure to end its regular season on a high note. The No. 3 Bears took the 2011 Halloween Classic, sweeping all four teams it faced—Concordia University and No. 4 Eastern University on Friday, and Hanover College and College of Mount St.

While the members of the Washington University women’s volleyball team have their eyes set on another national championship, they’re not the only volleyball players on campus who have high hopes for their future.

Records have started to fall for the Washington University women’s volleyball squad as it keeps going on its impressive run to begin the 2011 season. The No. 2 Bears went to Colorado Springs, Colo., and swept all four teams in the Molten Colorado College Invitational, including a win against longtime rival No. 9 Juniata College on Friday night.

Facing a 16-20 deficit in the second set against No. 6 Christopher Newport University (CNU), Washington University women’s volleyball head coach Rich Luenemann called a timeout and asked his team for some focus. From there, the Bears took over the match and ended the set the way they ended every set of the weekend—with a victory.

Every team in college sports wants to win a national championship. But the Washington University women’s volleyball team is one of the few that would actually consider anything else a disappointment. Coming off of a heartbreaking national semifinal loss to Emory University last year at the Wash. U.

Choosing this year’s best female athlete was tough, especially with all of Wash. U.’s All-American volleyball players and last season’s national championship basketball team. But with her consistent statistical NCAA dominance, volleyball superstar Marilee Fisher gets our nod.

The Washington University women’s volleyball team defeated New York University 3-0 on Friday night in the Wash. U. Field House to advance to the semifinals of the Division III NCAA Volleyball Championship against No. 1. Emory University.

While the Washington University women’s volleyball team has been a fixture in the NCAA Division III Volleyball Championship for years, this year marks the first time since 1992 that the final rounds of the playoffs will be held at the Wash. U. Field House.
As part of the NCAA Championship City pilot program, created to help cities provide a more enjoyable championship experience for both student-athletes and fans, Wash. U. will partner with neighbor Fontbonne University and the St. Louis Sports Commission to host the finals this year, as well as in 2011.

ack home, with no major injuries, and No. 1 in the country once again, the Washington University women’s volleyball team ended the regular season by sweeping the Washington University Invitational. The Bears recorded 3-0 wins over Culver-Stockton College and Dominican University on Friday, followed by a 3-1 win over Millsaps College and a 3-0 win over Hanover College on Saturday.

Head coach Rich Luenemann, of the top-ranked Washington University women’s volleyball team, calls sophomore Kelly Pang the best libero in all of Division III volleyball. Those who watch her play are hard-pressed to disagree. But even with Pang out because of a knee injury, the Bears didn’t seem to be missing a step this past weekend at the Bears Classic.