Nov. 6, 2006

VOLLEYBALL: Conference Gives Top Awards to McGinn, Aoki

Kati McGinn - Conference MVP

Kati McGinn (Puyallup, Wash. / Puyallup HS), Pacific Lutheran’s only senior, was named the Northwest Conference Player of the Year in a vote of the conference coaches. The coaches selected Kevin Aoki, in his 11th year as the Lutes’ head coach, as the Northwest Conference Coach of the Year.

Gina Di Maggio - NWC First Team Selection

McGinn is joined on the All-Northwest Conference first team by junior setter Gina Di Maggio (Olympia, Wash. / Tumwater HS). Junior libero Megan Kosel (Puyallup, Wash. / Puyallup HS) and junior outside hitter Stacie Matz (Tacoma, Wash. / Wilson HS, Western Oregon University) earned honorable mention recognition.

McGinn had an outstanding season in leading Pacific Lutheran to a 20-6 overall record, a Northwest Conference co-championship, and a berth in the NCAA Division III national tournament. The middle blocker led the Lutes in kills (387), attack attempts (1,145), service aces (41), and blocks (87). She also finished second on the team in kills per game (4.03) and third in digs per game (3.52). Last season, McGinn earned second team All-Northwest Conference honors.

Aoki has led Pacific Lutheran to Northwest Conference championships in 1999 and 2004 and to the co-championship with Linfield this season. He has posted a 179-105 record in his 11 seasons as head coach of his alma mater's volleyball program. He previously won NWC Coach of the Year honors in 1999 and 2004.

Di Maggio led a PLU offense that posted a .177 hitting percentage. She averaged 10.99 assists per game and compiled 50 total blocks, an average of 0.54 per game. Di Maggio earned second team all-conference honors during both her freshmen and sophomore seasons.

Kosel averaged 5.58 digs per game and anchored a Pacific Lutheran back row that averaged more than 20 digs per game. Matz led the Lutes in kills per game (4.07) and finished second on the team in total kills (374), attack attempts (1,106) and digs per game (3.98).

Pacific Lutheran plays the University of Redlands at 6 p.m. Thursday in the opening round of the NCAA Division III national volleyball tournament. The University of La Verne in La Verne, Calif., is hosting the West Region tournament, one of eight regional events being staged across the country. The single-elimination regional tournament continues on Friday and concludes on Saturday.

- PLU -