Nowacki named coach of the year

~ Southeast's volleyball coach earned the OVC's top honor.

The Southeast Missouri State volleyball team tied for the Ohio Valley Conference regular-season title despite being picked to finish sixth entering the year.

By virtue of being the OVC's biggest surprise, Southeast's Renata Nowacki was named the conference's coach of the year Wednesday.

Nowacki, in her third season as Southeast's coach after previously serving as an assistant, led the Redhawks to their first OVC title since 2000.

"It's an honor," Nowacki said.

Nowacki credited her players for helping lead a stretch run that saw the Redhawks win 12 of their final 13 matches. Last year, Southeast tied for sixth in the OVC.

"I told the players it's a team award. If they didn't play as good as they did, I wouldn't have won the award," Nowacki said. "I don't think it should be coach of the year, it should be team of the year."

The all-OVC teams and special awards, voted on by the league's coaches and sports information directors, were announced on the eve of the conference tournament.

In addition to Nowacki winning coach of the year, Southeast's Karleigh DeLong was named to the all-OVC first team, while Aubrey Dondlinger was named to the league's all-newcomer squad.

DeLong, a sophomore outside hitter, ranks sixth in the league in kills per game and fourth in points per game. She leads the Redhawks in kills with 415, points with 494.5 and service aces with 31, while ranking second in blocks (84) and third in digs (369).

"I was really excited to hear that," DeLong said. "I'm really honored that the coaches recognized me, but I also credit my teammates."

Dondlinger, a junior college transfer outside hitter, is second on the squad in kills with 398 and points with 448.5. She also ranks third in digs (343) and second in aces (27).

"I'm happy for Karleigh and Aubrey," Nowacki said. "They have worked really hard."

Now the Redhawks will set their sights on winning the OVC tournament that begins today in Jacksonville, Ala.

Despite being one of three squads to share the league's regular-season title, Southeast (20-11) is the No. 3 seed for the six-team tournament.

Southeast plays No. 6 Tennessee Tech (17-14) at 4:30 p.m. today, followed by No. 4 Tennessee State (17-13) vs. No. 5 Murray State (16-14) at 7 p.m.

The other OVC tri-champions, host Jacksonville State (18-9) and Morehead State (21-11), received byes into Friday's semifinals.

Top-seeded and defending champion Jacksonville State will play the Tennessee State-Murray State winner at 7 p.m., after No. 2 Morehead State faces the Southeast-Tennessee Tech winner at 4:30 p.m.

The championship match is set for 2 p.m. Saturday. The tournament champion earns an automatic NCAA tournament berth.

"I feel good about us going into the tournament, but it's tough from the No. 3 seed, having to win three matches," Nowacki said.

Southeast beat today's opponent, Tennessee Tech, in both meetings this season.

As for their fellow tri-champs, the Redhawks swept Jacksonville State but lost twice to Morehead State.

"It's pretty wide open," Nowacki said. "We're just taking it one match at a time."

Breit honored again

Jacksonville State senior outside hitter Abbey Breit was voted OVC player of the year for the third straight season. She is the first volleyball player in league history to achieve that feat.

Breit leads the conference in kills per game and points per game. She is fourth on the OVC's all-time kills list with 1,881.