WALLA WALLA, Wash. -- Mandy Rockwell, a Whitman College junior and 1995
graduate of Selah (Wash.) High School, has earned first-team all-conference honors in
women's volleyball in the Northwest Conference of Independent Colleges (NCIC).Rockwell, a 5-foot-6 outside hitter, led the NCIC in both kills per game (3.8) and digs per game (5.23). Her digs per game average also led the nation for NAIA schools, according to a final regular season statistical report (Nov. 12) from the American Volleyball Coaches Association.
"Mandy had a tremendous season," Whitman coach Dean Snider said. "She was a unanimous first-team selection, and she deserves the honor as much as anyone in the conference."
Three of Rockwell's teammates earned honorable mention all-conference recognition. They are sophomore Barby Ream, a 6-foot-1 middle blocker and 1996 graduate of Garfield High School in Seattle, Wash.; freshman Heather Cushing, a 5-foot-6 setter and 1997 graduate of Davis High School in Yakima, Wash.; and junior Ashleigh Cross, a 5-foot-10 outside hitter and 1994 graduate of University High School in Irvine, Calif.
Whitman enjoyed its most successful season in years, posting a 15-11 season record
and 9-7 mark in the NCIC. The Missionaries finished in a fourth-place tie with Linfield
College for the final conference playoff berth. Linfield advanced into the playoffs based on a
tie-breaker formula.
"It always leaves a sour taste in your mouth when you miss the playoffs on a tie- breaker, but I'm very pleased with the season we had," Snider said. "We did a solid job all season, and we nearly doubled our number of victories from the previous year. We performed well all season, even in the matches we did not win."
As a team, the Missionaries averaged 22.5 digs and 2.33 service aces per game. Both figures led the conference. Whitman also averaged 13.35 kills per game, the second-highest figure in the league.
"Another point I always stress is that the importance of having fun while we compete, and I think this team bought into that," Snider added. "I think we had fun this season."
Playing in 101 of Whitman's 103 games this fall, Rockwell amassed career-high and team-leading totals in digs (528), kills (384) and service aces (58). She has led Whitman in digs and kills in each of her three collegiate seasons.
"Part of Mandy's strength is that she is a very intelligent player," Snider said. "She is a very strong hitter, but she also sees holes in the defense and punches the ball through those holes. She isn't limited to just blasting the ball back over the net."
On two occasions this fall, Rockwell surpassed 30 kills in a single match. She nailed 34 kills and collected 23 digs, four service aces and three blocks in a five-game victory over Whitworth College, and had 31 kills and 28 digs in a four-game victory over Eastern Oregon State University.
"Mandy is our captain and the heart and soul of our team," Snider said. "When she is on the floor, she's the catalyst that creates confidence for us. She's a quiet leader, but the other players follow her lead."
Rockwell, a biology major at Whitman, is the daughter of Connie and Bruce Rockwell of Selah, Wash.
Snider said Rockwell's league-leading total in kills is attributable in part to Cushing, who led the conference in total number of assists with 1,074, or 10.4 assists per game for 103 games. Cushing, the daughter of Sharon and Robin Cushing of Yakima, Wash., was the only setter in conference to top 1,000 assists for the season.
"Heather did a great job as a freshman," Snider said. "She was steady as a rock all season. Mandy gets a lot of credit for leading the conference in kills, but Heather gave her the sets in a hitable position."
Ream, the daughter of Edithann and David Ream of Seattle, Wash., was among the conference leaders in blocks, finishing with team-high totals in solo blocks (63) and block assists (59) in 92 games. She also was fourth on the team in digs with 303 and kills with 199.
"With Barby's height, you would expect her to play well at the net, both blocking and attacking, and she improved in both areas this season," Snider said. "What makes her really outstanding is that she also plays super defense for us. She reads the ball very well in the back row, and her digging and passing skills are very good."
Cross, who earned second-team all-conference honors as a freshman, did not play last season. "Ashleigh came back this year to give us some outstanding clutch performances," Snider said. "She really came through toward the end of many of our five-game matches. She had seven or eight kills in game five of our victory over Linfield, and she played a major role in our five-game win over Western Montana and in our final home match with Pacific Lutheran. Some of her gutsy performances came at times when she was playing through injuries."
In 88 games, Cross finished with 265 kills, the second highest total on the team. She also had 183 digs, 17 solo blocks and 17 block assists. Cross, a politics major at Whitman, is the daughter of Laurella and Michael Cross of Irvine, Calif.
Dave Holden, Whitman Sports Information, (509) 527-5902
E-Mail: holden@whitman.edu