NCAA-Bound Spartans Land Three on All-Association Team; Coaches Named Staff of the Year
PITTSFORD, N.Y. - The NCAA Tournament-bound Case Western Reserve University volleyball team landed three of its players on the 2010 All-University Athletic Association team, announced by the conference office on Tuesday, November 9. In addition, fifth-year head coach Karen Farrell and her staff have been tabbed as the UAA Coaching Staff of the Year.
The Spartans are 24-10 heading into an NCAA Tournament regional round match versus SUNY-Cortland on Friday, November 12 at 5:30 p.m. at Frostburg State University (MD). Case earned the program's first-ever trip to the tournament following its best conference finish (fourth) since 2000.
Headlining the Spartan selections was a second-team nod for junior middle hitter Tricia McCutchan (Hamilton, OH/Stephen T. Badin). Junior outside hitter Rachael Suchy (Venetia, PA/Peters Township) and sophomore libero Rachel Gulasey (Cleveland, OH/Magnificat) were also chosen as honorable mention selections.
Farrell, along with associate head coach Nelson Wittenmyer and assistants Jeff Harrah and Sami Yakey have helped lead the Spartans to a second straight 24-win season. The 24 wins are the most for the program since a 29-10 campaign in 1997.
McCutchan is now a three-time second-team All-Association pick and continues to turn in one of the finest careers in Spartan volleyball history. McCutchan leads the team with a career-high 510 kills and 86 blocks and was twice named UAA Player of the Week. The ESPN Academic All-American has 1,441 kills for her career, which is the second highest amount in program history after Lindsey Deyer's (1998-00) 1,680. McCutchan's career .321 hitting percentage is the best in Spartan history.
Suchy earns her second straight honorable mention All-UAA selection. She is second on the team with a career-high 376 kills. She also has 44 blocks and was named Player of the Week in mid-October for her performance during the UAA Round Robin #2 in which Case upset No. 1-ranked Washington University (MO).
Gulasey leads the team with 641 digs, the fourth highest single-season total in program history. She also ranks second on the team with 45 assists and third with 28 service aces.
