2008 Patriots Volleyball Season Wrap-Up

This season was an exciting and trying one for the Cumberlands Volleyball Team and second year Head Coach Kara Clemenz. With a number of returnees back in ’08, the Patriots were looking forward to a great season. Finishing the season 20-18, the ladies improved upon their ’07 record while showing they were a force to be reckoned with.

Ending the regular season with a conference record of 6-6, the team headed into the Mid-South Conference Tournament more determined than ever to prove what they had accomplished throughout the year and did so. The ladies showed much skill and teamwork, with a first round win over the Pikeville College Bears (3-1) to win a spot in the semi-finals. Thereafter, the team worked hard but could not overcome Georgetown College in order to move forward thus ending their season.

Several players, however, finished the season as leaders in various categories. They are as follows:

Taran Johnson (London, KY) – Solo Blocks (97), Assisted Blocks (49), Total Blocks (146), Blocks per Game (1.12), Kills (317), Kills per Game (2.44), and Attack Percentage (0.309)

Erika Barnes (Fairfield, OH) – Serving Aces (49), Serving Aces per Game (0.46)

Lauren Taylor (Villia Hills, KY) – Assists (370), Assists Per Game (2.89), Total Blocks (62), and Kills (224)

Kaylyn Suttles (Cincinnati, OH) – Digs (603), Digs per Game (4.53), Serving Aces (42), and Serving Aces per Game (0.32)

Brittany Weinheimer (Liberty Township, OH) - Assists (751) and Assists per Game (5.65)

Cumberlands also had one individual earn honors on the All-Conference Team in Taran Johnson. In addition, Amanda Hensley was named to the Mid-South Conference All-Academic Team. Hensley also received the MSC Volleyball Champions of Character award, which is given to the student-athlete that demonstrates academic achievement, campus leadership, community leadership, and embraces the five core character values of the initiative, athletic achievement and future ambition.

Coach Clemenz, better known as “Coach K,” had this to say about the 2008 season, “Headed into the 2008 season, my realistic goal was to go 500 and we accomplished that goal and then some,” said Clemenz. “The 2007 season was a building year and the successes of this season proved that to be true. Our team took some of the top conference teams that were nationally ranked to extra sets and proved that we are a team to look out for in the future .”

The 2008 team broke records and put their names in the history books, but the 2009 season is guaranteed to be even better with so much potential talent after a great season for so many players. The team will, however, greatly miss the hard work and determination that their three seniors gave to the team. With the loss of Taran Johnson, Lauren Taylor, and Emma Glancy, Coach K will be looking to her returnees to step up and fill some pretty big shoes. However, there are many who are ready for the challenge and opportunity to continue to improve on the teams overall record and advance in the Mid-South Conference Tournament.

[2007 Season Wrap-Up] [2006 Season Wrap-Up] [2005 Season Wrap-Up] [2004 Season Wrap-Up]