Players shine in National Championship tournament
Campus Times
April 30, 1999
Three players from the national champion University of La Verne volleyball
team received tournament honors last weekend at the 1999 Molten Division
III Invitational Championships.
Senior Chris Peterson and junior Matt Wright were named to the All-Tournament
squad which consisted of six tournament contenders. Sophomore Alex Lienert
earned the tournament's highest honor, as he was named Most Valuable Player.
Lienert, who plays outside hitter, credited Wright for his extraordinary
performance of 33 kills in the championship match.
"Matt played an excellent game," Lienert said. "He was
giving me the ball all night, and I owe him everything for that."
Lienert had only 11 attack errors out of his 53 attempts, leading to
a .415 attack percentage. He also had eight digs and assisted on six blocks.
Wright, the team's setter, had 63 assists and 12 defensive digs. Outside
hitter Peterson had 14 kills and 10 digs.
In the semifinal round match against Clarke College, Lienert once again
led the offensive attack with 19 kills, 10 digs and a .394 attack percentage.
Peterson had 13 kills and seven digs while Wright had 45 assists and nine
digs.
"I couldn't think of a better way to end a career than today,"
said Peterson. "It is just totally exhilarating." Peterson missed
two months of the season due to a fractured bone in his right hand.
"Being inactive for so long took a lot out of me and my ability,"
said Peterson. "I didn't feel like I was 100 percent, but I felt like
I was good enough to contribute to the team."
Also selected to the All-Tournament team with Wright and Peterson were
brothers, Jeff and Gregg Rosowski (D'Youville), Troy Weisgram (Clarke) and
Rod Kirby (Juniata).
