November 26, 2002
Qi Wang Named South Central Region Coach of the Year
Truman volleyball head coach Qi Wang was named the South Central Region Coach of the Year today by the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA). It is the second regional coach of the year award for Wang who is in just his second season as a head coach.
Wang had led the Bulldogs to a 26-8 overall record and their second consecutive South Central Regional title. He has done this despite losing two all-americas and two other key players off last year's squad plus battling through season-ending injuries to two key hitters. Wang's squad, currently ranked 10th in the country, has produced wins over North Alabama (twice), Rockhurst, Central Missouri (three times), Washburn and New Haven, all teams currently ranked in the top 25 in the country.
Truman finished second in the MIAA this year with a 13-3 record, one game behind the conference champion Washburn. After receiving the number two seed for the regional tournament, the Bulldogs knocked off North Alabama and Central Missouri on their way to the regional title.
In two seasons as a head coach, Wang has a record of 63-10 (.863). He has led the Bulldogs to the Elite Eight in both seasons, a feat Truman had never accomplished once prior to Wang's tenure as head coach.
Wang's award was just one of many honors received by Truman volleyball players today. Monica Marlowe and Shelby Ortwerth were named to the all-South Central Region team by the AVCA. The MIAA Commissioner's Academic Honor Roll was also released for volleyball and Lauren Dickbernd, Rebecca Knefelkamp, Marlowe, Annie Nickolai and Rachael Shedd were among the conference athletes earning that honor.