Samford Volleyball Honors Players In Post-Season Banquet

--- Dempski, Gardner, Gay receive team awards ---

Dec. 12, 2006

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. ---- The Samford volleyball held is post-season banquet Sunday, Dec. 10 at McCormick and Schmidt Seafood Restaurants. Awards, voted on by the players, were presented to players who made outstanding contributions to the team this season.

Sophomore defensive specialist Courtney Gay was named Most Valuable Player for the Samford volleyball team. Gay averaged 5.9 assists per game and 2.7 digs per game during the 2006 campaign. She is currently ranked ninth on the Samford career assists record with 606 assists in her two years as a Bulldog. Gay had 15 double-figure-digs matches and 17 double-figure-assists matches during 2006, while garnering a career high 55 assists at Austin Peay on Sept. 22. She also ranks ninth in the OVC in assists with 9.75/gm.

“Courtney Gay stepped into big shoes when Jackie went down with a knee injury and did a tremendous job of running the team,” Samford head coach Michelle Durban. “She gained so much confidence this year and I think her teammates acknowledge that with the MVP award.”

The Bulldogs named defensive specialist Sarah Gardner the Most Improved Player for the 2006 season. Gardner saw her first collegiate volleyball action this year as a red-shirt freshman. She averaged 3.9 digs per game this season, and had 20 double-figure-digs matches as well. She posted a career high 29 digs at South Alabama Sept. 9, just eight shy of a single-match record. Gardner is currently ranked second in single-season digs as she grabbed 412 in 2006, and she in a three-way tie for 10th place in the single season record for assists with 55.

“Sarah Gardner played a variety of roles (OH, DS, L) this year for this team,” Durban said. “The one constant was she continually worked to improve her skills. I think that you could definitely see her get more comfortable in the Libero role as the year progressed.”

Junior middle blocker Angela Dempski was presented with the Bulldog Sprit Award.

“The Bulldog Spirit Award is very special because it recognizes the player who goes the extra effort every day in all aspects of the game (student, practice, games, conditioning, weights) and is willing to push her teammates at the same time,” Durban said. “Angela Dempski worked hard all summer and was able to continue it through the fall to earn this award.”

Dempski averaged 1.2 kpg and posted 14 block solos and 51 block assists on the year. She is currently eighth on the Samford career block assists list with 199.

*** SAMFORD BULLDOGS ***