Women’s Volleyball team wraps up the season
By Estefani Hernandez | Published by Dec. 14, 2018
The women’s volleyball team wrapped up another great season by capturing their second straight New Jersey Athletic Conference championship, marking just the second time in program history that the Cougars have won back-to-back championships.
Jesse Larkin (junior) and Zoe Strozewski (sophomore) were both named American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) All-American Honorable Mention selections. Larkin and Strozewski become the second and third All-Americans in program history.
The two Cougars joined Sara Ridgway as the only All-Americans in program history. Ridgway was also named an All-American honorable mention in 2017.
“Last season we lost a few key players but the team has worked hard throughout this season, these last two years have been the best and really inspired everyone to keep working hard and improving,” stated Strozewski.
Don Perkins has been the head coach of the women’s volleyball program since 2009, becoming the first head coach in the Kean Athletic Department history to win a conference championship and make the NCAA tournament with two different programs.
Perkins also becomes just the second coach in program history to win back-to-back titles and record 200 wins.
“Coach likes to make sure we’re well prepared,” states Strozewski. “He would watch films of the other teams figure out their strengths and weaknesses so we know what to expect.”
Kean did not go down quietly though as the Cougars hit .200 and captured the third set, 25-23. Larkin and Strozewski totaled eight kills in the set victory.
With their minds set on the NCAA tournament next season, the team hopes to go even farther than they have in the past.
“We hope to get the NJAC championship once again, we had a few rough patches this season but we were able to rally ourselves up and make it to the end,” states Strozewski.