United States Coast Guard Academy - Department of Athletics - Volleyball

It was a story book season for the Coast Guard Academy volleyball team as entering the season, the team had some unfinished business to tend to. The team had lost in the New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) tournament championship game in each of the last two seasons missing out on the automatic berth to the NCAA tournament.

This season, the Bears took care of business and then some as they advanced to the NCAA Division III Elite 8 for the first time in school history by winning the NCAA Division III New England regional as well as the NEWMAC regular season and tournament championship. Coast Guard finished 26-3 overall and 8-1 in conference play.

Coast Guard beat third-seeded Springfield 3-1 to win their first NEWMAC tournment championship and get to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1997, gettting an automatic bid for the first time in school history. Coast Guard went to the NCAA Tournament in 1995, 1996 and 1997 as an at-large selection.

The Bears, were the top-seed for the New England regional and beat Mount Ida and Endicott 3-0 to get to the regional final against NEWMAC rival second-seeded MIT, the regional host. Coast Guard had beaten MIT 3-2 in the regular season and the Bears delivered again beating the Engineers 3-2 to advance to the Elite 8 in Salem, Va. where Juniata, the # 1 in the nation would the Bears opponent.

Juniata, which would go on to win its second national championship in three years, ended the magical season with a 3-0 win. The Eagles are the only Division III team to compete in all 26 NCAA Division III Volleyball championships.

Sophomore Nicole Gurr was name AVCA second-team All-America, All-New England and first team All-conference as she led the team with 498 kills, the second most in a single-season at the Coast Guard Academy. Gurr was second on the team with 65 aces and 74 blocks.

Senior co-captain Christine Rostowfske was named NEWMAC Player of the Year, All-New England and first-team All-conference as she led the league with 1,247 assists. She holds school record with 4,241 career assists.

Junior co-captain Corinne McCormack was named All-New England and second-team All-conference. McCormack was second on the team with 399 kills to move into second place on the Bears all-time list with 1,163 career kills. McCormack led the team with 73 aces.

Junior Kimberly Jung, an exchange cadet from Army, was a key addition to the team. Jung led the Bears with 349 digs to go with her 269 kills and 43 aces.

The Bears must replace the only senior on the team Rostowfske along with Jung as they look to build on the greatest season in Coast Guard volleyball history.