Index of Sports Press Releases

Nov. 8, 2006

Four DWU Volleyball Players Earn All-GPAC Honors

Blythe Novotny

Kalie Whealy

Beth Kopfmann

Cheri Klabenes

Mitchell, S.D. — Four Dakota Wesleyan volleyball players received Great Plains Athletic Conference honors announced Wednesday (Nov. 8). Senior Blythe Novotny and junior Kalie Whealy were named Second-Team All-GPAC, while junior Beth Kopfmann and sophomore Cheri Klabenes were named honorable mention.

Novotny (6-0, OH), a native of De Smet, S.D., averaged 2.84 kills per game and led the team with a .310 hitting percentage, which is sixth in the GPAC. The team captain also had 85 total blocks. For her career, she finished with 843 kills to rank fifth on the DWU all-time charts. She was an honorable mention All-GPAC selection as a sophomore in 2004.

Whealy (6-1, MB), a native of Madison, S.D., averaged 2.82 kills per game and finished with 217 total kills. She led the team with 88 total blocks despite missing the first part of the season with injury. Whealy was named also named second-team All-GPAC as a sophomore in 2005.

Kopfmann (5-8, Jr.) a native of Minneota, Minn., was the Tigers starting setter this season. She handed out 1,193 assists averaging 10.4 per game to rank fourth in the GPAC in assists. She also had 254 digs. Kopfmann now has 2,435 assists which ranks third on the DWU all-time charts.

Klabenes (5-7, So.) a native of Lincoln, Neb., was the Tigers libero this season. She led the team with 604 digs, averaging 5.3 per game to rank ninth in the GPAC. She has recorded 1,088 digs in her two-year career which ranks fifth on the DWU all-time list.

Dakota Wesleyan finished the season with a 10-23 overall record. The Tigers qualified for the GPAC postseason tournament for the first time since the 2003 season.