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News Release
UMBC finished 19-13
11/27/2000
UMBC finished 19-13 in Northeast Conference Coach of the Year Felix Hou's second season as head coach. The Retrievers swept through the Northeast Conference regular season with a perfect 9-0 record, but after a semi-final victory against Quinnipiac in the NEC Tournament, UMBC was upset in five games by Robert Morris in the Championship game. Senior middle hitter Kara Welniak enjoyed an outstanding senior season and was named the Most Valuable Player in the NEC. She hit .500 in conference play and averaged 2.52 kills and 2.70 digs per game. She also led the Retrievers in blocking (.80 bpg.). Joining Welniak on the NEC First Team All-Conference squad was senior Joanne Marshall and sophomore setter Heather Kerley. Marshall made a terrific comeback from knee surgery and led the squad in kills (3.60 kpg.) and digs (3.15 dpg.). Kerley led the league in assists (10.35 apg.). Junior hitter Dana Cookson and senior Bola Afolabi were standouts as well. Cookson averaged 2.65 kills per game and won a NEC Player of the Week award. Afolabi averaged 2.04 kills per game. SO newcomer Jennifer Thomas (2.74 dpg.), and seniors Muge Pars (2.53 kpg.) and Sarah MacCord (2.25 digs) were also key components in 2000.