Welch's MVP Honor Highlights All-Conference Awards
4/28/2006 12:00:00 AM | Water Polo
PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- The Collegiate Water Polo Association announced at the Eastern Championship awards banquet on Friday (April 28) that five University of Michigan Wolverines were named to the Western Division all-conference teams. Shana Welch (Larksville, Pa./Wyoming West Valley) highlighted the evening for U-M as she was honored as the division's MVP. Welch, along with Megan Hausmann (San Diego, Calif./Bishop's) and Kristen Davis (Villa Park, Calif./Villa Park), earned first-team accolades, while Julie Hyrne (Sunnyvale, Calif./Archbishop Mitty) and Kristin Hoogenboom (Portland, Ore./Sunset) collected second-team certificates.
Head coach Matt Anderson was named the Western Division Coach of the Year for the third straight season after leading Michigan to a 27-11 record and the program's fifth straight division championship. The 4-3 win over Indiana at last weekend's Western Division Championship (April 23) earned the program's fourth straight division honor under Anderson.
In addition to her second straight MVP award, Welch, who led the conference with 74 goals and 23 assists, gathered her third straight first-team all-conference reward. Perhaps her best accomplishment of the season came when she became the program's all-time leading goal scorer in just her junior season after her four-goal game in an 8-6 win over UC San Diego at the Michigan Kick-Off (Feb. 5). Welch has a team-high 15 hat tricks this season to go along with two CWPA Western Division Player of the Week citations.
Hausmann, who has been selected as the CWPA Western Division Player of the Week twice this season, garnered her second straight first-team division honor. The senior captain is second on the team in goals this season with 47, and her 27 assists are second-best among field players. Her 47 scores are also a single-season career best.
For Hoogenboom, this marks her first career conference award. The senior set single-season career-best totals in goals (22), assists (20), and points (44) this season. She eclipsed the 20-goal, 20-assist and 40-point levels for the first time in her career.
Davis earned her first career conference award. The freshman goalkeeper played the majority of time in goal for the Wolverines this season, posting 164 saves, a 6.41 goals-against average, and a .524 save percentage in 651 minutes. Her 29 assists are tied for the team lead. She also set program records for a goalkeeper with her 29 helpers and 39 steals. Each total is the most in a single season by any Michigan goalkeeper in school history.
Hyrne was awarded her first career conference accolade as she currently leads all freshmen in goals (35) and points (53) on a Michigan team that sports 15 first-year field players.
The Wolverines (27-11) attempt to win the CWPA bid for the NCAA Championship for the season straight season as they will compete in the Eastern Championship this weekend (April 29-30) at the Smith Swim Center in Providence, R.I. Michigan is set to face host Brown at noon Saturday. All three Wolverine contests will feature live updates on MGoBlue.com.
2006 CWPA All-Conference Awards
WESTERN DIVISION FIRST TEAM
Kat Bucceri, Gannon
Kristen Davis, Michigan
Megan Hausmann, Michigan
Janis Pardy, Indiana
Christine Somera, Mercyhurst
Shana Welch, Michigan
Brooke Zimmerman, Indiana
WESTERN DIVISION SECOND TEAM
Erika Brunner, Slippery Rock
Kristin Hoogenboom, Michigan
Julie Hyrne, Michigan
Caitlin Ewing, Grove City
Jackie Pyrz, Indiana
Cassie Rand, Mercyhurst
Melissa Soria, Indiana
WESTERN DIVISION MVP
Shana Welch, Michigan
CWPA ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
Aubrey Rowe, Bucknell
WESTERN DIVISION COACH OF THE YEAR
Matt Anderson, Michigan
Q U O T E S
Michigan Head Coach Matt Anderson
On the numerous awards Michigan earned this season ... "Me winning coach of the year is purely a player-driven award. I get recognized because my players do well. That is what it comes down to. It was good to see Megan (Hausmann) get recognized because she is such a huge contributor to this Michigan program and has been for four years. It was very nice for Shana (Welch) to come back with another very nice season after the season she had last year. Then of course, the two freshmen stepping up. Julie Hyrne and Kristen Davis really earned their stripes and I am extremely happy for Kristin Hoogenboom, now as a senior, getting to the level that she has been striving for and now being recognized by her peers. I don't vote in any of this. It is all voted on by her peers and it was nice to see for all five of those girls to be recognized."
Contact: Matt Baumer (734) 763-4423
