College Corner: Briar Woods Grad Jensen and Broad Run Grad Feddersen Earn USA South Conference Women's Volleyball Honors

Bailey Jensen
(photo courtesy CNU)

(Nov. 3, 2011) - Briar Woods High School grad Bailey Jensen and Broad Run High School grad Jess Feddersen were part of a well-represented Christopher Newport University women's volleyball team when the USA South Conference awards were announced this week. Jensen, a junior middle blocker, was named to the First Team, and Feddersen, a freshman outside hitter, was named to the conference's All-Sportsmanship Team.

Jensen, one of three captains on the team, averaged 2.48 kills per set and hit .341 this season. Jensen also led the team in blocks with 110, averaging 1.01 per set.

Jess Feddersen
(photo courtesy CNU)

CNU placed a record seven players on the All-Conference Team. Senior setter Jessie Heavenrich became just CNU's second ever two-time Conference Player of the Year as she helped CNU sweep the four major volleyball conference awards.

Heavenrich earned Player of the Year honors and was joined by junior defensive specialist Abby Hogge as Libero of the Year, freshman right side Jessie Kolden as Rookie of the Year and Lindsay Birch as Coach of the Year.


Heavenrich earns her second consecutive Player of the Year nod after finishing second in the conference in assists per set (9.42), while leading all setters with 0.54 blocks per set during the regular season. She contributed 2.51 digs per set and 46 kills to go with 30 service aces this season. The All-American earned her second straight First Team and fourth All-Conference honor.

Hogge also became just the second player in CNU history to earn Libero of the Year honors, doing so in back-to-back seasons. The junior from Clifton, Va. compiled 515 total digs against top-tiered competition this season, helping lead CNU to a 31-4 overall record. She was named the National Player of the Week earlier this season and was the USA South Defensive Player of the Week four times.

Kolden stepped in as a freshman and helped the Captains post a league-best .256 hitting percentage as a team. The rookie played an integral role in CNU's success, hitting .221 with an average of 2.26 kills per set during the regular season. Against the USA South, her hitting percentage sky-rocketed to .368, ranking fourth in the conference, with 2.78 kills per set. She also earned Third Team All-Conference honors in her first year.

Birch collected her sixth Conference Coach of the Year honor in just her tenth season at the helm for CNU. The Captains once again were undefeated in USA South action, compiling a perfect 18-0 record for the fifth consecutive season. She has now led the Captains to 98 straight wins over the USA South in regular season action, a streak dating back to September 26, 2006. She has helped guide the Captains to a 30-4 overall record and a No. 7 national ranking.

This season, the Captains collected a record seven All-Conference honors. Joining Heavenrich and Jensen on the First team was junior Christie Fellows. She averaged 2.30 kils per set and hit .316 for the Captains this season.

Three Captains earned Second Team All-Conference honors, as senior Chelsea McClure and junior Cory Harris joined Hogge. Kolden rounded out the Conference honors with the Third Team selection.