Three named V-Ball All-Region
Sodich, Cox, Calverley honored by NCCAA
SAGU has as many chosen as top-ranked teams
Click here for the complete 12-person All-Region team.
WAXAHACHIE, Texas -- The Southwestern Assemblies of God University women’s volleyball team had three players chosen to the All-Regional Team by the National Christian College Athletic Association.
Sophomore Jessica Sodich (Arlington, Tx / Ovilla Christian), junior Kassy Cox (Lufkin, Tx / Lufkin HS) and junior Taylor Calverley (Mansfield, Tx / Grace Prep) were all named to the team during the recently completed Central Region Tournament, hosted by SAGU.
The Lady Lions, who were seventh in the Central, had the good fortune of having as many players chosen as the first and third ranked teams. (See Region list below)
That speaks wonders about a SAGU team that was chocked that full of talent! Four teams rating higher than the Lady Lions did not get as many players selected as did the Purple Pride.
The NCCAA released their final player rankings, which revealed each of the three Lady Lions were in the Region’s Top 10 as well as the National Top 25 in their strength categories.
Sodich was #2 in the NCCAA in kills per game at 4.24, which led the Region. Cox finished fifth in the Region with an average of 3.2 kills.
Cox led the Lady Lions in hitting with an accuracy percentage of .249. That placed her #9 in the Region.
Calverley, the team’s lone setter, averaged 10.2 assists per game. That figure was #2 in the Region and ninth nationally.
The trio is all expected back next season.
Senior Caitlyn Hudson (Mansfield, Tx / Legacy HS) was the only other player from SAGU to make the stats list.
Her 3.2 kills per game ranked #6 in the Region and also was in the Top 25. Her .228 Attacking Percentage was 10th in the Region as well as second on the team.
SAGU finished the season with a 17-14 record, their eighth consecutive winning mark in the regular season. The squad went 1-3 in post-season action.
They qualified for a berth as the #6 seed in the Red River Athletic Conference tournament where they lost to #3 St. Thomas, three games to one. SAGU had defeated the Celts twice earlier in the season.
In the Central Regional tourney the Lions posted a 1-2 mark in pool play, falling to Mid-America Christian University 3-0, defeated Crowleys Ridge 3-0 before finishing against McMurry University, losing by a 3-1 count.
The McMurry War Hawks won the tourney and is representing the region at the NCCAA Nationals in Orlando this weekend.
Click here for a list of the 10-team national field, their ranking and won-lost record.
Contact: Mark “Link” Warde, SAGU Sports Information Director, at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or at 469-658-2847.
2012 NCCAA Central Region
| Rank | Team | Overall Record | Rank | All-Region Picks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Colorado Christian University | 32-9 | #8 | 3 |
| 2 | Dallas Baptist University (TX) | 19-9 | #13 | 0 |
| 3 | McMurry University (TX) | 20-9 | #21 | 3 |
| 4 | Mid-America Christian University (OK) | 18-16 | #28 | 1 |
| 5 | Oklahoma Wesleyan University | 16-16 | #34 | 0 |
| 6 | Southern Nazarene University (OK) | 13-19 | #36 | 2 |
| 7 | SAGU (TX) | 18-17 | #40 | 3 |
| 8 | York College (NE) | 9-19 | #45 | 0 |
| 9 | Central Baptist College (AR) | 11-21 | #48 | 0 |
| 10 | Crowleys Ridge College (AR) | 11-13 | #50 | 0 |
| 11 | Southwestern Christian University (OK) | 3-31 | #54 | 0 |
| 12 | Central Christian College (KS) | 1-26 | #55 | 0 |
