On Wednesday, Nov. 29, LBCC hosted a reception to commemorate the Roadrunner volleyball team’s NWAC Championship season.
The event was held in the Activities Center at Linn-Benton Community College. Coaches and LBCC staff came together and celebrated the accomplishments of the team’s season along with the athletes and their families.
Athletic Director Mark Majeski welcomed the crowd and congratulated the team on their undefeated season before introducing LBCC President Lisa Avery.
Dr. Avery expressed her pride in the program and its student athletes, emphasizing their commitment to their sport and their schooling. She shared that the team has maintained an average GPA of 3.32 over the past two seasons, and gave praise to head coach Jayme Frazier for her commitment to the athletes.
Majeski then detailed the team’s dominant run over the past three years and the statistics that have come with it. The Beaks have been undefeated since Sept. 18, 2022, making this year’s five sophomore players 70-1 in their time with the team.
Coach Frazier then spoke about her experience this season and what made her team special. She gave thanks and praise to assistant coaches Ally Schmidt and Miah Smith for their help and commitment to the team’s success.
Frazier also commended each athlete for their hard work in school along with volleyball. A special ovation was given to sophomore Grace Boeder, who earned NWAC Athlete of the Year honors for her outstanding performance and leadership throughout the season.
“When you think about a three-peat you think about all the student athletes that were involved in that… It makes me reflect on each of their contributions to it,” said Coach Frazier about her third straight NWAC title.
Finally, Frazier also spoke on what is next for her and the team. “For me, it’s why I stay here: every year is a challenge,” she said. “Now, it’s the challenge of ‘can we do something different?’ We’re going to be playing outside of the NWAC this next year… We’re going to take on some good competition and see how we do.”
The 2023 NWAC Volleyball Championship banner will be hung up in the LBCC gym on Jan. 24, 2024.
