Women’s Volleyball Stacey Gordon Named Big Ten Player of the Year, Jim Stone Named Coach of the Year – Ohio State Buckeyes
11/30/2004 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Nov. 30, 2004
COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Big Ten Conference office announced today that Ohio State’s Stacey Gordon (Sr., Oshawa, Ontario) has been named the Big Ten Player of the Year. Additional honors for the Buckeyes included head coach Jim Stone being named the Big Ten Coach of the Year by both the coaches and a media panel, Gordon and Marisa Main (So., Louisville, Ky) named to the All-Big Ten Team and Ami Stevens (Fr., Centerburg, Ohio) being named to the All-Big Ten Freshman Team.
Gordon, a 5-11 outside hitter, was the Big Ten statistical champion in kills per game with a 7.00 average and is ranked first nationally. She ranked fifth in hitting percentage at .331 and was eighth in digs with a 4.13 per game average. Gordon was the only hitter to be ranked in the top-10 in digs. The Big Ten Player of the Week five times this season, she has won the award 16 times in her career. She is the sixth Ohio State student-athlete to become the Player of the Year and is the only OSU player to win the honor twice, taking the honor as a sophomore. She becomes only the fourth player to win the award more than once. The others include Bonnie Bremner, Penn State (1997 and 1998), Mary Eggers, Illinois (1986, 1987 [tie] and 1988) and Marianne Smith, Purdue (1984 and 1985). Named to the All-Big Ten team, Gordon becomes Ohio State’s first four-time All-Big Ten selection and only the sixth in Big Ten history. The others include Mary Eggers, Illinois, 1985-86-87-88), Jenna Wrobel, Michigan State (1995-96-97-98), Andrea Gonzalez, Minnesota (1985-86-87-88), Bonnie Bremner, Penn State (1996-97-98-99) and Lauren Cacciamani, Penn State (1996-97-98-99). Stone was named the Big Ten Coach of the year by a vote of the coaches and a media panel. It marks the fourth time he has been so honored. Stone previously won the award in 1989, 1991 and 1994 by the media and in 1989 and 1991 by the coaches. Ohio State finished the regular season with a 27-3 overall record and a 17-3 mark in the Big Ten, tying for second place. The 2004 Buckeyes made an outstanding turn-around over their 11-17, 17-3 (tied for ninth) record in 2003.
Main, a 5-9 setter, played a key role for Ohio State this season. She was the Big Ten statistical champion in assists with a 14.68 per game average and ranked third nationally with a 14.76 per game average. Main stands as the Ohio State career assist per game leader. In conference statistics she averages 1.49 kills, 2.37 digs and .48 blocks per game. A transfer from Xavier, Main was an Atlantic-10 All-Conference selection as a freshman.
Stevens, a 6-1 outside hitter, averaged 3.11 kills and 3.06 digs per game in conference matches. She has had double-figure kills in 15 matches this season including the last six and double figure digs in 15. In Big Ten statistics, Stevens ranked seventh in aces per game at .25 with 18. This marks the fourth consecutive season that the Buckeyes have placed a student-athlete on the All-Freshman Team. The others include Stacey Gordon (2001), Stephanie Higgins (2002) and Briana McCarthy (2003).
Ohio State, seeded fifth in the NCAA 64-team bracket, returns to action this Friday in the first round of the NCAA Championship when they host Dayton (23-8) at 7 p.m. Ohio (28-2) faces Pittsburgh (21-10) at 5 p.m. Friday in the other first round match. The winners advance to the second round Saturday at 7 p.m. in St. John Arena.
2004 BIG TEN HONORS
2004 ALL-BIG TEN TEAM
*Jessica Belter, ILL, Sr., OH
Lisa Gamalski, MICH, Sr., S
*Kim Schram, MSU, Sr., OH
*Paula Gentil, MINN, Jr., L
Erin Martin, MINN, Sr., OH
Kelly Bowman, MINN, So., S
* Stacey Gordon, OSU, Sr., OH
Marisa Main, OSU, So., S
*Sam Tortorello, PSU, Jr., S
Kaleena Walters, PSU, Jr., L
Syndie Nadeau, PSU, Sr., OH
Kim McConaha, PUR, Sr., MB
*Sheila Shaw, WIS, Jr., MB
2004 ALL-BIG TEN HONORABLE MENTION
Rachel VanMeter, ILL, Jr., OH
Katie Pollom, IND, Sr., MB
Renata Dargan, PUR, Jr., S
Jill Odenthal, WIS, Sr., OH
2004 ALL-BIG TEN FRESHMAN TEAM
Jen Hynds, ILL, MB
Katie Bruzdzinski, MICH, OH
Maggie Griffin, MSU, S
Ami Stevens, OSU, OH
Kate Price, PSU, OH
Jackie Simpson, WIS, S
2004 BIG TEN PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Stacey Gordon, OSU, Sr., OH
2004 DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Paula Gentil, MINN, Jr., L
2004 FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR
Kate Price, PSU, Fr., OH
2004 COACH OF THE YEAR (COACHES)
Jim Stone, OSU
2004 COACH OF THE YEAR (MEDIA)
Jim Stone, OSU
*Unanimous Selection
13 Players Named to All-Big Ten Team Due to a Tie
