From Emory University Athletics
The American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) have recognized Emory University's Jenny McDowell for the Eagles' outstanding season by naming her as the U.S. Marine Corps/AVCA Division III Coach of the Year.
McDowell, now in her 24th campaign at Emory, has guided this season's squad to an overall record of 32-2 heading into a quarterfinal round contest against Clarkson University at the NCAA D-III Championships in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The team's win total represents the 13th straight campaign of 30 or more victories while the berth in the national quarterfinals marks the school's seventh straight season that it had reached that stage of the NCAA Tournament. Emory spent more weeks at No. 1 in the AVCA Poll than any other team this year, and has been ranked among the nation's top 20 teams in every weekly ranking since 1996.
McDowell, who garnered her eighth AVCA South Region Coach of the Year honor, oversaw the Eagles' defense of their University Athletic Association title which represented the program's ninth-ever conference title.
McDowell saw five of her players earn All-America honors in 2018, junior Leah Saunders (First Team), senior Morgan McKnight (Second Team), sophomore Tara Martin (Second Team), senior Elyse Thompson (Honorable Mention) and freshman Cassie Srb (Honorable Mention). In addition, Saunders was named the UAA's Most Valuable Player for the second straight year, the first player in program history to earn that distinction, while Srb was picked as the Rookie of the Year.
McDowell's career record now stands at 777-168, 54-22 in NCAA Tournament play. She now has two National Coach of the Year honors to her credit, with her initial award coming in 2008.