Dec. 5, 2001
The American Volleyball Coaches Association has announced its 2001 all-regional squads, and the University of Notre Dame volleyball team is well-represented on the first team. Senior middle blocker Malinda Goralski, senior opposite Kristy Kreher and sophomore setter Kristen Kinder were named to the All-Northeast Region first team on Dec. 5.
Goralski, the 2001 BIG EAST Player of the Year and conference championship Most Outstanding Player, finished the season with a stellar .379 hitting percentage while racking up 322 kills. Also one of the best blockers in the country, Goralski posted a 1.66 block per game average with 22 solo blocks and 149 block assists.
Some of Goralski’s more notable performances during the 2001 season included her 18-kill, 10-block effort at Kentucky and scoring 15 kills on .714 hitting against Valparaiso. This is the first all-regional selection of Goralski’s career.
Kreher wrapped up an outstanding Irish volleyball career by earning her third all-regional selection. The left-handed opposite compiled 18 double-digit kill matches in 2001, earned all-BIG EAST first team honors and was named the conference player of the week three different times. She led the team in kills with 331 (3.31 per game) and also had 223 digs and 101 blocks.
Kinder joins Goralski in earning the first all-regional honor of her career. The 2001 BIG EAST Setter of the Year, Kinder helped the team post a .256 team hitting percentage with 1215 assists (ninth on the all-time single season list) and led the team in aces with 38 (also ninth on the all-time single season list).
Notre Dame completed its 2001 season with a 22-7 overall record, perfect 12-0 mark in the BIG EAST and a conference regular-season and tournament championship.
Northeast Region First Team
Malinda Goralski, MB, Sr., Notre Dame
Kristy Kreher, OPP, Sr., Notre Dame
Kristen Kinder, S, So., Notre Dame
Sara Bachus, OPP, Sr., Xavier
Yolanda Bogacz, MB, Sr., Rhode Island
Shayla Bush, OH, So., Rutgers
Wendy Hatlestad, OH, So., Pittsburgh
Molly Martin, S, Fr., Xavier
Kelly Scott, S, So., Dayton
Leah Voss, OH, Sr., Maine
Yulia Vtyurina, OH, Sr., Georgetown
Regional Freshman of the Year: Molly Martin, Xavier