ELSAH, IL – This summer, we are recapping the Principia College athletes and coaches who were recently selected for the three SLIAC All-Decade teams. Next up is Women's Volleyball!
Despite Principia only winning one SLIAC Volleyball regular season title in 2006, the program has had two legendary coaches and two of the best players in SLIAC history.
The 11 Principians on the SLIAC Volleyball All-Decade teams are...
1990-1999:
Joanna Beckstrom
Beckstrom was named First Team All-Conference in both 1993 and 1994.
Janine Brown
Brown was selected First Team All-Conference all four years from 1990-93, and was named SLIAC Player of the Year in both 1992 and 1993. She holds the conference's pre-rally scoring era record for career digs per set (7.40).
Holly Farwell
Farwell was a three-time All-Conference selection during her career, picking up a First Team nod in 1995.
Tami McMullen
McMullen was a four-time All-Conference player for the Panthers from 1996-99.
Lee Suarez (Coach)
Serving as the head coach for 36 years, Suarez wrapped her coaching career in 1999 with more than 300 wins. She was named SLIAC Coach of the Year three times and was elected to the SLIAC Hall of Fame in 2013.
2000-2009:
Heather Erwin
A four-time All-Conference selection, Erwin was the Panthers' lead setter during their run from 2001-04. She earned First Team honors as both a junior and senior and is currently 10th in SLIAC history in career assists with 2466.
Christina Speer
Speer was one of the most dominant players in league history. She was named First Team All-Conference four times and is the only player in league history to take home three Player of the Year awards. Speer is also one of two players from the SLIAC to be named CoSIDA Academic All-American. She is the SLIAC all-time leader in kills with over 2400 and second in total blocks. She joined the SLIAC Hall of Fame in 2014.
Mary Ann Sprague (Coach)
Sprague was the SLIAC Coach of the Year in 2003 and 2006. She led the Panthers to a 9-0 SLIAC record in 2006, when they won the program's only SLIAC regular season championship.
2010-2019:
Mia Gill
Gill was named All-Conference twice, including First Team in 2018 when she was the SLIAC Defensive Player of the Year.
Sophia Hathaway
Hathaway earned All-Conference honors each of her four years at Principia, twice earning First Team honors and finishing her career in the top ten in the SLIAC in career kills.
Tess Rountree
One of the top players in the history of the SLIAC, Rountree was a four-time First Team All-Conference choice and two-time SLIAC Player of the Year (2013 & 2014). She ranks 2nd in league history with over 2100 career kills. Led all of NCAA Division III in points per set in 2014.
Mary Ann Sprague (Coach)
Sprague was named SLIAC Coach of the Year three times this past decade, during which she became the program's all-time coaching wins leader.
