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2007 Volleyball

Women's Volleyball

#NSU50 Top Moment No. 26: NSU Volleyball Earns First-Ever NCAA Postseason Bid

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The #NSU50 "Top Moments in NSU Athletics History" continues with the 26th moment on the list: Nova Southeastern University volleyball earns their first ever bid to the NCAA Division II South Region Tournament.
 
November 12, 2007
 
The 2007 season was a milestone campaign for the Nova Southeastern volleyball program. Beginning their second year in the brand-new NSU Arena, the team won their first two matches in the opening Shark Classic and then three out of four in the ensuing St. Edward's University Tournament.
 
After the last two wins there and a road loss, the Sharks would go on an unprecedented 11-match winning streak, not losing from Sept. 7 to Sept. 29. That streak alone surpassed the win total of the previous year, and the team would end the regular season at 25-9, which included a 10-4 record at home and an 11-5 mark within the Sunshine State Conference. They tied for second in the conference standings despite being picked eighth in the preseason SSC poll.
 
For their efforts, the program earned that historic first postseason bid to the 2007 NCAA Volleyball Championships, announced live on Nov. 12 on CSTV. They were chosen as the No. 3 seed in the South Region, hosted by top seed and conference rival Tampa. The Sharks drew 33-1 Wingate, the six seed and South Atlantic Conference Champions, who came into the regional riding a 24-match winning streak.
 
Despite falling in the first set to the Bulldogs, NSU swept the next three for their first postseason win in history on Nov. 15, 24-30, 30-27, 30-24, 30-21. Sophomore Aley Tallman had 18 kills and a .500 attack percentage in the win – and would eventually be named to the South Region All-Tournament team – helping to lead the team to the region semifinals
 
Though the Sharks would fall in the semis to No. 14 Florida Southern, they finished the year with a 26-10 mark. The 26 wins was 15 wins better than the previous year, and the most the team had had since 1997. It is still the most in the NCAA era, as is the 11 conference victories (eight better than the year prior). At the time, the 2007 team held the records for most consecutive wins, longest home winning streak and most consecutive sweeps, and the team stat marks for most kills, attacks, hitting percentage, assists, aces, digs, block assists and total points. The marks for kills, assists, block assists and points still stands to this day.
 
Individually, junior setter Valia Petrova set a new program record in assists and assists per game (both still the best in history), and was named Second Team All-SSC and AVCA Honorable Mention All-South Region. Junior middle blocker Melina Gorman also set a new mark, in block assists, which still stands, while similarly being named All-South Region Honorable Mention, as well as All-SSC Honorable Mention. In addition, head coach Steve Wilcosky garnered the first conference coaching award in the volleyball program's history as he was named SSC Coach of the Year.

Moment No. 1: NSU Athletics is Born
Moment No. 2: Knights Chosen as School Mascot
Moment No. 3: Hansley Hired as Director of Athletics

Moment No. 4: Nova Adds Four Sports
Moment No. 5: Nova Joins NAIA
Moment No. 6: Nova Adds Three More Teams
Moment No. 7: Nova Helps Form FIAC
Moment No. 8: Nova Wins First Conference Championship
Moment No. 9: Baseball and Volleyball Win First Conference Titles
Moment No. 10: NSU Adds Softball
Moment No. 11: NSU Adds Women's Soccer and Wins FSC Tournament Championship
Moment No. 12: NSU Names Ray Ferrero Jr. as School's Fifth President
Moment No. 13: NSU Adds Women's Basketball and Wins Conference Title in First Season
Moment No. 14: NSU Jumps to NCAA Division II and Sunshine State Conference
Moment No. 15: Kyle Ruwe Becomes NSU's First NCAA All-American
Moment No. 16: NSU adds Rowing, Tennis and Men's Cross Country
Moment No. 17: NSU Breaks Ground on University Center
Moment No. 18: Rembe Becomes NSU's First Female NCAA All-American
Moment No. 19: NSU Men's Golf Wins First SSC Championship
Moment No. 20: NSU Unveils Sharks as New Mascot
Moment No. 21: NSU Enshrines Inaugural Hall of Fame Class
Moment No. 22: Women's Golfer Garcia Austt Becomes NSU's First-Ever NCAA Player and Freshman of Year
Moment No. 23: NSU Tennis Goes Program-Best 22-3
Moment No. 24: NSU Volleyball Hosts the Inaugural Sharks Classic
Moment No. 25: NSU Begins Outdoor Track and Field Programs

For the latest NSU news and results, be sure to visit www.NSUSharks.com. To have results sent directly to your cell phone via text message, sign up for SMS text message delivery by clicking here. For the latest news, be sure to sign up for the Shark Alert E-newsletter by clicking here.

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