Trinity's 1999 Runner-Up National Finish Recognized as Top Volleyball Moment

SUWANEE, Ga. - The 1999 Trinity University women's volleyball team defeated Muskingum (Ohio) College, 3-0, in the semifinals of the national tournament to advance to the championship game and become just the second SCAC team in any sport to play for a Division III national title.

The Tigers lost the following day to top-ranked and defending national champion Central (Iowa) College, but that amazing run to the title game is being recognized as the Top Moment in the history of SCAC women's volleyball. Top 20 Moments homepage

Trinity ended its season with a school-record 38 wins and the team's 38-3 mark remains the best single-season winning percentage (.927) ever produced by a conference volleyball team. Tiger head coach Julie Jenkins was later honored as the American Volleyball Coaches Association Division III Coach-of-the-Year and two players from that team were named all-Americans, senior middle blocker Alisha Farley, the 1999 SCAC Player-of-the-Year, and junior setter Desiree Pratt.

In the championship match, sophomore middle blocker Lauren Hamilton led the Tigers in kills with nine and had six blocks (three solo). First-year outside hitter Brianna Iversen, who had earlier been chosen as the South Region Freshman of the Year, had seven kills and 10 digs. Farley, who was named to the All Final Four Team, had six kills and a match-high 17 digs. Senior outside hitter Jennifer Purdy fired in six kills and 12 digs while sophomore right-side player Abby Wilson also had six kills. Pratt chalked up 31 assists.

Russell Kramer, the SCAC Director of Communications/New Media, had a chance to catch up with Trinity head coach Julie Jenkins as well as former Tiger all-American Desiree Pratt Gooselink, to reflect on that 1999 tournament run which resulted in a second-place national finish. Click here to list to the interview with Coach Jenkins; click here to listen to the interview with Desiree Pratt Gooselink.

To view the complete list of SCAC Women's Volleyball Top Moments, click here.

Throughout the 2010-2011 academic year, the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference will celebrate its 20th anniversary. A special logo commemorating the occasion will be used and the league office will also be releasing the Top 20 moments for each sport the conference sponsors (excluding men's and women's lacrosse).