Maddie Fischer, Wittenberg volleyball’s lone senior, became the 13th Tiger individual to receive NCAC Volleyball Player of the Year on Friday night. The red and white also boasted Coach Paco Labrador as NCAC Coach of the Year, along with three players slated as first-team All-NCAC.
Fischer brings Player of the Year honors home for the Tigers, following in the footsteps of former Tigers who have received seven awards in the last 10 seasons.
Fischer totaled 97 kills in 27 sets against conference teams, combining for a .247 attack percentage. The senior also put up 13 blocks over the conference season, three solo and 10 assisted.
The senior outside-hitter was named first-team All-NCAC for a second year in a row after recording four double-doubles versus conference teams. Fischer recorded double-digit numbers in kills and digs against Hiram, Denison, DePauw and Kenyon.
Noted as one of the team’s hardest hitters, Fischer pounded a season-best with 21 kills in 43 attempts against Denison at home in early October.
Coach Labrador received 2017 NCAC Coach of the Year laurels on Friday night in recognition of him leading the Tigers through yet another perfect regular season against conference teams.
This year, that number was extended to his seventh consecutive unbeaten conference season. Labrador now totals 13 perfect conference seasons during his Tiger career.
In the past eight seasons, Labrador has perfected a 67 game win-streak against conference teams during the regular season. Labrador continues as Wittenberg’s coaching great with a conference record of 162-2, a .988 win-percentage.
Since taking the helm as head coach in 2003, Labrador has recorded a total of two conference regular-season losses. Also notable of the past 15 seasons, Labrador has received NCAC Coach of the Year eight times.
Karen Wildemann, junior, and Aubrey Cox, sophomore, were also named to first-team All-NCAC.
Wildemann, leading setter for the Tigers, assisted 213 kills over 22 sets against conference teams, averaging almost 10 assists per set. The junior setter also recorded 34 kills and six block assists during the conference season.
Cox, the returning American Volleyball Coaches’ Association 2016 Freshman of the Year awardee, rounded out 64 kills in 127 attack attempts over each conference match. Sporting a .386 attack percentage over 28 sets, Cox has also contributed 24 total blocks in conference play.
