Crowell, St. Mary´s Block Their Way Past Newman in Five Sets

Stephanie Crowell set a school record with 13 blocks against Newman Friday night.

SAN ANTONIO—Stephanie Crowell set a school record with 13 blocks and St. Mary’s University totaled 15 for the match as the Rattlers broke a nine-match losing streak with a 25-16, 23-25, 25-16, 22-25, 15-7, win over Newman University in Heartland Conference volleyball action Friday night at Bill Greehey Arena.

Crowell (Sr., The Woodlands) had three solo blocks and 10 block assists in the match to break the existing school record of 10, set by Savanah Leeper against Harding in 2005. Crowell’s previous career high was nine, set against Oklahoma Panhandle State in 2006. She also added 10 kills for her first career double-double.

Katelyn Kershner (Jr., San Antonio) also had a double-double with a match-high 16 kills and 10 digs. Allie Murray (Fr., San Antonio) added 21 assists, 17 digs and four service aces. As a team, the Rattlers had 61 kills against just 23 attack errors and totaled 15 blocks – tied for the seventh most in a match in school history.

With the win St. Mary’s improved to 2-10 overall and 1-0 in Heartland Conference play. Newman is now 3-7, 0-1. The Rattlers will return to action on Saturday at 2 p.m. when they host Oklahoma Panhandle State University in a Heartland Conference match at Bill Greehey Arena.

  St. Mary's (Texas) def. Newman 25-16,23-25,25-16,22-25,15-7

  Newman (3-7, 0-1) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Chelsey Potter 10-1-1; Sarah Bailey 10-0-1; Brianna Witsman 8-3-3; Angie Bennett 8-0-2; Ashley Myers 4-0-1; Jeana Farruggia 3-0-3; Allison Bailey 2-0-1; Lindsay Esquibel 1-0-0; Lauren Poe 1-0-0; Totals 47-4-7.0. (Assists) - Caroline Painter 19; Ashley Myers 13. (Dig leaders) - Amy Shorette 13; Angie Bennett 10; Chelsey Potter 9

  St. Mary's (Texas) (2-10, 1-0) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Katelyn Kershner 16-1-1; Luisa Rodriguez 10-2-3; Stephanie Crowell 10-1-13; Kirsten Chapman 8-0-2; Kori McCarver 8-1-4; Stephanie Proske 5-0-3; Allie Murray 3-4-0; Allison Avalos 1-2-0; Stephanie Flores 0-1-0; Totals 61-12-15.0. (Assists) - Kori McCarver 32; Allie Murray 21. (Dig leaders) - Stephanie Flores 22; Allie Murray 17; Katelyn Kershner 10; Allison Avalos 8

  Site: San Antonio, TX (Bill Greehey Arena)
  Date: Sep 18, 2009   Attend: 400   Time: 1:59   
  Referees: Brian Gibbs, Ward Kostick

Volleyball Coaches

Head Coach Jenny Warmack-Chipman

A Texas native and former Longhorn volleyball player is one of St. Mary’s University’s newest head coaches. Jenny Warmack-Chipman recently became St. Mary’s eighth volleyball head coach.

"We are very excited to welcome Jenny to the St. Mary’s University family," Migl said. "Her experience as a coach and administrator has prepared her well for this position. We look forward to seeing the new direction our volleyball program will take, both on and off the court."

Warmack-Chipman comes to St. Mary’s after spending the last 10 years as the head coach at NCAA Division III Muhlenberg College (Allentown, Pa.). She also served as Muhlenberg’s assistant athletic director, senior woman administrator and advisor to the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.

Warmack-Chipman was the school’s all-time leader in wins with 133. During 10 seasons at Muhlenberg, Mule players earned All-Centennial Conference 17 times, 24 were named to the Centennial Conference Academic Honor Roll and one was named NCAA Division III All-American. In 2001, she led the Mules to a 20-11 record, a share of their first Centennial Conference regular-season championship and a second-place finish in the CC Tournament. The Mules returned to the playoffs in 2009, winning seven of their final 10 matches.

Before coaching for Muhlenberg, Warmack-Chipman was an assistant coach at Southern Methodist University and Wichita State University. While at SMU, she received her master’s degree in liberal arts. Warmack-Chipman, from Plano, Texas, is a 1996 graduate of the University of Texas; she graduated with a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology. While a student at UT, she played on a Longhorn team that was ranked No. 1 in the country and was named to the 1994 All-Southwest Conference team.

"I am so excited to be back in Texas and to be the next head coach at St. Mary’s University," Warmack-Chipman said. "The Rattlers athletics program has a long history of excellence and I am extremely motivated to get it back on top. I’d like to thank Charlie Migl, Donna Fields and the rest of the search committee for this opportunity. I hope to use my experience at both the Division I and Division III levels to advance the St. Mary's volleyball program."

2009 St. Mary's Numerical Roster