Spotlight
Killing It By Greg Pellegrino
10
WINTER / 2018
Photos:Geoffrey Photo: David Pavlak Bolte (Rosen); Julia Lehman-McTigue (commencement)
I
t was a season for the ages for the Holy Family University women’s volleyball team. The Tigers won their first Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) Championship, advanced to the NCAA Division II East Region Final, and along the way set a program record with 31 victories. It was also a season to remember for senior Chase Wassel, who capped her four-year playing career as one of the program’s most decorated players. She totaled a career-high 644 kills this season, second most in Division II. Wassel, a communications major, also recorded a career-high 74 service aces, tops among the national leaders. Not to mention, she also averaged 2.98 digs per set and totaled 57 blocks; one shy of her career-high. Throughout the season her success on the court was rewarded as she was named the CACC Player of the Week six times. At one point Wassel received the honor in four consecutive weeks. The postseason honors weren’t far behind. Wassel was named the program’s first American Volleyball Coaches Association All-American and also received the honor from the NCAA Division II Conference Commissioner’s Association. She was selected the East Region Player of the Year by both associations. Wassel was also named the program’s first CACC Player of the Year and earned All-CACC honors for the third straight season. Not to be out done, Wassel was the Most Valuable Player at the CACC Tournament and was named to the All-Tournament team at the East Regional. “On behalf of my teammates, coaches, and myself, I would like to thank the entire Holy Family community, friends, and family for their continual support all season long,” Wassel said. "Nothing this team has accomplished this season could be done alone. I will forever be grateful for the memories, lessons, and blessing Holy Family has given me over the course of my career, and I look forward to seeing the success of this team in the future. Once a Tiger, always a Tiger.” Wassel finished her career as the program’s all-time leader with 1,992 kills. She is also fifth all-time with 1,501 digs and third in aces with 202. She is one of three players in program history to record 1,000-plus kills and digs in a single career.
