NEWPORT NEWS, Va. - CNU's regular season USA South champion volleyball team swept all the major awards, and placed five players on the first two all-conference teams, in awards announced Wednesday by the conference.

Junior Caitlyn Jansen was named Player of the Year, freshman Kara Elder Rookie of the Year and coach Lindsay Birch Coach of the Year.

Jansen and Elder were first team all-conference selections, while sophomore Jessie Heavenrich and freshmen Cory Harris and Bailey Jensen were named to the second team.

Jansen made the amazing leap from being a non-starter for two years on two very strong CNU teams to conference Player of the Year. She leads the Captains with a .349 attack percentage and is co-leader in kills at 353. In addition she is second on the team with 61 blocks.

Elder was has been CNU's leader in kills most of the season and is currently tied with Jansen with 353. She also has 340 digs.

Heavenrich has taken over most of the setting duties for the Captains and has 711 assists. 


Harris is third on the team with 281 kills and also has 287 digs.

Jensen leads CNU in blocking with 98 and has 273 kills of her own.

Birch won the Coach of the Year award for the third consecutive year and fifth time overall in her eight years at CNU.

The Captains, now 31-6, will host the USA South championship tournament Friday and Saturday. They will play fourth-seeded Methodist at 7:30 Friday. The championship match will be Saturday at 5:00.

The all-conference team