Northeastern University Athletics | Volleyball | Huskies finish off great 2008

Huskies finish off great 2008
Dec. 19, 2008
Boston, Mass.

It was a remarkable season for the Huskies as they ended the season 19-11 overall and 12-2 in the CAA. The 12-2 conference mark is the best the Huskies have ever finished in the CAA since joining the league in 2005. It was also the first time since 1992 that Northeastern has finished first in a conference (America East). The Huskies also advanced to the CAA Finals, which was the first time in seven years that NU has been to a conference finals match.

The team won a plethora of awards in 2008. Senior Lauren DeTurk was named 2008 CAA Player of the Year, first-team All-CAA, All-East Region Honorable Mention (AVCA), All-CAA Tournament and preseason All-CAA. Nine-year head Coach Ken Nichols was named CAA Co-Coach of the Year. Sophomore Britney Brown earned first-team All-CAA honors, CAA Player of the Week, and CVU.com “Top Performer of the Week.” Junior Leah Neubeck added an All-CAA Tournament selection to the list.

The Huskies also had several players finish on top of the CAA in several different categories. DeTurk finished second in the conference in kills (364), second in points (3.94), third in service aces (32), and sixth in digs (345). Brown was first in the conference in service aces (41) while Neubeck finished fifth in digs (374). Caitlin Tittl and Jessica Tkachuk finished seventh in the CAA in hit percentage and assists respectfully. Northeastern as a team topped the conference in hit percentage and service aces.

NU saw a variety of milestones surpassed in 2008. DeTurk became just the sixth player in program history to pass the 1,000 plateau in both kills and digs, reaching the mark0 in both categories in 2008. Her 1,330 kills and 1,140 digs rank third and ninth on the all-time career list. Brown broke a NU serve ace record after recording 10 in a three-set match. Brown also had two matches in which she posted a triple-double. In addition, Brown broke the 1,000 assists mark. Neubeck became the 11th Husky to exceed 1,000 digs, and currently ranks second on the all-time digs list.

Northeastern will bid adieu to three key players in Lauren DeTurk, Brianna Seitz, and Sarah Stein. However, the Huskies return a solid group of talented, confident and experience players.

Season recap:

The Huskies had one of the toughest schedules in the CAA facing two ranked opponents in No. 2 Nebraska and No. 14 Cal Poly early in the season. NU played 16 out of its first 18 matches on the road to start off the 2008 season. Fourteen of Northeastern’s 19 victories came from sweeping its opponents 3-0.

The Huskies began the 2008 season in Tampa, Fla. at the USF Invitational. Northeastern swept Eastern Kentucky and Grambling in its first two matches of the invitational, before falling 3-1 to host South Florida in the finals.

NU then traveled to San Luis Obispo. Calif. to participate in the Paso Robles Marriot Invitational. The Huskies had their hands full as they faced second-ranked Nebraska, fourteenth-ranked and host Cal Poly, and Tulane. The team fought hard and strong throughout the invitational but dropped three matches.

The Huskies then went to Syracuse, NY to take part in the Big Orange Tournament. NU faced Army, Ohio, and host Syracuse at the Tournament. Northeastern started off strong in all of the matches but was unable to come away with a win.

Following a 2-7 start, the Huskies went on an 11-match win streak, which was the fourth-longest win streak in Northeastern history. NU raced through the CAA during the streak, starting a perfect 7-0 in the conference.

NU’s streak began at Rhode Island and continued on a month later at Solomon Court against UNC Wilmington. During the streak the Huskies defeated long-time foe Hofstra, 3-2, and ended William & Mary’s seven-home-match-win streak. Northeastern also captured the Mass. Challenge Tournament at Solomon Court defeating Boston College and Holy Cross.

Northeastern’s streak would come to an end with back-to-back losses to Hofstra and non-conference opponent Fairfield, giving the Huskies their first loss in over a month. However, the Huskies would bounce back to win five of their last six matches, including the final three, to secure the top spot in the CAA, home court and first round bye in the CAA Tournament.

The Huskies faced long-time rival and fifth-seeded Hofstra Pride in the semifinals. Northeastern came out with a mission and had something to prove as they downed the Pride in straight sets. Both teams battled back and forth in the first set. Hofstra was able to get some breathing room late in the set with a 23-20 lead. The Pride was able to get set point two different times, but NU’s Caitlin Tittl prevented a HU victory by converting on two attempts allowing the Huskies to take a 28-26 win off of the swings of Lauren DeTurk. Northeastern kept the momentum going in the second set holding the Pride to a .000 hit percentage and winning the set 25-20. The Huskies then made quick work of Hofstra in the third set defeated the Pride 25-17. Senior Brianna Seitz who tied a match-high in kills with 10 and had seven digs. Lauren DeTurk added eight kills, a match-high 18 digs, and two blocks. Britney Brown posted 22 assists, eight kills, and six digs. Junior Leah Neubeck chipped in with 16 digs.

Northeastern would see a remarkable season come-up short in the CAA Finals against third-seeded Delaware. The Huskies came within two points of capturing its first CAA title, but lost in the deciding fifth set 15-13 and lost the match 3-2 to Delaware in the CAA Championship match. DeTurk’s career-high 28 kills and 18 digs, and Brown second triple-double of the season (31 assists, 10 kills, 11 digs) were not enough to carry the Huskies over to win.

The Huskies look to grow and build as a team as they learn from this experience and carry it over to the 2009 season.



	HUSKIES HEADLINES SCHEDULES & RESULTS CALENDAR OF EVENTS RADIO & TV SCHEDULE ATHLETE OF THE WEEK HUSKIES INSIDER NORTHEASTERN TWITTER CAA BLOOD CHALLENGE DIRECTIONS SPECIAL EVENTS TRAVEL RSS FEEDS HUSKY ATHLETICS FUND CORPORATE PARTNERS MERCHANDISE TICKET INFORMATION iPHONE APPLICATION NCENTIVES HALL OF FAME CHEERLEADING MISSION & GOALS HISTORY STAFF DIRECTORY FACILITIES CAMPS & CLINICS MEDIA GUIDES NCAA COMPLIANCE NCAA CERTIFICATION SPORTS INFORMATION SPORTS MEDICINE STRENGTH & CONDITIONING STUDENT ATHLETES FIRST SUPPORT SERVICES P.A.W.S. INITIATIVE NORTHEASTERN WEBSITE BOSTON CAMPUS RECREATION SPORT IN SOCIETY GoNU.com INDEX	Schedule Coaches Roster Stats Archives Huskies finish off great 2008 Dec. 19, 2008 Boston, Mass. It was a remarkable season for the Huskies as they ended the season 19-11 overall and 12-2 in the CAA. The 12-2 conference mark is the best the Huskies have ever finished in the CAA since joining the league in 2005. It was also the first time since 1992 that Northeastern has finished first in a conference (America East). The Huskies also advanced to the CAA Finals, which was the first time in seven years that NU has been to a conference finals match. The team won a plethora of awards in 2008. Senior Lauren DeTurk was named 2008 CAA Player of the Year, first-team All-CAA, All-East Region Honorable Mention (AVCA), All-CAA Tournament and preseason All-CAA. Nine-year head Coach Ken Nichols was named CAA Co-Coach of the Year. Sophomore Britney Brown earned first-team All-CAA honors, CAA Player of the Week, and CVU.com “Top Performer of the Week.” Junior Leah Neubeck added an All-CAA Tournament selection to the list. The Huskies also had several players finish on top of the CAA in several different categories. DeTurk finished second in the conference in kills (364), second in points (3.94), third in service aces (32), and sixth in digs (345). Brown was first in the conference in service aces (41) while Neubeck finished fifth in digs (374). Caitlin Tittl and Jessica Tkachuk finished seventh in the CAA in hit percentage and assists respectfully. Northeastern as a team topped the conference in hit percentage and service aces. NU saw a variety of milestones surpassed in 2008. DeTurk became just the sixth player in program history to pass the 1,000 plateau in both kills and digs, reaching the mark0 in both categories in 2008. Her 1,330 kills and 1,140 digs rank third and ninth on the all-time career list. Brown broke a NU serve ace record after recording 10 in a three-set match. Brown also had two matches in which she posted a triple-double. In addition, Brown broke the 1,000 assists mark. Neubeck became the 11th Husky to exceed 1,000 digs, and currently ranks second on the all-time digs list. Northeastern will bid adieu to three key players in Lauren DeTurk, Brianna Seitz, and Sarah Stein. However, the Huskies return a solid group of talented, confident and experience players. Season recap: The Huskies had one of the toughest schedules in the CAA facing two ranked opponents in No. 2 Nebraska and No. 14 Cal Poly early in the season. NU played 16 out of its first 18 matches on the road to start off the 2008 season. Fourteen of Northeastern’s 19 victories came from sweeping its opponents 3-0. The Huskies began the 2008 season in Tampa, Fla. at the USF Invitational. Northeastern swept Eastern Kentucky and Grambling in its first two matches of the invitational, before falling 3-1 to host South Florida in the finals. NU then traveled to San Luis Obispo. Calif. to participate in the Paso Robles Marriot Invitational. The Huskies had their hands full as they faced second-ranked Nebraska, fourteenth-ranked and host Cal Poly, and Tulane. The team fought hard and strong throughout the invitational but dropped three matches. The Huskies then went to Syracuse, NY to take part in the Big Orange Tournament. NU faced Army, Ohio, and host Syracuse at the Tournament. Northeastern started off strong in all of the matches but was unable to come away with a win. Following a 2-7 start, the Huskies went on an 11-match win streak, which was the fourth-longest win streak in Northeastern history. NU raced through the CAA during the streak, starting a perfect 7-0 in the conference. NU’s streak began at Rhode Island and continued on a month later at Solomon Court against UNC Wilmington. During the streak the Huskies defeated long-time foe Hofstra, 3-2, and ended William & Mary’s seven-home-match-win streak. Northeastern also captured the Mass. Challenge Tournament at Solomon Court defeating Boston College and Holy Cross. Northeastern’s streak would come to an end with back-to-back losses to Hofstra and non-conference opponent Fairfield, giving the Huskies their first loss in over a month. However, the Huskies would bounce back to win five of their last six matches, including the final three, to secure the top spot in the CAA, home court and first round bye in the CAA Tournament. The Huskies faced long-time rival and fifth-seeded Hofstra Pride in the semifinals. Northeastern came out with a mission and had something to prove as they downed the Pride in straight sets. Both teams battled back and forth in the first set. Hofstra was able to get some breathing room late in the set with a 23-20 lead. The Pride was able to get set point two different times, but NU’s Caitlin Tittl prevented a HU victory by converting on two attempts allowing the Huskies to take a 28-26 win off of the swings of Lauren DeTurk. Northeastern kept the momentum going in the second set holding the Pride to a .000 hit percentage and winning the set 25-20. The Huskies then made quick work of Hofstra in the third set defeated the Pride 25-17. Senior Brianna Seitz who tied a match-high in kills with 10 and had seven digs. Lauren DeTurk added eight kills, a match-high 18 digs, and two blocks. Britney Brown posted 22 assists, eight kills, and six digs. Junior Leah Neubeck chipped in with 16 digs. Northeastern would see a remarkable season come-up short in the CAA Finals against third-seeded Delaware. The Huskies came within two points of capturing its first CAA title, but lost in the deciding fifth set 15-13 and lost the match 3-2 to Delaware in the CAA Championship match. DeTurk’s career-high 28 kills and 18 digs, and Brown second triple-double of the season (31 assists, 10 kills, 11 digs) were not enough to carry the Huskies over to win. The Huskies look to grow and build as a team as they learn from this experience and carry it over to the 2009 season.