Niagara's Susan Clements Named National Coach of the Year
Niagara Media Relations
NIAGARA UNIV., N.Y. - Niagara head volleyball coach Susan Clements was named 2009 National Coach of the Year by College Volleyball Update (CVU.com). The third-year head coach led Niagara to its first ever MAAC title this season.
Clements guided the Purple Eagles to the biggest turnaround in the NCAA this season. NU earned a 6-24 record last year with a 4-14 mark in conference play last year as the youngest team in the nation, but the third-year leader coached the squad to a 14-4 mark in MAAC play in 2009, and a 23-9 overall mark, both school records.
Playing in their first MAAC Tournament, the Purple Eagles knocked out the four-time defending champion Siena in five sets before sweeping Marist in the MAAC Championship. Niagara won its first ever conference title and advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the first time, facing Michigan.
Clements also earned 2009 MAAC Coach of the Year, while guiding the 2009 MAAC Setter of Year Michelle James and 2009 MAAC Defensive Player of the Year Hannah Hedrick. Both sophomores were also named to the 2009 All-MAAC First-Team.
Hedrick also picked up Honorable Mention All-American honors from CVU.com this week. The sophomore outside hitter recorded 472 kills, ranking second on the school's single-season chart and collected 401 digs. She collected double-digit kill totals in all but two matches, including every MAAC contest, while adding a double-double a league-best 24-times.