University of Massachusets Athletics
Small & Stehnova Receive All-Conference Honors
November 16, 2001 | Women's Volleyball
Nov. 16, 2001
Philadelphia- Two University of Massachusetts volleyball players received Atlantic 10 All-Conference honors after a vote of the league's coaches, Sophomore Nitia Small (Los Angeles, Calif.) was a first team selection and junior Jitka Stehnova (Odolena Voda) was an All-Rookie team pick.
Small led the Minutewomen in kills (282) and kills per game (3.28) and was second in blocks per game (0.71). The Atlantic 10 Player of the Week on Nov. 5, Small led the UMass offensive this season, recording team-high kills in 13 matches. A native from Los Angeles, Calif., Small was a four-year letterwinner at Campbell High School were she was the team's Most Valuable Player as a senior and was a second team all-league selection.
Stehnova was the starting setter for UMass, dishing an average of 11.16 assists per game. She was also a key defensive player, ranking third on the team in digs per game (2.64) and blocks (40). Stehnova was second the conference in service aces with 45. A Czech Republic native, Stehnova was a two-time Youth Champion de Europe and the 1998 Junior Champion de Europe in beach volleyball.
The Minutewomen finished the 2001 season with a 15-11 overall record and an 8-8 conference mark. UMass' fifth place finish left it just shy of the A-10 tournament where the top four teams compete for a bid to the NCAA Regional Tournament.
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