BLOOMINGTON, Ill. - Senior outside hitter Michele Malinowski has been chosen as the “Most Valuable Player” for the 2008 Illinois Wesleyan University volleyball team.

Malinowski (Shorewood, Ill., Providence Catholic HS) earned honorable mention on the Division III All-American volleyball squads named by the American Volleyball Coaches Association and was also chosen to the first team of the all-College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin volleyball squads. She led the Titans with 359 kills and was second on the team with 367 defensive digs.

Malinowski finished her career No. 7 all-time at the school in kills (1,189), No. 19 in digs (846) and No. 20 in blocks (167).

IWU finished with an 18-17 overall record and tied for second in the league with a 5-2 mark.

Other Team Honors

In other team honors, junior Amy Van Der Voorn (East Peoria, Ill., Morton HS) was the winner of the team's "Most Inspirational Player" honor and sophomore Lori Johnson (Bloomington, Ill., Normal Community HS) earned the “Titan Volleyball Strength Award.”

VanDerVoorn was fifth on the team with 189 kills and fourth with 296 digs. She was also third on the 2008 Titans with 54 total blocks.

Johnson was third on the team with 281 kills and was second with 77 total blocks.

Freshman Katelyn Demonbreun (Manteno, Ill., HS) was the winner of the squad's “Most Improved Player” honor.

VanDerVoorn will be joined by fellow juniors Emily Hagen (Burr Ridge, Ill., Nazareth Academy) and Jackie Wrobel (Lemont, Ill., HS) as 2009 team captains.

Also an honorable mention AVCA All-American and a first team all-CCIW choice as a middle hitter, Hagen was second on the team with 357 kills and led Wesleyan with a .298 hitting percentage and with 114 total blocks.

A libero, Wrobel led the team with 551 defesive digs.

Head coach Kim Nelson-Brown awarded letters to 12 players, including 10 who return for next season. They are, with hometowns and high schools:

SENIORS – Michelle Malinowski (Shorewood, Providence Catholic HS), Jessica Nardulli (Springfield, Ill., Lutheran HS).

JUNIORS – Emily Hagen (Burr Ridge, Ill., Nazareth Academy), Amy VanDerVoorn (East Peoria, Ill., Morton HS), Jackie Wrobel (Lemont, Ill., HS)

SOPHOMORES – Lori Johnson (Bloomington, Ill., Normal Community HS), Teresa Kirk (Bloomington, Ill., Central Catholic HS)

FRESHMEN – Kirsten Andersen (Princeton, Ill., HS), Kate Demonbreun (Manteno, Ill., HS), Stacy Hassinger (Noblesville, Ind., Westfield HS), Gaby Johnson (Knoxville, Iowa, Chariton HS), Katie Racanelli (Western Springs, Ill., Fenwick HS)