Nov. 18, 2004

Duquesne University took five Atlantic 10 post-season 10 volleyball laurels as announced Thursday evening by the Atlantic 10 Conference at the pre-championship banquet. Junior middle hitter Diana Wuebker (St. Henry, Ohio/St. Henry) was named to the All-Conference team while freshman setter Kristin Garnett (Frankfort, Ill./Lincoln-Way East) was selected to the All-Rookie squad. Joining them is senior outside hitter Erin Trageser (Pittsburgh, Pa./Baldwin), who along with Wuebker, was named to the All-Academic list. Head Coach Steve Opperman was voted as the Atlantic 10 Co-Coach of the Year by his peers after leading the Dukes to their first A-10 berth since 1994.

Duquesne, the No. 4 seed, is hosting this year's championship at the A.J. Palumbo Center and will face top-seeded Dayton in the opening match tomorrow, Nov. 19, at 5:00 pm.

Wuebker earns her second-straight All-Atlantic 10 citation and her third post-season award as she was named All-Conference last season and was also tabbed an All-Rookie pick in 2002. She leads the Dukes in kills (3.18) and blocks (1.08) and stands second in digs (3.16). The three-year starter posts 20 matches with double-figure kills paced by a 22-attack performance at Youngstown State. Wuebker recorded double-digit digs in 19 matches en route to 13 double-double matches. She also leads Duquesne with 45 service aces, which ranks second in the A-10. She is also second in blocks, and is ninth is hitting percentage and kills among A-10 leaders. Wuebker is two blocks shy of taking over first on Duquesne's single-season total blocks list with 122 entering the championship. The elementary education major is also an All-Academic pick and owns a 3.526 GPA.

Garnett leads the Dukes' offense running the setting position like a seasoned veteran. The rookie has taken over the DU's top spot on the single-season assists list with 1,400 to date, which ranks fourth in the career standings. Her total is second among A-10 leaders. Garnett was twice named an A-10 Rookie of the Week honoree. She also adds 205 digs, 59 kills, 36 blocks and 15 aces this season. Garnet has recorded 50 or more assists in 12 matches, including a career-best 61 vs. Georgia State.

Trageser joins Wuebker on the All-Academic team boasting a 3.88 GPA as a health management systems major. A three-year starter, she stands third on the team with 2.92 digs and is fourth with 2.27 kills. Trageser adds 50 assists, 39 blocks and 11 service aces. She has 17 matches with double-figure digs, which includes a career-best 23 vs. Eastern Kentucky. The outside hitter also has 11 matches with 10 or more kills and has hit double-digit kills / digs in nine outings.

Opperman earns his second shared A-10 Coach of the Year laurel after leading the Dukes to a 15-15 overall mark and 7-7 showing in the Atlantic 10. The New Bremen, Ohio native guided his Dukes to sole possession of fourth place in the league to earn the team's first A-10 championship berth since 1994. Opperman was named Co-Coach of the year in 2001 when DU went 16-10 overall, 8-8 in league play. He is 95-112 in seven season at Duquesne and is 214-228 in 14 years as a head coach.