Juniata's Bock Named Tachikara/AVCA Division III Coach of the Year

 

LEXINGTON, Ky. – The American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA), in conjunction with Tachikara USA, Inc, is proud to announce that Juniata College Head Women’s Volleyball Coach Larry Bock has been selected as the 2006 Tachikara/AVCA Division III National Coach of the Year^SM.

In his thirtieth season as Juniata Head Coach, Bock led the Eagles to their second NCAA Division III national championship in three years, reaching their third consecutive championship match.  Juniata went undefeated in Division III play this season, with the only blemish on their 41-1 record coming at the hands of Division I Princeton.  The Eagles did not lose more than one game in Division III competition all season until the finals of the NCAA Tournament, when they came from behind to defeat Washington University in St. Louis 3-2 to claim the championship.

Juniata was ranked No. 1 preseason on the CSTV/AVCA Division III Top 25 Coaches Poll, a spot they never relinquished in 2006; they were a unanimous choice for that top slot every week during the season except week one.  The Eagles went 8-0 during the regular season against other teams who appeared on the Top 25 Coaches Poll, further solidifying their role as favorite entering the NCAA Tournament.  During the championship competition, Juniata swept through their first five opponents, including two Top 25 foes, before outlasting Washington in five games in the finals.

Bock, the active leader in women’s volleyball career wins at any level of NCAA play, is one of the most accomplished and successful coaches in the history of the sport.  After posting a 41-1 record this season, Bock’s career record now stands at 1,110-172, a winning percentage of .866, making him the active leader in Division III in that category as well.  Under Bock’s direction, the Eagles have placed 33 players on the AVCA Division III All-America teams, including this year’s 2006 AVCA Division III National Player of the Year Stephanie Kines.  This is the fifth time Bock has won the Tachikara/AVCA National Coach of the Year award, winning also in 1984, 1989, 1993 and 2004.

Tachikara will formally present the AVCA Division III National Coach of the Year award to Larry Bock on Dec. 14 in Omaha, Neb. at the Tachikara/AVCA Coach of the Year and Victory Club Awards^SM banquet. The banquet is held in conjunction with the 2006 AVCA Annual Convention.

Tachikara can be found on the world wide web at www.tachikara.com.