Colorado Springs, Colo. ­ The American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA), in conjunction with Tachikara USA, Inc., is proud to announce that Barb Wnek of Point Loma Nazarene University has been selected the 2001 Tachikara/AVCA NAIA National Coach of the Year.

Under Wnek's leadership PLNU advanced to the semifinal round of the NAIA National Tournament before falling to eventual runner-up National American University in five games. The Lady Crusaders posted a 35-4 record, including a season-opening streak of 17 straight victories. PLNU defeated  nine different ranked teams and swept NCAA Division II semifinalist UC San Diego.

The Lady Crusaders were ranked as high as second nationally this year, and never fell out of the top six, en route to tallying a school-record win total of 35 matches. Wnek's roster included two NAIA First-Team All-Americans in junior setter Sola Del Rio and freshman outside hitter Carolina Sbodio.

In 16 seasons Wnek has taken six teams to the national tournament, advancing to at least the quarterfinals each time. She has been selected the NAIA Region II Coach of the Year on two occasions (1995 and 2000) and guided her 1996 squad to a runner-up finish in the national tournament.

A graduate of Biola University, Wnek earned her master's degree in sports psychology from San Diego State University. She was the NAIA District 3 Player of the Year in 1986 and was a two-time NAIA All-American while at Biola.

Tachikara will formally present the National Coach of the Year awards on Thursday, Dec. 13, 2001, in San Diego at the Tachikara/AVCA Coach of the Year banquet.  The brunch, which will begin at 10 a.m. at the San Diego Marriott Hotel and Marina, is held in conjunction with the 2001 AVCA National Convention.