January 10, 2007
CONTACT:Stew Salowitz, 309-556-3206

Passananti Named Illinois Wesleyan Volleyball “MVP”

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. — Junior Jenna Passananti has been chosen as the “Most Valuable Player” for the 2006 Illinois Wesleyan University volleyball team.
Passananti, a setter from Western Springs, Ill. (LaGrange Lyons Township HS), led the 24-12 Titans with a school-record 1,592 set assists and with 51 service aces. After three seasons in IWU volleyball history, she is second in career assists with 4,244, fourth in digs (1,199), 12th in service aces (144) and 21st in blocks (149).
A first team all-Midwest Region and all-College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin selection, Passananti was only the fourth IWU volleyball player ever to earn All-American honors as she was named to the third team of the Division III squads chosen by the American Volleyball Coaches Association.
Tiffany Hamblin (third team, 2002), Beth Crowley (honorable mention, 2003) and Molly May (honorable mention, 2004) are other IWU volleyball All-Americans.

Other Team Honors

In other team honors, senior libero Jaclyn Verticchio (Jacksonville, Ill. HS) was the winner of the team's "Most Inspirational Player" honor and senior outside hitter Natalie Quinton (Shirley, Sterling Newman HS) earned the “Titan Volleyball Strength Award.”
Verticchio, an honorable mention all-CCIW selection, set the school’s single season record with 665 defensive digs in 2006 and became IWU’s all-time leader in digs with 1,860.
Quinton was fifth on the team with 2.30 kills per game and third with 3.43 digs per game. She ended her career ranked No. 16 at the school with 941 digs.
Freshman setter Patrice O’Neill (Lansing, Ill., Marian Catholic HS) was the winner of the squad’s “Most Improved Player” honor.
Passananti and junior Ashley Reed (Lemont HS) were chosen to serve as co-captains for the 2007 team with another captain to be added prior to the season.
Reed was second on the 2006 squad in digs with 3.76 per game and third with .36 services aces per game.

Head coach Kim Nelson-Brown awarded letters to 13 players, including seven who return for next season. They are, with hometowns and high schools:

SENIORS - Lisa Cercello (Joliet, Providence Catholic HS), Colleen Ernst (Lemont, Montini Catholic HS), Natalie Quinton (Shirley, Sterling Newman HS); Melissa Serritella (St. Charles, North HS), Sarah Vegter (Lombard, Willowbrook HS). Jaclyn Verticchio (Jacksonville HS).

JUNIORS - Jenna Passananti (Western Springs, LaGrange Lyons HS), Ashley Reed (Lemont HS).

SOPHOMORES – Michelle Malinowski (Shorewood, Providence Catholic HS), Jessica Nardulli (Springfield, Ill., Lutheran HS), Katie Windsor (Midlothian, Ill., Bremen HS).

FRESHMEN –Katie Butson (Troy, Ohio, Christian HS), Amy VanDerVoorn (Morton, Ill. HS).