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Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Wingate's Shelton Collier named Southeast Region Coach of the Year by AVCA

Lexington, Ky.----Wingate University head coach Shelton Collier has been named the Southeast Region Coach of the Year by the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA), officials announced Wednesday afternoon. Collier guided the Bulldogs to their fifth consecutive SAC regular season and tournament title, while also leading Wingate to its first-ever NCAA Division II Elite Eight. Collier wins the award for the third straight year.

Collier guided the Bulldogs to their fourth consecutive undefeated season in SAC play. Wingate has won a SAC record 64 consecutive league matches. The Bulldogs are 31-1 overall, leading the nation with a .969 winning percentage. They are currently riding a nation’s best 29-match winning streak.

Wingate has won at least 30 matches in each of the last four seasons. The ‘Dogs are 131-7 overall since the start of the 2007 season, good for a nation’s best .949 winning percentage.

Collier became the first coach in SAC history to be named the conference Coach of the Year four consecutive seasons. In his ninth season at Wingate, Collier has an overall record of 241-53. He is in his 29th year of coaching in his career with a record of 808-260. Collier has led the Bulldogs to six consecutive NCAA Division II tournament appearances and seven in the last eight years. Wingate has hosted the NCAA Southeast Regional tournament the past three seasons.

            Collier’s Wingate team is among the nation’s best in nearly every statistical category. The NCAA has team rankings for seven categories. The Bulldogs are in the top 10 in five categories, while ranking in the top 20 in six of the seven. Wingate leads the nation in winning percentage (.969), ranks third in kills per set (14.93), third in assists per set (14.07), seventh in digs per set (18.45) and ninth hitting percentage (.273). Wingate is 19th in the nation with 2.23 blocks per set.

This year, the Bulldogs won their first NCAA Regional title in school history. They also became the first team in the history of SAC volleyball to earn a bid to the Elite Eight. Wingate has been the number one team in every NCAA Southeast regional poll since 2008. The Bulldogs won their first NCAA Tournament contest in 2008. Wingate went to the regional title match in 2009, while winning its first regional championship last weekend. The Bulldogs became the first team in SAC history in 2009 to earn an AVCA top 25 ranking. Wingate is currently 25th in the AVCA poll.
          
Wingate looks to continue its success next week in the Elite Eight. The Bulldogs will take on the University of Central Missouri in the national quarter-finals Thursday, Dec. 2 at 7:30 p.m. The national semifinals are Friday, Dec. 3, while the championship match is Saturday, Dec. 4. The national tournament will be held in Louisville, Ky.

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