by Nathan Silva
Staff Writer
Ryan Winn, University of La Verne senior setter, has been named the Asics/Volleyball Magazine 2001 Division III Player of the Year, making her the first ULV athlete to achieve such a national honor.
In the same way that the ULV women’s volleyball team quietly made a national name for itself, so did this award come upon its leader. Even before she knew, readers of Volleyball Magazine were recognizing Winn as the National Player of the Year.
Winn, who had already added 2001 First Team AVCA All-American, NCAA All Tournament Team, All-West Region, and Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Player of the Year honors, and a national championship ring to her trophy case this season, said she never saw this one coming.
“Don (Flora) told me to look in the magazine because I was in it,” recalls Winn. “I just thought it was just my name or something.”
As Winn thumbed through the pages with her sister and the team’s assistant coach Randi Smart, they came across the Division III awards. At the top of that list was “Player of the Year – Ryan Winn.” Winn was just as shocked as she was honored.
Winn, who will graduate in May with a degree in Liberal Studies, has led her team to a remarkable 52-3 mark over her two seasons as the Leopards’ setter, a winning percentage of .945.
During this past season, La Verne defeated three of the country’s top four teams. In route to the national crown, Winn distributed 1,009 assists (12.3 per game).
Though her hitters were key on the court, it was Smart who pushed her the hardest.
“Randi trained my rear end off,” says Winn, thinking of all the hours they put in together on the track, in the weight room and on the court.
“At the beginning of the year she asked me how much I wanted her to push me.” As if the results weren’t evidence enough, Winn’s answer was, “As hard as she could.”
Aside from the national championship, which she cherishes over all of her individual awards, Winn set out to be the best in the country and Smart wanted it too.
Being the best, Winn says, “Was not only my goal, but hers at the same time.”
During her last two matches in the Final Four, Winn tallied 121 assists and had 43 digs. In the match that gave the program its first national championship since 1982. Winn recorded 64 assists and contributed 26 digs against Wisconsin-Whitewater.
As she looks ahead to next year’s campaign, which she will not be a part of, Winn is very optimistic about the team she knows she’ll miss.
Expecting another SCIAC crown, she wouldn’t be at all surprised if the Leopards take the national stage again.
“Once you get there you know what it takes to get there, and we know we belong there,” says Winn.
Head coach Don Flora, who was honored by AVCA/Tachikara and Volleyball Magazine with dual Coach of the Year awards, knows he’ll have two big shoes to fill next year.
“We’ll miss her talent, her making the big play, her making the team better, and her competitive attitude.”
“I feel sorry for whoever I find to take out my competitive juices on,” Winn apologizes in advance. After nine years of volleyball it just won’t be the same.
Winn plans to stay busy though, having gotten an engagement ring to accompany her championship ring this past December. A teaching career is also on the horizon for the ULV senior.
Though she says she “will miss volleyball immensely,” Winn leaves the court knowing, “I’ve done all I can do.”
Nate Silva
