Concordia U setter named athlete of the year
Recent Concordia University, St. Paul, grad Maggie McNamara has been named the Honda Sports Award Division II Female Athlete of the Year. McNamara earned this honor for her contribution as four-year starting setter of the volleyball team.
Maggie McNamara prepares to set a teammate during the 2009 national volleyball championship game at Concordia University.
Being an athlete in college teaches you so much and you experience things that other students don’t have the chance to.” -Maggie McNamara
“I was very surprised at first,” McNamara told Metro Lutheran via e-mail. “(A)s time went on I felt so honored. It felt amazing to represent my team and school at such a high level. I share this award with my teammates, coaches, administrators, and the rest of the Concordia community,” she added.
“This is a huge deal for anyone, but, as a little private school, to win this award really means a lot to us,” said Brady Starkey, head coach of the Concordia Volleyball team.
McNamara was also humbled by the award: “[A]t the press conference in L.A., I was in awe. Being surrounded by such elite athletes and administrators from years past to present made me feel incredible,” McNamara said. “Honda American and the Collegiate Women’s Sports Awards are great organizations that are doing so much for women’s athletics.”
Concordia University’s volleyball team prepares to continue its undefeated streak, now encompassing two seasons. The team will defend the national championship, which it has won three years in a row.
“[McNamara] will be sorely missed, to say the least,” Starkey said.
“I would encourage anyone who has the chance to play athletics in college to take it, no matter the level,” McNamara suggests. “Being an athlete in college teaches you so much and you experience things that other students don’t have the chance to.”
Tags: Brady Starkey, Concordia University St. Paul, Honda Sports Award Division II Female Athlete of the Year, Maggie McNamara, Ryan Cosgrove
