RECORD HOME WINNING STREAK COMES TO AN END

written by Dave Parsons, Sports Information Director

   All good things must come to an end and the Mount Vernon Nazarene College women's volleyball team found out on September 26, 1997, just how true that statement is as the Lady Cougars had their NAIA-record 70-match home winning streak snapped by Cornerstone (MI) College in the opening match of the 1997 Wazie Invitational.

   Cornerstone (13-5) entered the match against MVNC ranked eighth in the latest NAIA Great Lakes region poll, while the Lady Cougars (16-3) were ranked ninth in the same poll. After a hard-fought, two-hour match, the Golden Eagles prevailed 15-12, 1-15, 9-15, 15-11, 15-11.

   "This loss was very disappointing for us," said MVNC head coach Paul Swanson. "Not only did the streak end, but we lost the first match of our own tournament to a good, regionally-ranked team."

   "The winning streak was not something that we ever planned on or set as one of our goals," Swanson added. "It was like a good friend that came about as a result of us playing consistently well at home over a long period of time. It has been a good way for our program to get recognition over the past couple of years, but now we can get back to focusing on our main goals which include winning the Mid-Ohio Conference title and competing for the NCCAA national crown."

   "The Streak," which began with a victory over Kenyon College on October 24, 1991, included five complete seasons with no home losses. Julee Anderson, Melissa Gregory, and Jodi Webb (1992-95) became the first class of players to go all four years without a home loss as they compiled a 50-0 home record. Courtny Testa (1993-96) became the fourth player to accomplish that feat as she went 51-0 at home during her career.

   MVNC broke the NAIA record for consecutive home victories when the Lady Cougars swept Malone College 15-5, 15-9, 15-9 on October 13, 1994, to pass the previous record of 37 straight home wins set by Indiana University-Purdue University of Indianapolis from 1991 to 1993.

   Besides holding the NAIA record for the longest volleyball home winning streak, MVNC's streak also ranks second all-time among NCAA and NAIA teams in the history of collegiate volleyball. The only other longer streak is held by NCAA Division III power, University of Washington (MO). The Lady Bears' streak of 102 consecutive home wins also came to an end during the 1997 season.

   Below is a list of all 70 matches that made up "The Streak". Before the loss to Cornerstone, the Lady Cougars' last home loss was on October 17, 1991, against Capital University. MVNC compiled an incredible 199-20 (.909 winning percentage) game record during the streak, including losing just one game during 14 home matches in 1993.

"The Streak"