Top NJCAA coaches and players recognized by AVCA

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Charlotte, NC - The NJCAA's top coaches and players were honored by the American Volleyball Coaches Association last week, receiving recognition at the AVCA Convention in Minneapolis, MN.  

At the 2018 Jostens Coaches Honors Luncheon on December 13, eight of the NJCAA's top volleyball coaches were honored for their contributions to two-year college volleyball and the success of their team's in the 2018 season.  

Long-time Illinois Central head coach, Sue Sinclair was inducted into the AVCA Hall of Fame as a member of the 2018 class.  Sinclair has been at the helm of Illinois Central volleyball for 29 seasons.  During that time, she has accumulated 952 wins and a 0.68-win percentage.  Sinclair is the most winning active coach in NJCAA volleyball and ranks third on the list of all-time NJCAA volleyball coaching wins.  Throughout her tenure, Sinclair has led the Cougars to 18 NJCAA Division II Volleyball Championship appearances.  

This is not the first time Sinclair has been recognized by the AVCA for her outstanding work.  In 2009, she was named the AVCA National Coach of the Year as well as the AVCA Midwest Coach of the Year in 1997 and 2009.  Sinclair was inducted into the NJCAA Volleyball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2004.  

Two NJCAA Volleyball coaches received top coaching honors at the Jostens Coaches Honors Luncheon. 

College of Southern Idaho head coach, Jim Cartisser was named the U.S. Marine Corps/AVCA Two-Year College National Coach of the Year.   In his first season as head coach for the Golden Eages, Cartisser led the team to win their 12th national championship in school history and finished with a 31-4 record.  Cartisser was named the Heidi Cartisser Coach of the Tournament at the national championship and was recognized as the Tachikara NJCAA Division I Volleyball Coach of the Year.     

Catawba Valley assistant coach, Mark Wimberley was honored as the 2018 AVCA Two-Year College National Assistant Coach of the Year.  In his 8th season as an assistant coach for the Red Hawks, the team finished 36-10 and entered the NJCAA DII Volleyball Championship as the No. 10 seed.  Wimberley spearheads the recruiting efforts for Catawba Valley and assists his current players in their recruitment to four-year colleges.  In the last eight seasons, 25 of Wimberley's players have continued their volleyball careers at four-year colleges.  

Airi Miyabe, College of Southern Idaho standout outside hitter, was honored as the 2018 TeamSnap/AVCA Two-Year College National Player of the Year at the AVCA All-America/Players of the Year Banquet on December 14.  Miyabe averaged 4.28 kills per set and a 0.302 hitting percentage for the Golden Eagles this season.  This honor caps an outstanding year for Miyabe.  After winning the 2018 NJCAA DI Volleyball Championship in Hutchinson, KS, she was named the national tournament MVP, a NJCAA DI First Team All-American, and the Tachikara NJCAA Division I Player of the Year. 

Miyabe becomes the sixth player in Southern Idaho history to receive this honor.  

The Jostens Coaches Honors Luncheon also recognized the 2018 AVCA Two-Year College Regional Coaches of the Year.  Six NJCAA Volleyball coaches made the list of eight honorees, who were awarded for their coaching success within their geographical region.