Marian University

The 1997 Marian women's volleyball team paved the way for one of the greatest dynasties in the history of the Lake Michigan Conference.
 
After going just 10-23 the year prior, the 1997 squad went 29-5 with a perfect 12-0 mark in LMC action to earn the program its first conference championship.  This began a run of four consecutive seasons where the Sabres went undefeated in conference play.  Marian would drop just eight sets in LMC matches before sweeping Edgewood and defeating CUW in four sets to claim an LMC Tournament Championship.  The .853 winning percentage in 1997 remains the best winning percentage in program history.  The Sabres rattled off an 18-game winning streak during the year which also remains the longest winning streak in program history.
 
Marian had four student-athletes earn LMC All-Conference recognition led by Nicole (Bencal) Boice, Hall of Fame Class of 2015, who became the first Player of the Year in program history.  Another Hall of Fame member in Kerri (Holz) Huebel, Class of 2012, had a breakout first season to earn LMC Newcomer of the Year honors.  Doug Hammonds, Hall of Fame Class of 2014, headed the squad and earned his first of five straight LMC Coach of the Year awards.