As the volleyball team dominated the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference and competed in nationals, one athlete placed herself just one step above the rest.

Earning nearly every honor a volleyball player can, Maggie Schaefer, public relations junior, is The Maroon’s female athlete of the year.Schaefer has been a member of the vollyball for three years. She was one of only two juniors on the volleyball team, which featured a host of freshman.

“I’m very honored and surprised,” Schaefer said. “I definitely could not have played as well as I did without my teammates.”

Schaefer’s performance on the court shattered two Loyola single-season records. Her 600 kills and 627 digs led the team in both categories by a margin greater than 200. According to head coach Greg Castillo, Schaefer can still improve her play.

“Maggie hasn’t played up to her potential yet,” Castillo said. “It is scary to think about, because once she plays up to her potential, she will be an incredible player.”

The GCAC and National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics stood up and took notice of the ‘Pack’s leading heavy hitter. She earned honors from both institutions during the year for her record setting play.According to Amanda Gilliard, communications sophomore, Schaefer led the team during the season with her play on the court.

“She is a good team player,” Gillard said. “She didn’t treat the freshmen any different. We are all on the same team, and she treats everyone the same.”

She recorded double-digit figures in all four tournament games and earned herself MVP honors at the 2001 GCAC volleyball tournament held in the Den. The ‘Pack won the tournament.

Schaefer’s knowledge and sense of the game is one of the reasons for her numerous awards, Castillo said.

“She knows what it takes to play well,” he said. “She sees things that other players might not see, and that gives her an edge on the court.”

As the ‘Pack went on to the regional tournament, the GCAC closed out its awards by naming Schaefer Player of the Year. Schaefer contributed to the ‘Pack’s 6-1 conference record, which was the best in the conference.

According to Castillo, Schaefer’s experience helped the team this season especially with the new class of freshmen who joined the team this year.

“Knowing what it takes to win at this level is a big part of college volleyball,” Castillo said. “Maggie is a very experienced player. She just knows what it takes to win.”

In the NAIA Regional, Schaefer earned a spot on the All-Region team. She once again led the team in kills and digs as the ‘Pack clawed into the National tournament held in Florida.

Schaefer continued her team-leading performance as the ‘Pack competed in four matches. She recorded 48 kills and 25 digs in Florida.

The success of the team cannot be placed just upon Schaefer’s performance, she said.

“We got in a lot of good freshmen this year, and everyone came together,” Schaefer said. “It was definitely not a single person’s effort.”

Gilliard said that the team felt that Schaefer deserved the honor for her efforts on the court.

“She definitely deserves it because she’s a hard worker,” she said. “She stepped up her game a lot when we needed it.”

Schaefer will return next season for her final year on the Loyola volleyball team.

She is now fourth on the all-time career list for kills and sixth on the all-time digs list.

“I think that next year will be just as good as this year, if not better,” Schaefer said. “I just hope to keep on improving.”