SVSU's Stanton Named AVCA Division II Midwest Region "Coach of the Year"

LEXINGTON, Ky. - Saginaw Valley State University head volleyball coach Will Stanton was named the 2008 AVCA Division II Midwest Regional Coach of the Year. Stanton will join the seven other regional honorees on the 2008 AVCA National Coach of the Year ballot. The awards will be officially presented at the 2008 Jostens Coaches Honors Luncheon in Omaha, Neb., on Thursday, Dec. 18, at the 2008 American Volleyball Coaches Association Annual Convention.

In his fifth season at the helm of the Saginaw Valley State University volleyball program, Will Stanton has continued to guide the program to new heights. The 2008 campaign saw the Cardinals turn in a 25-8 overall record, tying the school record for wins in a season. Under Stanton's leadership, Saginaw Valley advanced to its first Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) tournament final for the first time in history, where it fell to arch nemesis Grand Valley State in four sets. The firsts didn't stop there, as the Cardinals were selected to their first-ever NCAA Tournament, where they exceeded expectations, advancing to the Midwest Region final. Stanton led the squad to an 8-0 record to begin the season, and the team ended the campaign just as strong, winning 10 of its last 12 contests. This is the first time that Stanton has won the AVCA Division II Midwest Coach of the Year award.