Valparaiso University volleyball head coach Carin Avery will be inducted as part of the 1994 Ball State University volleyball team into the Ball State Athletics Hall of Fame this weekend. As part of the ceremonies, Avery and the rest of the inductees will be recognized at halftime of the Valpo-Ball State men’s basketball game Saturday afternoon.
Avery, who played for Ball State under her maiden name of Carin Zielinski, helped the Cardinals in 1994 to perhaps their best season in program history. The 1994 Ball State squad went 25-6 overall, including a perfect 17-0 mark in Mid-American Conference play, and captured the MAC Tournament title as well. The Cardinals went on to make more history when they knocked off Illinois in five sets for the program’s first-ever NCAA tournament victory before falling to eventual Final Four team Penn State.
Avery was a key part of the Cardinals’ dominance in 1994, earning team MVP honors. Avery was named an AVCA Second Team All-Mideast Region honoree and picked up First Team All-MAC accolades as well. She especially stood out in the postseason for Ball State, as she was recognized as the MAC Tournament MVP.
The induction ceremony takes place Friday evening at the Ball State Alumni Center.
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