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Building a volleyball program that is successful on a consistent basis is a challenge, but Mary Buczek has faced an even greater challenge the last as she has been working to build Wake Forest volleyball from the ground up. And in 1998, the Demon Deacon volleyball program began to reap the benefits of the solid foundation that Buczek has been busy building over the last three seasons. The first two years were certainly not easy, but Buczek's firm commitment to the Wake Forest program paid off in year number three. She led the Demon Deacons to a 21-12 overall record and a very respectable 7-9 mark in the ACC, considering that Wake Forest had won a total of just six ACC matches in eight years prior to last season. Buczek brings to the table an abundant amount of successful experience gained from both playing and coaching just take a peek at her career accomplishments. As a player and coach, Buczek has been a part of four conference championships, four NCAA Tournament teams, and one Final Four team. She has been awarded postseason honors for her performance on the court as well as in the classroom. In 1996, the first year of the resurrected Wake Forest volleyball program, the Deacons finished the season with a record of 10-23. The 1996 team established new Wake Forest season records in kills, total attempts, assists, block assists, and digs. The 1997 Deacons opened the season with a three match sweep of the Wake Forest Classic field to begin the season 3-0. A back injury to setter Julie Cowley forced her to the sidelines after just seven matches and was a major setback for the team, but the Deacs managed five more wins after the loss of Cowley and ended the year 8-24. Buczek's team continued to rewrite the Wake Forest record books in 1997. Katie Horne finished the season with 451 kills, shattering the Wake Forest single season record of 394. Jessica Hood set new marks with 117 total blocks and 101 block assists during her freshman season. Freshman middle blocker Corie Miles became the first Deacon since the 1985 season to be named to an All-Atlantic Coast Conference team. Her play during the 1997 season helped her earn a spot on the ACC All-Freshman team. Both Miles and Hood were named ACC Rookie of the Week once during the 1997 campaign. But the 1998 season was certainly the most rewarding during Buczek's brief three-year career at the helm of the Demon Deacon program. With 21 victories, the Deacs recorded their highest win total since 1982, in addition to shattering the school-record for conference victories. As a team, Wake Forest set new school records in kills (1,943), hitting percentage (.205), digs (2,148), assists (1,817) and block assists (435). The individual records continued to fall in 1998, as Trina Maso de Moya set a new school mark in kills per game (3.83) and digs (496), Margaret Davidson broke the record for blocks per game (1.29), and Cowley set new records in assists (1,403) and assists per game (13.36). Maso de Moya and Davidson were each named to the ACCs All-Freshman team and Maso de Moya was tabbed as the leagues Rookie of the Week on two occasions during the season. Buczek's three-year record at Wake Forest now stands at 39-59. Off the court, 10 Wake Forest players earned Dean's List honors during the 1998-99 academic year, proving that Buczek is as committed to success off the court as she is to success on it. Prior to Buczek's arrival at Wake Forest, she was an assistant coach for two years at the University of Florida. In working with Gators coach Mary Wise, Buczek was a part of a program that not only enjoyed success on the court, but was also surrounded by fan interest and enthusiasm. While at Florida, Buczek took part in two Southeastern Conference regular season championships and two SEC tournament championships. The Gators were selected to participate in the NCAA Tournament in both 1993 and 1994, advancing to the NCAA Final Four in 1993. Over her two seasons at Florida, the Gators posted a 63-8 record. No stranger to the Atlantic Coast Conference, Buczek served as an assistant coach at the University of North Carolina from 1991 through the spring of 1993. She also was an assistant coach at the University of Kentucky, her alma mater, for one year in 1990. As a player at Kentucky, Buczek played for then head coach Kathy DeBoer. The Wildcats won Southeastern Conference Championships and advanced to the NCAA Final Eight in both 1987 and 1988. Buczek was a first-team all-SEC selection and an Academic All-Conference stud ent-athlete in 1989. She also was Kentuckys team captain in 1989. Buczek graduated from Kentucky with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Education in 1991. She is a native of New Albany, Ind., and is a member of the American Volleyball Coaches Association. Buczek and husband, Jim, were married June 14, 1997. Jim is currently an assistant lacrosse coach at the University of North Carolina. The couple is expecting their first child in January. |
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