The 2007 NCAA Division II National Championship won by the Concordia University volleyball team last December has come with many accolades for the team and coaching staff. The awards have not been limited to the players and coaches, however, as the AVCA announced that sports information director Josh Deer was named NCAA Division II Sports Information Director Regional Honoree for the AVCA Grant Burger Media Award.Deer, earning the award for the North Central Region, was just one of eight representatives from the Division II ranks. The AVCA presented the regional honoree nod to one SID from each of the eight regions.
The AVCA Grant Burger Media Award is an honor intended to recognize members of the media who have been involved in the advancement of the sport of volleyball, whether it be through consistent coverage in all mediums (sports information, print, broadcasting and web content), production of volleyball-specific publications or extensive radio and/or television exposure.
It is named in honor of Grant Burger, former Director of Sports Information and Associate Director of the AVCA (1988-92), whose hard work, innovative mind, knowledge and enthusiasm took the areas of media relations and publications at the AVCA to a higher level and increased awareness of the sport of volleyball nationwide.
The media coverage drastically increased as the Golden Bear volleyball team made their memorable National Championship run. The coverage brought Concordia University into the limelight during a heightened time in sports media in the Twin Cities media market in late November-early December. The team made was featured on multiple local television networks (KARE-11, WCCO-4), radio broadcasts (WCCO 830, KSTP 1500) and print media (Star Tribune, Pioneer Press). They also made numerous public appearances as a team, including throwing out the first pitch at a Minnesota Twins game as well as a women's in sports banquet hosted by the Minnesota Lynx.
Deer, the assistant SID at the time, made the trip to Topeka, Kan. with the team at the NCAA Elite Eight, where he covered the team by providing in-match updates on the athletics website which included photos from the match. He also increased exposure for a blog that was written by Raina Hein, a member of the team. The blog appeared on the NCAA website and AVCA website and was a popular supplement to the action on the court.
The Concordia volleyball team will look to defend their championship in the 2008 season, which is just around the corner. The Golden Bears open the season August 28-30 at the Cal. State University-San Bernardino Tournament with four matches in three days against top competition in the nation.
