Anchorage Daily News

Now that the volleyball season is over, Rhea Cardwell figures she can concentrate on things like getting into law school and reintroducing herself to her husband. Except the volleyball season just won't end for her.

Cardwell, a 21-year-old senior, became the first player in UAA history to earn All-America honors in volleyball Wednesday. She was named to the second team of the American Volleyball Coaches Association's NCAA Division II volleyball squad.

"It was a huge surprise," Cardwell said. "I didn't even think of such a thing, especially since our team didn't even make it to the regional tournament. So it was a huge shock."

But Cardwell wound up on the nationwide radar thanks to a kills-per-set average that was one of the best in the country. A 5-foot-10 outside hitter, Cardwell averaged 4.48 kills per set to rank fourth nationally in that category, an effort that allowed her to rack up 507 kills in 29 matches.

"There's nothing that stands out about her as far as vertical jump or having a big, ole gun as an arm," UAA volleyball coach Chris Green said. "It's just a combination of those two things, and she makes the best of it. She sees the block well and she's able to get the ball on the floor, and that's what counts."

Cardwell seemed to get better as the season got older. In her final two matches, she came up with 30 kills against nationally ranked Western Washington and tied a school record with 32 against Central Washington.

"I was getting the same amount of sets, but as the season progresses, you get to know the players better," Cardwell said.

Specifically, she and first-year setter Calli Scott -- an all-conference pick along with Cardwell and Cortney Lundberg -- got to know each other's habits better with each match.

"It was our first -- and sadly our last -- season together, and I started to really get to know her as a setter as the season went along, and therefore I was able to be more effective," Cardwell said. "And Calli also got to know me, what kind of sets I like to hit."

Cardwell is from Prineville, Ore., and played at Clackamas Community College in Oregon before joining the Seawolves two seasons ago. Just before arriving here as a junior, she married Benjamin Cardwell, who is studying business management at UAA.

An honors student who is majoring in political science with an emphasis on political philosophy, Cardwell says she will graduate from UAA in the spring of 2010. Her post-graduate plans include attending law school, hopefully somewhere on the East Coast.

Cardwell was one of five UAA seniors who enjoyed a rejuvenation this season under Green, a first-year coach who guided UAA to its best season since 2003. In going 15-14, the Seawolves tripled their number of victories from the previous season, when they were 5-19.

Cardwell said it's bittersweet that her collegiate eligibility ended at the same time UAA volleyball appears to be on the upswing.

"It's nice to go out on a high," she said, but she'll miss getting a second season with Green and talented players like Scott. On the other hand, the end of her volleyball career means more time with her husband and more time to concentrate on getting into law school.

Because she still has a year to go before graduating, Cardwell said next volleyball season will find her in the bleachers at the Wells Fargo Sports Complex, cheering.

And although her playing days at UAA are over, Cardwell might be able to contribute more than cheers to the team. Being able to boast that the team has produced an All-America player can only be a good thing when the Seawolves try to recruit new talent.

"I know from my experience you tend to look at the players and see how good the players are," Cardwell said. "They see that three of us won significant awards this year, and they think the program's good."

Find Beth Bragg online at adn.com/contact/bbragg or call 257-4309.

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