CMC75 Moments: 2017 Volleyball Wins First Women's National Title for CMS
As part of the buildup to the 75th Anniversary celebration for Claremont McKenna College (visit CMC's 75th Anniversary Countdown Page to learn more), we are reliving many of the great moments from CMS athletic department history over the 75-day countdown from April 17 to July 1. If you were a part of this great moment and would like to add to the memories, or if you would like to submit your memories of your own favorite CMS Athletics moments, fill out the form on our main 75th Anniversary page.
Great Moments from 75 Years of Athletics
2017 Volleyball: Athenas win CMS first women's National Championship
The CMS Volleyball team made its first-ever appearance at nationals in 2014, winning a pair of 3-2 matches in the regionals and then falling 3-2 in the quarterfinals (16-14 in the fourth). The following two years saw the Athenas fall in the regionals, but the 2017 squad, led by its eight-member senior class, was determined to make another run at nationals.
CMS developed a pesky habit of dropping the first set at regionals, but came back for three straight 3-1 wins over Texas-Dallas, Southwestern and Colorado College, the last of which avenged their NCAA defeat from the season before. It happened again at the NCAA quarterfinals against Gustavus Adolphus, but the Athenas were in their element down 1-0 and dominated the rest of the way (25-17, 25-16, 25-14) to reach the semifinals for the first time in program history.
Not content to stop there, CMS defeated Ithaca 3-1 in the semis (this time winning the first set, but dropping the second) to advance to the championship match. Once in the finals, CMS responded with its most complete match of the NCAA Tournament, and arguably the entire year, earning a 25-18, 25-19, 25-22 victory to win the first national title at CMS for any women's sport (followed later that same academic year by women's golf and women's tennis). With the score 24-22, senior All-American Margaux Arntson put down the historic kill to give the Athenas the championship trophy.
Arntson was joined on the AVCA All-West Region team by Clara Madsen and Mikena Warner, while Shelbi Stein was a second-team All-SCIAC selection.
Margaux Arntson:
My fondest memory while at CMC and CMS was competing for a National Championship title. When I reflect on that experience, it wasn't just about the final match. For me, it was about the entire experience: seeing our competition, teams who had repeatedly been to the Elite Eight; the pre-match chats we had with each other where everything finally seemed "real"; the feeling of stepping onto the court, knowing everyone's eyes were on you.
I loved watching us come together for a larger purpose. We all showed immense mental and physical strength, and I had never been prouder to be a part of a team.
Jenny Smith:
Being part of a national championship team meant so much to me! I took a big risk joining the team in the middle of my college career and it was incredible to see it pay off in the biggest way possible. I'm so proud. I can't begin to describe the physical, mental, and emotional hardships everyone on the team overcame. We truly fought for one another and I am so proud of what we were able to accomplish together. It also meant a lot to me that we were the first all-women team to earn a national title. We set a new standard of excellence and established a legacy that will positively impact the CMS program for years to come.
My favorite memory was easily the mid-match locker room dance party! Right before we went in, the assistant coach pulled me aside and told me it was my responsibility to get everyone as amped as possible and I swear I have never taken a job so seriously! We were blasting our anthem (Rake It Up by Yo Gotti) and dancing around with the rake— it was really, really fun. There was this incredible confidence exuding from everyone. It was like we all knew we were going to win. There was no other option.
Melanie Moore:
My favorite part of the whole experience beyond the actual match and winning the physical title was the sense of community that encompassed the entire experience. During regionals, leading up to nationals, I could feel the CMS community's whole buzz supporting and rooting for us every step of the way. From texts from my friends and family to emails from my teachers to even mass viewing events on Campus, I felt like the joy of the journey was shared not just with myself and the team, but it was a communal experience. When I think back on winning the championship, I do not remember the game itself, but I remember my team, my family, and the community at school that supported us every step of the way.
At the time, the experience was very surreal, and I definitely could not process it at the time, but looking back on the event, I am overwhelmed with a feeling of overwhelming joy.
Regan Dinovitz:
So many good memories from this trip. I will definitely remember just how much fun we had as a team. We were always doing weird stuff on the bus and goofing around with each other. The final game before we started playing we were all dancing to the warmup music they had going for us. There was one song that was like a lion king remix deal and it was just so fun to go into a game relaxed and just having a good time with each other. I think that was one of the big reasons why we were able to take it because we went into the match just having fun as a team.
I was super nervous at the end. I was singing to myself up at the net before we'd start the next point to just try to keep my mind off of overthinking everything. The last point we played I totally goofed a joust and had to play a ball up and the whole time I was just thinking please don't mess this up.
It was so crazy. I was just really happy that we did it. We put in so much hard work to get there and it was just the biggest feeling of relief that we did it and we came all that way and ended up being successful. It would have been so tough to go home after getting that close to winning. I was just really proud of us all for making it happen.
Phoebe Madsen:
At times it feels like it never happened because there was so much effort that led up to that one game, and then all of a sudden we won and it was over. But looking at old pictures and thinking back on it when Margaux had the final kill and all the confetti came down and everyone ran on the court and we got the trophy - that is something you'll never forget. It's just so hard to put into words, since it was just so fun.
It was really, really great to be able to win it with my sister (Clara). In high school we played two years together, and we made it to the CIF finals, but we lost. So we had always wanted to have a big win together, and, I mean, the national championship is as big it can get. It was just so fun to be able to do it with her, she's my best friend as well as my sister.
Sarah Tritschler:
Winning the national championship was probably one of the best days of my life, mostly because it validates all those long years of hard work and going to club practices an hour away from home and waking up early to go to workouts. It all kind of culminated in that one day; that very, very special day.
2017 Volleyball Roster
Head Coach: Kurt Vlasich
Assistant Coaches: Shayla Chalker, Morgan Coberly, Jack Coberly
Lina Aluzri (So., DS, CMC)
Crystal Anderson (Sr., OH, CMC)
Margaux Arntson (Sr., OPP, CMC)
Sarah Bruml (Sr., MB, Scripps)
Regan Dinovitz (Fr., MB, CMC)
Megan Dymerski (Fr., DS, HMC)
Lauren Gode (Fr., OPP, CMC)
Hannah Grobisen (Jr., MB, CMC)
Jessica Lee (Fr., Setter, CMC)
Clara Madsen (Sr., Setter, CMC)
Phoebe Madsen (So., Setter, CMC)
Margot Mafra Spencer (Fr., OH, Scripps)
Melanie Moore (Fr., MB, CMC)
Mariah Rigg (Sr., MB, CMC)
Jenny Smith (Sr., OH, HMC)
Shelbi Stein (Sr., OPP, CMC)
Isabelle Taylor (So., OH, CMC)
Sarah Tritschler (So., DS, CMC)
Amanda Walker (So., OH, Scripps)
Mikena Werner (Sr., Libero, Scripps)
Lauren Widasky (Fr., OH, CMC)
Emma Ross Williams (So., DS, Scripps)