TEXAS SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
TEXAS SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF TEAM, COACH NAMED 2012 NATIONAL VOLLEYBALL CHAMPIONS
Austin, Texas – December 6, 2012 The Texas School for the Deaf’s (TSD) Volleyball Team has been named Division 1 Team of the Year by the National Deaf Interscholastic Athletic Association (NDIAA). The NDIAA just announced their picks for Fall 2012 National Champions, also naming TSD Volleyball Coach, R. J. Kaufman, Coach of the Year. This is a first for the TSD Lady Rangers’ Volleyball team, since the NDIAA was established in 2007, and the third time in all history for TSD’s Volleyball Team to be recognized nationally.
In Lady Ranger’s Volleyball this year, TSD took First Place in the 2012 Spike Out tournament in Arizona – a national deaf volleyball tournament held annually for teams from schools for deaf and hard of hearing children, nationwide.In the Texas TAPPS Division, the TSD Lady Rangers qualified for the state playoffs, winning their first round for only the second time in the schools history. TSD finished the 2012 TAPPS season 24-15.
TSD Junior, Emma Crawford broke the school’s record this year for the most assists in a season; Junior, Kylene Etkie, broke the school’s career record for aces, still with one year to go; and Senior, Marisa King broke TSD’s school record for the highest number of digs in a career. Sports bloggers at DeafDigest Sports also named Etkie 2012 Player of the Year, and selected the Lady Rangers as the 2012 Team of the Year.
TSD’s Coach Kaufman couldn’t be more pleased.
“The reason I received this very high honor as Coach of the Year, can only be attributed to my team! By putting their trust in me, responding with fire to whatever I challenged them with in games and practices, and playing each game with everything they had, I’ve never seen so much passion and drive on and off the court among teammates. I couldn’t be prouder of what we’ve accomplished this year.”
With nine players returning next year, Kaufamn and his team are already preparing for 2013.
ABOUT THE TEXAS SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF (TSD)
The Texas School for the Deaf is the oldest continuously operating public school in Texas. Educating deaf and hard of hearing students of Texas since 1856, the campus also provides outreach and educational resources for students, their families and professionals in the field throughout the state of Texas. With educational excellence and a strong belief in a culture and community at TSD, students form a unique identity based on their individual strengths and talents. TSD is an environment where students learn, grow, and belong. For more information about the Texas School for the Deaf, visit http://www.tsd.state.tx.us/.
ABOUT THE NATIONAL DEAF INTERSCHOLASTIC ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION (NDIAA)
Established in 2007, the National Deaf Interscholastic Athletic Association’s members are Athletic Directors and Supervisors from schools for deaf and hard of hearing students, nationwide. NDIAA recognizes teams, players and coaches, two times each year, which have shown the most progress year-over-year and reached the highest achievements in athletics and sports.
Keena Miller: Outreach and Community Relations Specialist at Texas School for the Deaf
Work: 512-462-5328 | Fax: 512-462-5661
Email: [email protected]