Richard Bland's Champine-Dryden named 2022 NJCAA DII Volleyball Coach of the Year
Charlotte, NC – Richard Bland volleyball head coach Stephanie Champine-Dryden has been named the 2022 NJCAA Division II Volleyball Coach of the Year.
Champine-Dryden earned the coach of the year for the first time in her career. The Statesmen finished the year as the National Champions and Champine-Dryden secured her 100th coaching win in the title game.
"Richard Bland College couldn't be prouder of Coach Champine-Dryden for receiving this award. This award is reflective of the hard work that she and her staff have put into this program in just one year. It is hard to put into words this magical season they had winning the National Championship. We are extremely grateful for Stephanie and how much she means to RBC and our volleyball program." said Richard Bland Athletic Director Scott Newton.
Champine-Dryden was also named the Region 10 Coach of the Year and saw two players earn First-Team All-America: Karagyn Durco, Player of the Year, and Hailey Hopkins.
Richard Bland earned a bid to the national tournament as the No. 5 seed after defeating Cape Fear in the Region 10 and Southeast A District final. In the first two rounds of the tournament, the Statesmen defeated McHenry County in four sets and followed that up with a swept of Iowa Central.
They then faced the number one team Johnson County in the semifinal where they fought back from being down two sets to zero to win in a decisive fifth set.
Champine-Dryden then faced off with Scottsdale in the title match. Richard Bland won the first two sets by just two points each time (26-24 and 25-23). The Artichokes then took the next two sets (25-22 and 25-19) to force a decisive fifth set for the National Championship. Champine-Dryden rallied her team to claim the tense fifth set 16-14 to claim their first National Championship and Coach of the Tournament.
The Statesmen saw three student-athletes earn all-tournament honors: sophomore setter Karagyn Durco, Tournament MVP; freshman outside hitter/middle blocker Leilani Goggin, All-Tournament Team; and sophomore middle blocker Hailey Hopkins, All-Tournament Team.
