Issued: October 8, 2003

HERB EARNS 700TH CAREER VICTORY

EAU CLAIRE - It couldn't have been a more satisfying victory for UW-Eau Claire volleyball coach Lisa Herb.

The Blugolds' 3-1 triumph Wednesday night came against previously unbeaten Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference co-leader UW-River Falls which was also ranked No. 5 in the nation in this week's AVCA (American Volleyball Coaches Association) poll.

The Falcons, who already owned a 3-1 non-conference win over Eau Claire this season, were 18-2 on the season and 4-0 in the league when they invaded Eau Claire's McPhee Phy Ed Center for the conference showdown.

After dropping a close 33-31 decision in the first game, the Blugolds swept three straight games by scores of 30-21, 30-28 and 30-28 to give Herb her 700th career victory.

The Appleton native is in her 25th season as a collegiate head coach and her 19th at Eau Claire. She owns a 700-273 career record which is a .719 winning percentage. She becomes only the fourth coach in NCAA Division III volleyball history to reach the 700 level. The others include Larry Bock of Juniata who started the season with an amazing 957 victories followed by UW-Whitewater's Kris Russell, who started at 750, and Cortland State's Joan Sitterly, who started at 734.

Only nine women's volleyball coaches in Division I and II have reached the 700 level. In women's collegiate basketball, only two coaches at any level have reached 700 wins.

Herb directed teams have won 20 or more matches in 20 of the past 22 years, won 30 or more nine times, 40 or more four times and even compiled a 52-3 overall record in her best season of 1987.

Herb was the WIAC Coach of the Year in both 1987 and 1997 and the Midwest Region Coach of the Year in 1997. Last year, she was inducted into the University of Dubuque Hall of Fame.

At Eau Claire, Herb is now 14-6 this season and 537-184 for her career after a 163-89 mark at Dubuque.