The 2017-2018 athletic seasons culminated with one of the most successful years in the history of Aurora University Athletics. With the achievement comes the recognition of the athletes that made the success possible, starting with the Aurora University Female Athlete of the Year. The award, as voted on by staff members of the AU Athletic Department, will be presented to senior women's track and field student-athlete Hannah Meager and junior women's volleyball student-athlete Katie Vondra.
Meager wrapped up a tremendous career with a strong senior season in the throwing pits for the track and field program. Her Spartan Female Athlete of the Year honor follows being named the Spartan Woman of the Year.Â
In her four years as a Spartan in the women's track and field program, Meager was a key contributor to the four-time Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference Champions in both indoor and outdoor. She earned NACC All-Conference honors nine times while capturing seven individual NACC event championships. In her senior season she was named the NACCÂ Outdoor Championships Overall Athlete and Track Athlete of the Meet, with the Track Athlete of the Meet being a back to back occurrence. She competed in three NCAA Championship events, the 2017 outdoor, 2018 indoor and 2018 outdoor in the discus and hammer throw. She earned All-American honors as she finished third in the discus in the 2018 NCAA Championships.
Vondra had a tremendous season as a junior, receiving national accolades for her on-court performances. She led the AU women's volleyball program to a historic season as the Spartans made a history making appearance in the NCAA Division III Regional and she became the first Spartan represented on the American Volleyball Coaches Association All-American Teams.
The outside hitter became the first AU women's volleyball player in the programs 42 years of play to receive All-American recognition from the AVCA. A 2017 AVCA Second-Team All-American selection, Vondra was named an AVCA Midwest All-Region selection and First-Team All-Conference in the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference.
On the season, Vondra led the Spartans with 4.21 kills per set and a .226 hitting percentage. She also averaged 3.03 digs per set on the defensive side of the net. Against regionally ranked opponents, Vondra had even better numbers with 4.34 kills per set, a .252 hit percentage and 3,29 digs per set.
AU finished the 2017 season with a 26-8 overall record and were 10-1 with a second-place finish in the NACC. The Spartans set program history in becoming the first team to reach the NCAA Division III Tournament and then won the opening set of the match to win their first set ever in NCAA play.
