UW-Oshkosh Hall Of Fame Increases Membership By Five

The UW-Oshkosh Hall of Fame increased its roster to 163 members with Sunday's (May 1) inductions of Dave Luedtke ('86), Pat McDonald ('90), Christina Southward ('03), Holly Spoo ('99) and Richard Toby Bares. The induction ceremony was held in UW-Oshkosh's Reeve Memorial Union.

The UW-Oshkosh Hall of Fame was established in 1974 to give tribute and deserved recognition to former athletes, coaches and friends of the university.  It is also intended to enhance school tradition by honoring those people who have shown exceptional ability while on the UW-Oshkosh campus and since graduation.

Who says a volleyball player has to choose between being an attacker and a facilitator? Christina Southward was able to do both, and she remains the WIAC's all-time leader in both hitting percentage (.436) and assists (6,122).

Southward was an All-WIAC First Team pick during all four of her seasons (1998-2001), making her one of two Titans to achieve that feat. In her sophomore campaign, Southward earned a spot on the NCAA Division III All-America Second Team. Her next two years, Southward was a First-Team All-American as UW-Oshkosh won 62 of its 76 matches and placed ninth in the country twice.

Southward's freshman season saw her rack up 222 kills, 280 digs and 1,333 assists. She would better those numbers in each of the next three years. Recording a hitting percentage of .378, Southward also booked 78 service aces in 37 matches.

The 1999 season was Southward's first on the All-Midwest Region First Team. She posted 245 kills with a hitting mark of .464 that led the NCAA Division III. UW-Oshkosh booked nine consecutive wins late in the year to finish 20-14. Southward rounded out the season with 1,478 assists, 406 digs and 63 service aces.

Topping the nation once again, Southward compiled a .472 hitting percentage in 2000. The Titans obtained their first winning conference record in four years to reach postseason play. Capturing two tournament victories, UW-Oshkosh marked a record of 30-9. Southward's All-American statistics included 305 kills, 74 service aces, 442 digs and a career-high 13.8 assists per game.

Southward concluded her run in style, winning WIAC Player of the Year and leading the Titans to the league title in 2001. UW-Oshkosh opened the year 11-0 en route to a 32-5 mark. During October, the Titans were victorious in all 17 of their contests. Southward booked personal bests in digs (506), kills (309) and service aces (106). She also compiled 1,465 assists and a .425 hitting percentage. The Titans won one match in the NCAA Division III Tournament to earn ninth place.

After her 508 career sets, Southward owns 1,634 digs, 1,081 kills and 321 service aces. Her hitting percentage ranks fourth in NCAA Division III history, while her assist figure stands eighth. During 2005, the NCAA celebrated 25 years of women's championships and selected Southward as one of six players for its Silver Anniversary Volleyball Team.

Southward, a St. Anthony High School (Minn.) graduate, is a staff accountant at Trident Medical Center in North Charleston, S.C.