WICHITA, Kan. – Tena Loewen, a junior on the Tabor College volleyball and women’s basketball team, has been selected as the 2015-16 KCAC Champion of Character Female Student-Athlete of the Year presented by IMA, Inc. Loewen will be recognized at the KCAC Sport Management Conference August 2 at the University of Saint Mary.
Loewen put together a strong junior campaign in both volleyball and basketball, being selected First Team All-KCAC selection in both sports. During volleyball season, Loewen led the team with 78 aces (0.6 per game), and 525 kills (3.9 per game), while also ranked third in the NAIA in total aces, fifth in aces per game, 12th in total kills, and 21st in kills per game. The junior outside hitter was named to the NAIA Honorable Mention team, and was selected as an NAIA Academic All-American for the 2015 volleyball season.
“Tena has unconditional respect for the coaches and members of the team,” Tabor volleyball head coach Amy Ratzlaff said. “She communicates in a way that puts others first and genuinely admires the others on the team. It continues into competition as her sportsmanship is second to none. She is our court captain and relates well to game officials and opposing teams. Integrity is a key component of her personality. She will make the right choice concerning her team even if it is the hard choice and her teammates trust her.”
Following a 28-8 record and a second-straight NAIA Division II Elite Eight run, Loewen led a very balanced Bluejay team with 9.37 points per game, 7.37 rebounds per game, and 1.63 assists per game. The Hillsboro, Kan. native finished the 2015-16 season with 281 total points, shooting 64.4 percent (103-for-160) from the field and 63.6 percent (75-for-118) from the free throw line in 30 games. Loewen was selected to the NAIA Second Team, earned the NAIA Tournament Hustle Award, as well as an NAIA Academic All-American for her work in the classroom.
“Tena is a servant leader at heart and she is always worried more about others than herself,” Tabor women’s basketball head coach Shawn Reed said. “In her mind, our team ALWAYS comes first, which means her desires are secondary to those of teammates. Because Tena is also an outstanding volleyball player at Tabor, she joins our team after volleyball season concludes. Joining a team six or seven weeks into a season could be very difficult for both the student-athlete and the team, but Tena makes this transition easy for all parties involved.”
Loewen is an elementary education major, currently holding a 3.989 GPA and is a repeat member of the Dean’s List, while also taking on numerous community service project in and around Tabor College. Loewen has been part of the Eve to Eve Leadership Team (student-led women’s ministry on campus), reads at the elementary school, helps with Special Olympics, volunteers with the local elementary school’s Walking School Bus, is a youth group sponsor for the junior high church group, a children’s church teacher, participant in the Presidential Leadership Scholar Program, led bible study for freshmen and sophomores on the volleyball team, and went to Thailand for a basketball mission trip.
“Tena is not only the best player I have ever coached,” Reed continued. “But more importantly, she demonstrates consistent high quality character traits regardless of circumstance more than any person I have ever worked with professionally. Tena is a rare combination of superior athlete, tremendous student, and high character and moral fiber, and she is more than deserving of this honor.”
“To put it simply, Ratzlaff added. “Tena is a joy to work with. She is the ultimate example of an NAIA Champion of Character. It is a rare privilege to coach such a tremendous athlete and person.”
About KCAC Champion of Character Student-Athlete of the Year Award
The KCAC Champion of Character Student-Athlete of the Year Award was developed by the KCAC Champions of Character Committee to recognize significant contributions of a student-athlete who excels in the classroom, athletics, and community.
Each KCAC institution has one representative on the conference-level Champions of Character Committee. The committee members voted on the award based on the pool of nominees. Each KCAC institution is able to select one nominee from their institution to be considered for the award. Representatives cannot vote for nominees from their institution.
Previous Winners of the KCAC Champions of Character Female Student-Athlete of the Year:
2014-15: Hayley Ray – Sterling College
2013-14: Kamie Rash – Kansas Wesleyan University
2012-13: Maddie Chapin – Southwestern College
2011-12: Hollister Wolf – Tabor College
2010-11: Taylor Funk – Tabor College
2009-10: Jordan Crosson – Tabor College
About IMA
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About Dissinger Reed – The Most Trusted Name in Athletic Insurance
Dissinger Reed is a special risk agency that focuses specifically on the unique insurance needs of collegiate athletic departments and state high school associations. The comprehensive coverage, market expertise and peace of mind we provide our clientele are the bedrock of our success. Since 1982, Dissinger Reed has been responding to the rising costs of premiums and medical expenses on behalf of our clients. Dissinger Reed is always proactive in securing the most comprehensive insurance coverage for any risk within your college/university/junior college athletic department, including insurance for camps and clinics, international students and more.