Hudson native Morgan Lowenkamp had a volleyball season for the ages in 2017, becoming the firs player in program history to be voted Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) Player of the Year and earn first team AVCA All-American honors.

A 6-0 middle hitter, Lowenkamp struggled with various injuries throughout her first three years but still managed to earn All-OAC recognition twice. She hit the floor healthy and focused as a senior, leading the way as a key catalyst for the most successful volleyball team ever.

Otterbein achieved the best start to a single season in program history that fall, winning 13-straight matches out of the gate and ultimately finishing with a 30-4 record. They were the first team to amass 30 victories and their .882 winning percentage is a program best.

The Cardinals captured the program’s first OAC regular-season title and top seed in the league’s postseason tournament, and then swept through the bracket without dropping a set to claim their second-ever OAC Tournament crown. As a result, Otterbein was chosen as an NCAA Regional host for the first time in school history.

Otterbein set a new Rike Center volleyball attendance record in the NCAA first-round win over Cabrini, playing in front of 1,117 fans and taking a new step towards representing on the national stage.

Lowenkamp was a unanimous OAC Player of the Year selection by the league coaches, receiving first team All-OAC and first team All-Great Lakes Region honors before assuming one of 14 spots on the AVCA All-American first team. She ranked fifth nationally in hitting percentage (.404), blasted 402 kills and was part of 92 blocks.

Lowenkamp became the seventh Otterbein volleyball player to reach 1,000 career kills and was just as solid off the floor, earning Academic All-District honors in the classroom and contributing in a variety of ways around campus.