MAUREEN RAFFERTY TO BE INDUCTED INTO SACRAMENTO STATE VOLLEYBALL HALL OF FAME
1/28/2010
SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Former Hornet setter Maureen (Rafferty) Del Rossi will become the 19th player inducted into the Sacramento State Volleyball Hall of Fame this Sunday, Jan. 31, at the team’s awards and hall of fame banquet.
Rafferty established herself as one of the greatest players in program history during a star-studded career that lasted from 1996-99. She was the Big Sky Conference MVP in 1999, a four-time all-Big Sky selection (first team each of her last three seasons, second team as a freshman), four-time Big Sky all-academic choice, the Sacramento State Female Student-Athlete of the Year in 1999, and the Big Sky’s Freshman of the Year in 1996.
Rafferty also accumulated postseason awards, including being named to the Big Sky’s all-tournament team three times, and being named the tournament’s MVP in both 1997 and 1998. The Lone Tree, Colo., native became the first out-of-state player ever recruited by former longtime Sacramento State head coach Debby Colberg.
Rafferty’s career mark of 6,510 assists remains the fourth best mark in NCAA Div. I history, and her average of 13.26 assists per game is the 15th best mark. She never missed a match during her four-year tenure (134 matches, 491 games played), and is the Sacramento State and Big Sky Conference all-time leader in assists and assists per game.
Rafferty finished with 494 kills, 6,510 assists, 1,357 digs and 185 blocks to go along with a .259 hitting percentage. Her five triple-doubles rank as the second-best mark in school history. In addition, she owns the program’s third (1,717), fifth (1,663), sixth (1,591) and seventh (1,539) best single-season marks for total assists. Her 91 assists vs. Cal State Northridge in 1996 remains the best mark in school history and the third best mark in Big Sky history.
During Rafferty’s career, Sacramento State combined for a 95-39 overall record, a 53-11 mark in the Big Sky, three NCAA Tournament appearances (1997-99), three Big Sky regular season championships (1997-99) and a pair of Big Sky Tournament titles (1997-98).
Rafferty was awarded Cum Laude honors upon graduation from Sacramento State in 2000 with a degree in psychology. She is currently living in Chesterfield, Va., with her husband, Joe, and their two sons, Rocco and Nico.
To be eligible for the Sacramento State Volleyball Hall of Fame, a player must have been away from the program for at least four years, finished their athletic eligibility as a Hornet, graduated, and made a significant contribution to the program during their tenure.
SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Former Hornet setter Maureen (Rafferty) Del Rossi will become the 19th player inducted into the Sacramento State Volleyball Hall of Fame this Sunday, Jan. 31, at the team’s awards and hall of fame banquet.
