Amanda Burkart Named NJAC Player of the Week
Burkart Named NJAC Player of the Week for Second Time
Burkart Earns Third NJAC Player of the Week Award
Burkart Chosen NJAC Player of the Week for Fourth Time
Lauren Schaffer Named to Academic All-District II Team
Five Players & Coach Walker Earn NJAC Postseason Honors
The 2006 season was a rousing success for first-year head coach Allison Walker and the Stockton volleyball team. The Ospreys washed away the sour taste of three consecutive NJAC runner-up finishes by winning the conference title and earning an NCAA Tournament berth for the first time in six years. The remarkable campaign also included winning streaks of 12 and seven matches as well as a perfect 7-0 mark in NJAC regular season play. Stockton finished the year with a 26-9 overall record.

Stockton’s success in 2006 was the result of a total team effort. Five Ospreys ranked in the top 10 in the NJAC in at least one statistical category. Christine Aletras led the league in assists (10.87 apg) and finished fourth in digs (4.08 dpg). Amanda Burkart was second in the NJAC in kills (4.38 kpg) while Colleen Bachmann stood fifth in digs (4.01 dpg) and seventh in aces (0.65 apg). Lauren Schaffer and Audrey O’Donnell were fifth (0.95 bpg) and seventh (0.92) in the league in blocks respectively, with Schaffer also ranking ninth in hitting percentage (.251).

Stockton went 2-3 to begin the season before hitting its stride with a seven-match winning streak that included three NJAC victories. The Ospreys slipped against tough competition with four losses at the Salisbury Invitational, but they responded to the adversity by winning five consecutive matches and 17 of their next 18 contests. After the five straight wins, Stockton fell to New Jersey City for its only loss during the 18-match span.

The Ospreys won the rematch against NJCU two days later to begin an incredible 12-match winning streak that would culminate with another victory over the Gothic Knights in the NJAC championship showdown. Along the way, Stockton completed a 7-0 conference record and won the Susquehanna Crusader Classic. After topping Montclair State in the NJAC semifinals, the Ospreys defeated New Jersey City to win the league title and earn the NCAA Tournament automatic berth. Eastern slipped by the Ospreys 16-14 in the fifth game of an extremely close NCAA first round match, bringing the exceptional season to a close at 26-9.

Stockton was rewarded handsomely for its efforts. In her first season as a college coach, Allison Walker was named the NJAC Coach of the Year. Amanda Burkart and Audrey O’Donnell were chosen to the NJAC All-Conference First Team while Christine Aletras and Lauren Schaffer were voted to the NJAC Second Team. During the season, Burkart was selected as the NJAC Player of the Week four times and Schaffer was named to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District II Third Team.