Chris Pozega
Chris Pozega '86 1997 Volleyball
After an outstanding high school career that saw her earn 10 letters in three varsity sports at nearby Lorain High School, Chris Pozega joined the Cleveland State University women's volleyball team in the fall of 1980. She made an immediate impact on the Vikings' fortunes. In just her first college campaign, Pozega was voted the team's Best Hitter and helped CSU to a 28-24 record and a spot in the Ohio AIAW tournament.
Pozega did not complete in the 1981 season, but would return in the fall of '82 to dominate the sport for next three years. An All-American nominee, Pozega led the Vikes to a 38-11 mark in '82. The 38 victories are still a single-season volleyball mark at CSU. She was again selected the Best Hitter and received the first of three consecutive Most Outstanding Player Awards.
As a junior, the Elyria, native was again nominated as an All-American candidate in '83. As team co-captain, Pozega paced the squad with 661 kills, 270 block assists and 141 solo blocks while leading CSU to a 29-13 overall mark.
1984 would mark Pozega's senior season and has her proven record had indicated, she produced an outstanding final year. She was again an All-American nominee and captured her third consecutive Most Outstanding Award. She was the team leader with 577 kills, 408 block assists, 131 solo blocks and 225 digs. She also added 60 service aces as the Vikings managed 17 victories in 38 matches.
In her four-year career at Cleveland State, Chris Pozega was nominated for NCAA I All-American honors three times, became the first and to date only CSU volleyball player to earn three Most Outstanding Awards and garnered numerous All-Tournament team honors.
She played on teams that posted three of the four highest single-season victory totals in the 25-year history of the sport, including the school record of 38 victories in 1982. In her four years, CSU posted 112 volleyball victories and had one of the top programs in the region.
Chris Pozega's name remains firmly etched high atop the CSU volleyball record book more than a dozen years after her final match. Her 661 kills, 552 blocks in 1983 as well as her .307 hitting percentage in 1984 still stand as season records. Pozega also stands as the Viking career leader in kills (1,238), block assists (678) and hitting percentage (.295).
Following her playing career, Pozega spent the 1985 season as an assistant coach with the Vikings and earned a try out with the U.S. Olympic Volleyball Team.
With the deserving honor of joining CSU's Athletic Hall of Fame, Pozega becomes the third volleyball player to receive the honor, joining Danute Bankaitis-Davis and Sue Hlavacek.
Pozega will be presented this evening by current CSU Volleyball Head Coach Debbie Borsz. Both Porzega and Borsz were members of CSU's 1982 squad that finished with a record 38 victories.
It is only appropriate that a few months following the 1996 NCAA I Women's Volleyball Championship, which was held here at the CSU Convocation Center, that one of CSU"s all-time great volleyball players is inducted into the Hall of Fame.
