Ball State University Athletics
Marci Peniata Joins Women?s Volleyball Coaching Staff
May 16, 2007 | Women's Volleyball
MUNCIE, Ind. -- Marci Peniata, who spent the past four seasons as a member of the Minnesota women's volleyball team, has been named the second assistant coach for the Ball State women's volleyball team, according to first-year head coach Dave Boos.
"Marci was a person I targeted in this process from the beginning and we are ecstatic to have her as a member of our staff," said Boos. "She has played at the highest level of college volleyball and will serve as a tremendous role model for our student-athletes. I have worked with Marci for the past four years and I can confidently say that she has the highest volleyball IQ of any player I have coached. She has an elite understanding of the game and is a coaching natural. Marci believes in the vision for Ball State Volleyball and will make an immediate impact on our program."
Peniata finished her four-year career at Minnesota (2003-06) ranked second on the school's all-time career digs list at 1,401. After collecting the seventh-best single-season dig total in school history last season (532), Peniata earned recognition on the American Volleyball Coaches Association All-America Honorable Mention team and was named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year.
A First-Team All-Big Ten honoree, Peniata helped guide the Golden Gophers to a 26-8 overall record in 2006, including a 17-3 Big Ten ledger which placed Minnesota second in the conference. After earning an at-large bid in the NCAA Tournament, the Golden Gophers advanced to the regional finals before losing to eventual national champion Nebraska.
Peniata averaged a league-best 5.22 digs per game in 2006, while racking up 27 service aces. After missing the first six matches of the season, Peniata returned to the lineup to post double-figure digs in all 28 matches she played. She recorded a career-high 41 digs in Minnesota's four-game victory over Northern Iowa (Sept. 9, 2006), while logging 30-or-more digs in three matches and 20-or-more digs in 10 contests.
Prior to her senior season, Peniata served as a defensive specialist alongside four-time AVCA All-America selection and three-time Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year honoree Paula Gentil. As a junior, Peniata ranked second on the squad with 312 digs and saw some action as an outside attacker, recording a career-high 17 kills and a then-career best 27 digs in a five-game match versus Northwestern (Nov. 11, 2005). She logged 11 kills and nine digs in a five-game loss to then-No. 1 Nebraska (Sept. 5, 2005), while posting her first career double-double against then-No. 24 Kansas State (Sept. 10, 2005).
As a sophomore, Peniata ranked fourth on the team with 339 digs. In the Golden Gophers' national semifinal victory over USC, she logged a then-career-high 17 digs to help Minnesota reach the national championship match for the first time in school history. During her freshman season, Peniata's 241 digs were the fifth-best total on the squad.
Prior to her collegiate career, Peniata was a two-time AAU All-America (2001 and 2002) for the Kaepa Northern Lights Club, while being named an All-America at the 2000 Junior National Championships (16-Open) and picking up the "Best Setter" award at the 2002 National Junior Championships.
During her prep career at Armstrong High School in Plymouth, Minn., Peniata was an All-America and all-state player as a junior and senior. During her senior campaign, she led her team to an undefeated (29-0) record, while collecting 31 kills and 28 digs in the team's state championship victory over Eagan High School. As a junior, she collected a school-record 53 kills in one match.
A native of Plymouth, Minn., Peniata is the daughter of Kelly and Patty Peniata. She has nine siblings, with three older sisters who played collegiate volleyball and a younger sister who is currently a senior setter at BYU-Hawai'i.
