Abbie Brown Sogard '00
Volleyball
Among the most successful athletes in Central history, Sogard brought her devastating attack and jump serve to the Dutch volleyball program in 1997 after transferring from Kansas State University, where she was the runner-up for Big 12 freshman of the year. She was also a Central standout in women’s basketball.
In volleyball, Sogard, a middle hitter, helped lead the Dutch to a third-place NCAA Division III finish in 1997 before capturing national championships in 1998 and 1999, as well as Iowa Conference titles all three years. The 1999 squad ranks among Division III’s most dominant, posting a 41-0 record with only one match getting extended to a full five sets. Central tied the all-time, all-divisions NCAA record by winning 59 consecutive matches (a mark Central broke in 2000).
A three-time conference MVP and all-America performer, Sogard was tabbed as the Division III player of the year by the AVCA in 1998 and 1999. She was also Central’s MVP, co-captain and Leadership Award recipient those two years. The AVCA Division III national player of the week four times, she won similar recognition from the conference seven times. Sogard was named to the all-tournament team of every tournament Central entered during her three-year career.
At the time of her graduation, Sogard held Division III records for most kills per set in her career (4.70) and most kills in a three-set match (34, vs. Wartburg, 1998). She ranked seventh in career hitting percentage (.388) and 15th in career kills (1,738). Combined with her 374 kills at Kansas State, Sogard had 2,112 for her career. She still holds Central marks for most kills in a match (34) and a season (631, 1998) and most career ace serves (136).
In basketball, despite getting a late start due to her volleyball seasons extending into December, Sogard was a three-time all-conference pick, gaining first-team honors in 1998-99 and 1999-2000. She was a two-time team MVP and served as team co-captain her senior season. She helped the Dutch win a share of the league title in 1997-98, advancing to the NCAA tournament. Sogard averaged 17.1 points and 7.6 rebounds in 1998-99 and 12.5 points with 8.8 rebounds, 2.1 blocks and 3.2 assists the following year. She was among the team’s top 3-point shooters, with 72 over three seasons.
On campus, Sogard was active in religious and service activities and spent four weeks on a mission trip to Guatemala in 2000. She and her family now live in Leawood, Kan.
2015 Athletics Hall of Honor inductees: Jason Christenson '91, Randy Busscher '75, Chris Hulleman '93, Abbie Brown Sogard '00.
