Charlotte, NC – Five individuals who positively impacted and continue to advance NJCAA volleyball have been inducted into the NJCAA Volleyball Coaches Association Hall of Fame, announced by the NJCAA National Office on Monday. Sonny Lewis, Milica Kusmuk, Jekaterina Stepanova, Ron Sweet, and Jim Dietz have been enshrined into the 2022 class.
Sonny Lewis | Owens Community College (OH)
In his 22nd season at the helm of the Owens Community College volleyball program, Sonny Lewis has established himself as one of the most decorated coaches in NJCAA volleyball history. Entering the 2022 season, after 21 seasons as head coach of the Express, Lewis’ career coaching record of 737-207 places him second in wins in the NJCAA amongst active coaches and eighth all-time. In 2021, Lewis led Owens to claim the program’s third consecutive NJCAA Division III Volleyball Championship after defeating Rock Valley (IL) in a five-set thriller. Prior to having the 2020 season canceled due to COVID-19, Lewis’ Express squad defeated region-rival Columbus State (OH) in three sets to claim the 2019 national title and knocked off defending national champions Eastfield (TX) to earn the crown in 2018. Prior to that, he led Owens to six NJCAA Division II Volleyball Championship appearances – 2017 (2nd), 2016 (3rd), 2015 (9th), 2012 (4th), 2010 (11th), and 2003 (5th).
Lewis’ decorated career has garnered numerous accolades including 16 Ohio Community College Athletic Conference (OCCAC) Championships, 11 OCCAC Coach of the Year recognitions, four AVCA Region Coach of the Year honors (2010, 2017, 2018, 2019), and three NJCAA DIII Volleyball Coach of the Year honors. For many years, Lewis has been an active member of the NJCAA Volleyball Coaches Association, serving terms as the president and vice president, and has represented the NJCAA on the AVCA Two-Year College Committee.
Milica Kusmuk | Cowley College (KS)
Milica Kusmuk was a strong presence on the court for Cowley College during her two seasons as a Tiger. During her freshman season in 2017, the six-rotation outside hitter played in 149 sets and recorded 524 kills, a .384 hitting percentage, 324 digs, 73 service aces, and 61 blocks. At the 2017 NJCAA DII Volleyball Championship, Kusmuck and the Tigers earned a fifth-place finish. Kusmuk’s efforts earned postseason accolades including NJCAA First Team All-American, AVCA Third Team All-American, First Team All-District, and KJCCC First Team All-Conference.
During Kusmuk’s sophomore campaign, the Bosnia and Herzegovina native finished the season with 658 kills at 4.54 kills per set, a .347 hitting percentage, 40 service aces at 0.28 aces per set, and 390 digs at 2.69 digs per set. Kusmuck finished the season ranking second in the nation in total points with 745.5 and third in total kills. Kusmuck’s 658 kills in 2018 placed her first in Cowley history in kills in a season and her 1,182 career kills ranked her first all-time in Cowley history at the time she finished her career. Kusmuck concluded her two-year college career with a series of honors including NJCAA First Team All-America, AVCA First Team All-America, First Team All-District, First Team All-Conference, and as a two-time KJCCC All-Academic.
Jekaterina Stepanova | Missouri State University-West Plains
Jekaterina Stepanova made her mark as an accomplished student-athlete both in the NJCAA and the NCAA. As a freshman on the Missouri State University-West Plains volleyball team in 2008, Stepanova earned Second Team All-America honors and led the Grizzlies to a 7th place finish at the NJCAA Division I Volleyball Championship. During her sophomore campaign in 2009, Stepanova and the Grizzles had another strong postseason showing, this time finishing as runner-up at the national tournament. Stepanova was named to the 2009 NJCAA DI Volleyball Championship All-Tournament Team and earned national postseason honors including NJCAA First Team All-American and AVCA First Team All-American.
Following her time in West Plains, Stepanova transferred to Florida State University where she continued her academic and athletic careers playing indoor and beach volleyball. Inside the gym, Stepanova and the Seminoles claimed back-to-back ACC Championship titles in 2011 and 2012. During Stepanova’s junior season, the Latvia native earned AVCA Division I Second Team All-America honors and led Florida State to an NCAA DI National Championship Final Four appearance.
In the spring of 2012, Stepanova joined the Florida State beach volleyball team for its inaugural season where the Seminoles finished in third place at the AVCA Beach National Championship. Reaching the semifinals in the pairs championship competition, Stepanova was named an AVCA Beach All-American. After graduating from Florida State, Stepanova transferred to Florida International University for her graduate year and once again earned AVCA Beach All-American honors. Stepanova finished in second place in the pairs championship competition and led FIU’s inaugural beach volleyball team to finish third at the AVCA Beach National Championship.
Ron Sweet | Kishwaukee College (IL)
Ron Sweet served as the head volleyball coach at Kishwaukee College from 2003-08. During his tenure, Sweet compiled a record of 280-40 with a .875 winning percentage. In each of his years at the helm of Kishwaukee’s program, Sweet’s squads reached the NJCAA Division II Volleyball Championship. In 2003, the Kougars finished in fifth place with a 40-13 record. In 2004, the program took home a third-place finish with a 43-9 record. In 2005, Sweet led the program to a ninth-place finish with a 32-10 mark. 2006 marked the first of three consecutive national title-winning seasons for Sweet and Kishwaukee. From 2006 to 2008, the program posted three 50+ win seasons and dropped just eight matches during the span.
Sweet’s success on the court translated to postseason honors for himself and his student-athletes. Throughout his coaching span, Sweet earned six Region Coach of the Year honors, was named the NJCAA Division II Volleyball Coach of the Year three times, and was named the AVCA Mid-West Region Coach of the Year in 2006 and 2008. Sweet coached 14 NJCAA First Team All-Americans, 12 NJCAA First Team All-Academic honorees, and seven AVCA First Team All-Americans. Sweet’s 2008 recruiting class was mentioned in the top 30 on Prevolleyball.com, the only non-NCAA Division I program to be listed that year.
Prior to being named the head coach at Kishwaukee, Sweet served as an assistant coach for the Kougars during 2001 and 2002 when the program claimed national titles each season. As an assistant coach, Sweet had a 103-5 record. Sweet also had a successful career coaching club volleyball with Club Fusion. As a player, Sweet won the gold medal in the 2003 US Open National Championships and claimed silver medals in 2004 and 2005. Following his time at Kishwaukee, Sweet coached volleyball at James Madison University in Harrisonburg, VA, and Wofford College in Spartanburg, SC. In 2018, Sweet was inducted into both the Kishwaukee College Athletics Hall of Fame and the NJCAA Region 4 Hall of Fame. Sweet lost his battle with cancer in November 2019.
Jim Dietz | Lincoln Land Community College (IL)
Jim Dietz spent 16 seasons as the head coach of the Lincoln Land volleyball program. During that time, Dietz accumulated a 505-220 record as the head coach of the Loggers. Dietz led the program to two NJCAA Division II Volleyball Championship finals appearances, three NJCAA Division II Volleyball Championship semifinal appearances, and an elite eight appearance. Dietz’s numerous coaching accolades include the 2015 AVCA Mid-West Coach of the Year, five-time District Coach of the Year, five-time Conference Coach of the Year, and three-time Region Coach of the Year honors. Throughout his tenure, Dietz’s student-athletes were recognized for their successes on the court and in the classroom including 57 All-Conference selections, 49 All-Region selections, 32 NJCAA All-Academic honorees, seven Conference Freshman of the Year selections, three Lincoln Land Athletes of the Year, two AVCA All-Americans, and one Conference Female Athlete of the Year.
In addition to his dedication on the court, Dietz served as NJCAA Volleyball as an active member of the NJCAA Volleyball Coaches Association and as the Region 24 volleyball chair for years. Dietz’s community involvement includes service projects with the Girl of Scouts of Illinois and as the host of the Central Illinois All-Star Game.
