Stevenson University senior volleyball standout Marisa Bender (Hagerstown, Md./South Hagerstown) was selected by the athletic directors and sports information directors for the 2009-10 CAC Unsung Hero Award.

To be eligible for the CAC Unsung Hero Award, a student-athlete must demonstrate success and be an integral part of the team's success, demonstrate leadership skills and the ability to sacrifice personal goals for the good of the team or program.

Bender, who had to overcome many injuries over the past four years to complete her playing career, is the first Stevenson student-athlete and the first conference volleyball player to win the CAC Unsung Hero Award.

Bender, a forensics studies major with a 3.788 grade point average, led the team in kills (368), service aces (78) and was second on the team in digs (257) as a freshman. However, she missed half of her sophomore season with an ankle injury, her entire junior season with a torn ACL and part of her senior season with knee and elbow injuries suffered in her first match of the 2010 season.

In each year, Bender stayed with the team, helping with statistics and some administrative duties as the Mustangs' program, under coach Dave Trumbo, continually improved.

Determined to play for the Mustangs during her senior season, Bender worked through difficult rehab sessions for the third-straight year and finally returned to the Stevenson lineup for the final six matches of her career. She was limited to back row play during those final matches because her knee wasn't fully recovered enough for extensive jumping activity at the net, but she persevered to finish her career on the court and not on the sidelines.

CAPITAL ATHLETIC CONFERENCE UNSUNG HERO AWARD

Year CAC Unsung Hero Award

1997 Joyce Luncher-CUA (women's swimming)

1998 Anne Wenthe-UMW (women's soccer)

1999 Stephanie Whichard-UMW (women's soccer)

2000 Ryan Wellner-UMW (men's lacrosse)

2001 Cara Roviello-SMC (field hockey/women's lacrosse)

2002 Ashlee Courter-MMU (women's basketball)

2003 Rachel Sybor-MMU (women's lacrosse)

2004 Kareem Falcon-SAL (softball)

2005 Joe Parker-SAL (men's lacrosse)

2006 Katie Greenberg-SMC (women's soccer/basketball)

2007 DJ Tayman-MMU (men's lacrosse)

2008 Joe Kenworthy-YCP (men's lacrosse)

2009 Kate Tarr-UMW (women's lacrosse)

2010 Marisa Bender-STE (volleyball)