LEXINGTON, Ky. -
The American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) is proud to announce the 27th
annual AVCA All-America teams for NCAA Division III women's volleyball. The
awards will be presented Nov. 14, 2007, at the NCAA Division III Women’s
National Championship banquet in Bloomington, Ill., where the 2007 Division III
AVCA Player of the Year will be announced. The NCAA Division III national
quarterfinals begin Nov. 15.
The 2007 class has many new faces: 26 of the 36 have
not previously been on an AVCA All-America team. This year’s group contains
three, three-time selections: Capital University senior middle blocker Jessie
Hampson, University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh senior middle blocker Leah Rosenbaum
and Juniata College junior outside hitter Amber Thomas. Emory University’s Janet
Bunning joins Rosenbaum and Thomas as repeat first-team honorees.
The 2007 All-America selections were made by the AVCA Division
III All-America Committee: Danny Miller, Averett, chairperson; Julie Hall,
Elmhurst; Steph Schleuder, Macalester; Paul Dill, MIT; Michele Benoit, Mount St.
Joseph; Ed Caesar, NYU; Valerie Cowan, Pomona-Pitzers; Harleigh Leach,
Swarthmore.
2007 Division III AVCA Freshman of the Year: Beth Hanna, Pacific Lutheran
University, OH 2007 Division III AVCA Player of the Year: Announced Nov. 14, 2007
Kelly Bauer,
a 5-9 setter/hitter for Carthage College, is a senior from Brookfield, Wis.
Bauer, the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) Player of the
Year, averaged 7.29 assists, 2.45 kills and 2.56 digs per game, leading her team
to the NCAA Midwest Regional final. This is the first time Bauer has been named
an AVCA All-American.
Janet Bunning,
a 5-10 middle blocker for Emory University, is a senior from Washington, D.C.
Bunning, whose .408 hitting percentage is among the top ten nationally, is
averaging 3.55 kills and 2.31 digs per game going into the national
quarterfinals. This honor marks the second time Bunning has been named an AVCA
All-American, garnering first-team honors a year ago.
Brianna Gonzales,
a 5-10 outside hitter for the University of La Verne, is a junior from Whittier,
Calif. Gonzales, the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
Player of the Year, averaged a team-high 3.97 kills per game, and added 3.62
digs per game, leading her team to the NCAA West Regional final. Gonzales is a
first time AVCA All-American.
Jessie Hampson,
a 5-10 middle blocker for Capital University, is a senior from Lancaster, Ohio.
The two-time Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) Player of the Year was in the top
five nationally in blocks per game (1.68), in the top 10 nationally in hitting
percentage (.406) and in the top 30 nationally in kills per game (4.58), while
leading the conference in blocks and hitting percentage. This honor marks the
third All-American distinction for Hampson, who was a second-team honoree in
2005 and 2006.
Beth Hanna,
a 5-11 outside hitter for Pacific Lutheran University, is a freshman from
Clackamas, Ore. The Northwest Conference Player of the Year led the conference
and was in the top five nationally in kills per game with 5.34, helping her team
to an undefeated conference season and a school-record 23 wins. This is the
first time Hanna has been named an AVCA All-American.
Kaitlin Listol,
a 6-1 right side/opposite hitter for Austin College, is a senior from
Richardson, Texas. The Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference (SCAC) Player of
the Year ranked in the top 10 nationally in hitting percentage (.411) and in the
top 15 nationally in kills per game (5.01), while setting the conference record
for single-season kills and the school record for career kills. Listol is a
first time AVCA All-American.
Katherine McCaffrey,
a 6-1 middle blocker for the University of St. Thomas, is a junior from Fort
Collins, Colo. The All-Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC)
honoree ranked in the top five in NCAA Division III in hitting at .404 and was
in the top 10 in blocks per game with 1.49, while leading her team to the NCAA
Central Regional final. This marks the first All-America honor for McCaffrey.
Nikki Morrison,
a 5-11 right side/opposite hitter for Washington University in St. Louis, is a
junior from Lincoln, Neb. Morrison, who was a first-team All-University
Athletic Association selection in 2007, leads her team and was in the top 10 in
the conference in kills per game (3.7) and in hitting percentage (.347), going
into this week’s NCAA Division III national quarterfinals. This honor marks the
second time Morrison has been named an AVCA All-American, who was a third team
selection in 2006.
Carlene Polk,
a 6-0 middle blocker from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, is a senior
from Dousman, Wis. The Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC)
Player of the Year, who ranked in the top ten in the conference in hitting
(.320), kills per game (3.33) and blocks per game (1.05), leads her team into
the NCAA national quarterfinals this week. This marks the second AVCA
All-America honor for Polk, a second-team honoree in 2006.
Ashley Rogers,
a 6-0 middle blocker for Wartburg College, is a senior from Dubuque, Iowa. The
Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Most Valuable Player led her league and
ranks among the nation’s leaders in kills per game and blocks per game, and set
the school record for kills, attack attempts, block assists and total blocks.
Rogers is a first time AVCA All-American.
Leah Rosenbaum,
a 6-0 middle blocker for the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, is a senior from
Wrightstown, Wis. This All-WIAC honoree was among the top five nationally with
a .405 hitting percentage, and among the nation’s leaders averaging 1.18 blocks
per game, helping her team to their third consecutive 30-plus win season.
Rosenbaum has now been named an AVCA All-American three times, garnering
first-team honors last year, and third-team in 2005.
Amber Thomas,
a 5-10 outside hitter from Juniata College, is a junior from Ephrata, Pa.
Thomas, the Landmark Conference Player of the Year, is averaging 4.37 kills per
game, among the nation’s leaders, with a .340 hitting percentage and 2.76 digs
per game, as she attempts to lead her Juniata Eagles to their four consecutive
appearance in the NCAA Division III National Championship match. Thomas has now
been named an AVCA All-American three times, including first-team honors last
season and second-team in 2005.
2007 AVCA Division III Second-Team All-America
Gina Di Maggio,
a 5-10 setter for Pacific Lutheran University, is a senior from Olympia, Wash.
Di Maggio, a Northwest Conference first team selection who led the league in
assists, averaged 11.93 assists per game, ranking her in the top 20 nationally,
and leading her team to a school-record 23 wins in 2007. Di Maggio is an AVCA
All-American for the first time.
Liz Glesne,
a 5-11 outside hitter for Bethel University, is a senior from Underwood, Minn.
The MIAC Most Valuable Player set a school record and ranked in the top 20
nationally in kills per game with 4.8, and set the school record and finished
second in conference history for career kills with 1,984. Glesne is an AVCA
All-American for the first time in 2007.
Caroline Keener,
a 5-8 setter for Trinity University (Texas), is a junior from Plano, Texas. The
first team All-SCAC selection averaged 11.22 assists per game, while leading her
team to a top-15-nationally hitting percentage of .271, and an undefeated
regular season in NCAA Division III play. Keener is a first time AVCA
All-American.
Beth Kozak,
a 5-4 setter for Juniata College, is a junior from Huntingdon, Pa. Kozak, a
first-team All-Landmark Conference selection, ranks in the top 10 nationally in
assists per game with 12.81, and has set the defending champion Eagles to a .297
hitting percentage, which ranks in the top five nationally, as Juniata begins
play in the national quarterfinals this week. This honor marks the first time
Kozak has been named an AVCA All-American.
Molly Krikke,
a 5-11 middle blocker for Calvin College, is a senior from Greenwich, Ohio. The
Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association Most Valuable Player ranked in the
top 20 nationally in kills per game with 4.79, and led her team and was among
the top 10 in her league in kills per game, hitting percentage and blocks per
game. Krikke is now a two-time AVCA All-American, after garnering second-team
accolades in 2006.
Kate LaZotte,
a 5-10 setter for the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, is a senior from
Stoughton, Wis. The All-WIAC selection is averaging 12.08 assists per game,
which ranks in the top 25 nationally, averages 3.25 digs per game, and leads her
team into the NCAA Division III national quarterfinals this week. LaZotte is a
first time AVCA All-American.
Jodi Lindsay,
a 5-10 right side/opposite hitter for the University of La Verne, is a senior
from Alta Loma, Calif. The three-time first-team All-SCIC selection helped lead
the Leopards to a 24-6 overall record, a 12-0 first-place conference record and
the Division III West Regional final. Lindsay is a two-time AVCA All-America
selection, having earned first-team honors in 2006.
Madison Robelen,
a 5-7 setter for Emory University, is a junior from Boca Raton, Fla. Robelen,
who has earned first-team All-UAA honors two years in a row, helped lead the
Eagles to a second place finish in the conference with a 26-6 overall and 6-1
conference record, and the NCAA Division III National Quarterfinals. Ranked
fourth in the nation with 13.25 assistspergame, Robelen, the
Eagles’ single-season assists leader, is a first-time AVCA All-American.
Rebecca Salvo,
a 5-11 outside hitter for Haverford College, is a sophomore from LaCanada,
Calif. A two-time first-team All-Centennial selection, led the conference with a
.340 hitting percentage, and led the Fords to the conference championship with a
27-2 overall record and a 9-1 conference record. Salvo is a first-time AVCA
All-American.
Leslie Schornack,
a 6-2 middle-blocker for Trinity University (Texas), is a senior from Plano,
Texas. Schornack, a first-team All-SCAC selection and two-time SCAC Player of
the Week this season, helped lead the Tigers to a 31-2 overall record and a 15-0
conference first place finish. Schornack, who also led Trinity to the NCAA
Division III South Regional final, is a first-time AVCA All-American.
Jori Simmons,
a 6-0 middle blocker for Carthage College, is a senior from Frankfort, Ill. The
four-time first-team All-CCIW selection, who led the conference with a .407
hitting percentage and 1.23 blocks per game, helped guide the Lady Reds to a
28-4 overall record, a 7-0 first-place conference finish and the NCAA Division
III Midwest Regional final. Simmons is a first-time AVCA All-American.
Jackie Williams,
a 6-1 right side/opposite hitter for Wittenberg University, is a junior from
Rocky River, Ohio. Williams, who earned North Coast Athletic Conference Player
of the Year and first-team All-Conference honors this year, helped lead the
Tigers to a 32-0 overall record, a 14-0 first-place conference record and the
NCAA Division III National Quarterfinals. Williams is a first-time AVCA
All-America selection.
2007 AVCA Division III Third-Team All-America
Emily Bell,
a 5-9 outside hitter from Wittenberg University, is a senior from Fort Wayne,
Ind. A three-time All-NCAC selection, Bell helped the Tigers achieve its 13th
NCAC regular season championship, 13th NCAC Tournament title and 11th straight
NCAA Division III Tournament berth. Bell, the Wittenberg team captain, is a
first-time AVCA All-American.
Sara Buros,
a 5-11 right side/opposite hitter for Trinity University (Texas), is a senior
from Austin, Texas. Buros, a first-team All-SCAC selection, was instrumental in
helping the Tigers finish in first place in the conference with an undefeated
15-0 record and the NCAA Division III South Regional final. Buros is a
second-time AVCA All-American, having been named to the first-team in 2006.
Jill Felger,
a 5-10 middle blocker from Chapman University, is a junior from Lakewood, Calif.
Felger, a three-time NCAA Division III All-Independent selection, led the
Panthers to a 16-10 overall record and was ranked No. 2 among Division III
Independent schools with a .382 hitting percentage and No. 1 in kills with 350.
Felger is a first-time AVCA All-American.
Audra Janak,
a 5-8 setter for Washington University in St. Louis, is a junior from Dallas,
Texas. Janak, who was fifth in the UAA with 9.67 assistspergame,
has helped guide the Bears to the NCAA Division III national quarterfinals.
Janak is a two-time AVCA All-American, having been named to the first-team in
2006.
Maggie Kelly,
a 5-10 outside hitter for North Central College, is a senior from Riverside,
Ill. Kelly, who helped lead the Cardinals to a 26-7 overall record, is a
two-time first-team All-CCIW selection. This season, she set the North Central
single-season record with 640 kills and is ranked No. 1 at the school all-time
with 1,632 career kills. Kelly is a first time AVCA All-American.
Samantha Kirby,
a 6-2 middle blocker for Averett University, is a sophomore from Lenoir, N.C. A
two-time first-team All-USA South Conference selection, she helped lead the
Cougars to a 24-14 overall record and a 14-4 conference record. After leading
her team and the conference with a .423 hitting percentage, Kirby earned her
first AVCA All-America honor.
Stacey Krebs,
a 6-0 outside hitter for Salisbury University, is a junior from Eldersburg, Md.
The 2007 Capital Athletic Conference Player of the Year and two-time first-team
All-CAC selection helped lead the Sea Gulls to a 25-10 overall record and 7-1
second place conference finish. Krebs, who led the CAC with a 4.66 kills
pergame average, is a first-time AVCA All-American.
Amanda Morris,
a 5-9 setter for MIT, is a senior from North Potomac, Md. Morris, who was named
the 2007 New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference Athlete of the Year,
the first volleyball player from MIT to earn the honor, helped lead the
Engineers to a 32-1 overall record, a 9-0 first place conference finish and the
NCAA Division III New England Regional final. Morris, who also led the NEWMAC
with 11.80 assistspergame, is a first-time AVCA All-American.
Liz Schnelle,
a 5-11 middle blocker from Ohio Northern University, is a sophomore from New
Bremen, Ohio. A two-time OAC selection, having earned first-team honors in 2007
and second-team honors in 2006, helped lead the Polar Bears to a first-place
conference finish with a 25-6 overall, an undefeated 9-0 conference record, and
the NCAA Division III Great Lakes Regional final. Ranked second in the OAC with
a .380 hitting percentage, Schnelle has earned AVCA All-American honors for the
first time.
Megan Sollenberger,
a 5-5 defensive specialist/libero for Juniata College, is a sophomore from
Mechanicsburg, Pa. The Landmark Conference Specialist of the Year and first-team
All-Conference member, guided the Eagles to a spot in the NCAA Division III
National Quarterfinals with a 21-6 overall record and a 6-0 first-place
conference record. Ranked second in the conference with 6.08 digspergame, Sollenberger is a first-time AVCA All-American.
Linsey Thomsen,
a 5-4 libero for Nebraska Wesleyan University, is a senior from Beatrice, Neb. A
Division III Independent Player of the Week this season, and a first- team DIII
All-Independent selection in 2006, Thomsen helped lead the Prairie Wolves to a
17-10 record this season. Ranked in the top five in digspergame
in Division III, Thomsen has earned AVCA All-America honors for the first time.
Katie Zondervan,
a 5-6 setter for Calvin College, is a senior from Lakewood, Calif. Zondervan,
who is a four-time first-team All-Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association
selection, helped guide the Knights to a 26-4 overall record, a first-place MIAA
15-1 record, and to the NCAA Midwest Regional semifinals. Ranked second
nationally with 13.78 assistspergame, Zondervan is a first-time
AVCA All-American.
