Erin Gudmundson of the University of Nebraska at Kearney Named AVCA Division II Player of the Year

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Nov. 30, 2005) - The American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) is pleased to announce University of Nebraska at Kearney senior middle blocker Erin Gudmundson as its 2005 AVCA Division II National Player of the Year.

Gudmundson, a native of Kearney, Neb., averages 4.27 kills, 1.12 blocks and 1.05 digs blocks per game while hitting .403 entering this weekend as the Lopers head into the NCAA Division II Tournament quarterfinals versus Truman State University. Gudmundson has led the Lopers to a 36-1 record and their third straight trip to the NCAA Division II Elite Eight. Gudmundson was named Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Player of the Year after leading Nebraska-Kearney to its second consecutive RMAC title.

“We are thrilled to have Erin named AVCA National Player of the Year,” Nebraska-Kearney Head Coach Rick Squiers said. “Erin not only had a great season, but she also had one of the best four-year careers in [NCAA] Division II history. It is such a great honor not only for her but for our program as well. It says a lot about the team around you to receive an honor like this. We are proud of her and proud of our team for creating an atmosphere in which Erin could achieve this sort of thing.”

Gudmundson posted 31 double-figure kill matches and recorded five or more blocks on 10 different occasions. She hit over the .500 mark in 13 matches, including a season-high .682 (15-0-22) against Chadron State College on Oct. 21. She has helped the Lopers to a current 31-match win streak and a top ranking in the CSTV/AVCA Division II Coaches Top 25 Poll.

Gudmundson, a three-time AVCA All-American and two-time first-team selection, earned RMAC Player of the Week four times in 2005, in addition to the league’s Player of the Year. She has helped UNK to an overall 139-14 record in her four years with the Lopers and 76-2 mark the last two seasons. Gudmundson holds school records for career kills with 2,131 and career block assists with 402.

The formal presentation of the 2005 AVCA Division II National Player of the Year will be made Dec. 16 in San Antonio at the AVCA All-America/Players of the Year Banquet. The banquet, which will take place at the Marriott Rivercenter Hotel, is held in conjunction with the 2005 AVCA Annual Convention and NCAA Division I Women's Volleyball National Championship.


AVCA Division II National Players of the Year
2005: Erin Gudmundson, University of Nebraska at Kearney
2004: Brianna Harris, Cal State Univ., San Bernardino
2003: Kim Morohunfola, Cal State Univ., San Bernardino
2002: Erin Deffenbaugh, Northern Colorado
2001: Shauna Sturm, South Dakota State
2000: Kari Peterson, Augustana (S.D.)
1999: Sarah Butler, West Texas A&M
1998: Melinda Almazan, Regis
1997: Sarah Butler, West Texas A&M
1996: Liu Jun, Northern Michigan
1995: Liu Jun, Northern Michigan
1994: Christy Wieneke, Cal State Bakersfield
1993: Stacey Metro, Northern Michigan
1992: Stacey Metro, Northern Michigan
1991: Ana Cristina Pereira, West Texas A&M
1990: Becky Belland, Central Missouri State
1989: Sheri Benson, UC Riverside
1988: Janet Cobbs, North Dakota State
1987: Angela Brinton, Cal State-Northridge
1986: Annie Kniss, UC Riverside
1985: Lynda Johnson, Portland State