Colorado
Springs, Colo. - The American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA)
is pleased to announce that South Dakota State University's Shauna Sturm,
a 5-11 senior middle blocker from Springfield, Minn., has been selected
the 2001 AVCA Division II National Player of the Year.
Sturm, an AVCA Division II All-America
repeat selection, was named to the AVCA North Central All-Region Team for
the third consecutive year earlier this month. The North Central Conference
Player of the Year, Sturm ranked among the top three league leaders in
kills, hitting percentage and blocks. She holds team-best season averages
of 3.79 kills and 1.23 blocks, as well as a .359 hitting percentage. Her
117 block assists total is an SDSU single-season record.
Sturm has turned in 13 double-doubles this
season, in addition to posting the first triple-double in school history
with 20 kills, 12 digs and 10 blocks in the 2001 NCAA regional semifinals.
She pounded 20 or more kills in four outings, including a season-best 27
versus Northern Colorado. In the Jackrabbits' 31 matches, Sturm has been
held to single-digit kills just five times. Twice she collected 20 or more
digs and blocked into double digits on two occasions.
An All-NCC Academic Team selection, Sturm
was named to three all-tournament teams during the season. On the SDSU
career charts, she ranks third in kills with 1,480 and fourth in block
assists with 266. She should complete her SDSU career this weekend ranked
second in hitting percentage.
South Dakota State (26-5) is making its
first-ever NCAA Division II Elite Eight Tournament appearance. The Jackrabbits
have faced some tough competition all season long with 71 percent of their
games against regionally ranked opponents. During those contests, Sturm
has averaged 3.82 kills with an attack percentage of .337.
The formal presentation of the award to
the 2001 AVCA National Players of the Year will be made Dec. 14, in San
Diego, Calif., at the AVCA All-America/Player of the Year banquet. The
banquet, which will take place at the San Diego Marriott Hotel and Marina,
is held in conjunction with the 2001 AVCA National Convention and NCAA
Division I Women’s Volleyball National Championship.
Previous AVCA Division II Players of
the Year
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
