OMAHA, Neb. - The American
Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) is proud to announce the 26th
annual AVCA Division I All-America TeamsSM
for women's volleyball. The awards will be presented Dec. 15, 2006, at the AVCA
All-America/Players of the YearSM
Banquet at the Qwest Center Omaha.
Each of the three AVCA All-America TeamsSM
is comprised of 12 athletes. The AVCA Division I National Player of the YearSM
will be announced on Dec. 15 at the AVCA All-America/Players of the Year BanquetSM.
Kanoe Kamana’o of Hawai’i is the only player making
her fourth appearance as an AVCA All-American. Sarah Pavan of Nebraska and
Courtney Thompson of Washington were both named to the All-America First Team
for the third time.
The selections are made by the AVCA Division I All-America
Committee: chair –Pi’i Aiu, Colorado; Laura Farina, Auburn, Rich Feller,
California; Barry Goldberg, American; Nancy Mueller, Illinois-Chicago; Jolene
Nagel, Duke; Mark Rosen, Michigan; and Pat Stangle, Wyoming. The AVCA Awards
Chair is New Hampshire Head Coach Jill Hirschinger.
Foluke Akinradewo, a 6-3 middle
blocker for Stanford University, is a sophomore from Plantation, Florida.
Akinradewo, a two-time All-Pac 10 team member, is second in the nation and first
on the Cardinal with a .439 hitting percentage. The two-time AVCA All-America
selection, who leads Stanford with 122 blocks and is third on the team with 326
kills, has helped the Cardinal to a 29-3 record, the Pac-10 title and into the
NCAA semifinals.
Cynthia Barboza, a 6-0 outside
hitter for Stanford University, is a sophomore from Long Beach, California.
Barboza, a 2006 All-Pac 10 selection, leads the Cardinal with 38 aces, which is
also second best in the conference. The first
time AVCA All-America selection, who has recovered from a 2005 season ending
torn anterior cruciate ligament in her left knee,
leads the team with 411 kills and 4.28 kills per game.
Nicole Fawcett, a 6-4 outside hitter
for Penn State University, is a sophomore from Zanesfiled, Ohio. Fawcett, a
two-time All-Big Ten selection, is second on the team with 483 kills and a 4.27
kills per game average, and is third on the team with 27 aces and 19 digs. The
two-time AVCA All-America selection helped lead the Nittany Lions to a 32-3
record and the NCAA Region finals.
Megan Hodge, a 6-3 outside hitter
for Penn State University, is a freshman from Durham, North Carolina. Hodge is
No. 17 in the nation with 551 kills and 4.83 kills per game, and led the Nittany
Lions with 288 digs and 2.62 digs per game. The Big Ten Freshman of the Year,
and the first freshman to be named Big Ten Player of the Year in its 23-year
history, helped lead Penn State to a record fourth consecutive conference title.
Kanoe Kamana'o, a 5-8 setter for the
University of Hawai'i, is a senior from Honolulu, Hawai'i. Kamana'o, a
four-time AVCA All-American, had 1,531 assists on the season (13.31 assists per
game), while leading the Rainbow Wahine to a 19th-best-nationally .266
team-hitting percentage. The three-time Western Athletic Conference Player of
the Year helped lead her team to a 29-6 record, a seventh-straight WAC
Tournament title and the NCAA Region finals.
Jordan Larson, a 6-2 outside hitter
for the University of Nebraska, is a sophomore from Hooper, Nebraska. Larson,
the 2006 Co-Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year, is second on the team with 450
kills, 4.21 kills per game, 362 digs and 3.38 digs per game, while leading the
Cornhuskers with 52 aces. The first time AVCA All-American helped lead No. 1
Nebraska to its third consecutive Big 12 Conference title and ninth overall.
Angie McGinnis, a 5-11 setter for
the University of Florida, is a junior from Fraser, Michigan. McGinnis, a
two-time AVCA All American, had 1,455 assists on the year, a national ranking of
22nd with 13.23 assists per game, while leading the Gators to a .292 team
hitting percentage, third best in the country. She is the first setter in
Southeastern Conference (SEC) history to earn Player of the Year honors, while
leading Florida to a 30-3 record, its 16th consecutive SEC title and the NCAA
Regional semifinals.
Nana Meriwether, a 6-1 middle
blocker for UCLA, is a senior from Potomac, Maryland. Meriwether, a two-time
All-Pac 10 selection, is ranked No. 1 in the nation with 1.97 blocks per game
and a .460 hitting percentage. The two-time AVCA All American, who leads her
team with 45 kills, 18 solo blocks, 218 block assists and 236 total blocks, has
helped lead her team to a 33-3 record and the NCAA national semifinals.
Christal Morrison, a 6-1 outside
hitter for the University of Washington, is a junior from Puyallup, Washington.
Morrison, the 2006 Pac-10 Player of the Year and a three-time AVCA All American,
is ranked No. 28 in the nation with 4.63 kills per game. The three-time All
Pac-10 selection, who leads the Huskies with 523 kills, 31 aces and is second on
the team with 352 digs, has helped lead Washington to a 29-4 record and the NCAA
national semifinals, where they will try to defend their 2005 national title.
Sarah Pavan, a 6-5 outside hitter
for the University of Nebraska, is a junior from Kitchener, Ontario. The
three-time AVCA All-American and two-time Big 12 Player of the Year has helped
lead her team to a 33-1 record and into the NCAA national semifinals. Pavan is
No. 10 in the country with 542 kills and 5.07 kills per game, and is second on
the team with 100 block assists and 112 total blocks.
Nellie Spicer, a 5-10 setter for
UCLA, is a sophomore from Barrington, Illinois. Spicer, a two-time All-Pac 10
selection, is ranked 7th in the nation with 13.66 assists per game, as she led
her team to a 12th-best-nationally .274 team-hitting percentage. The first time
AVCA All-American had 1,666 assists on the year and was third on the team with
300 digs, while leading her team to a second place finish in the Pac-10.
Courtney Thompson,
a 5-8 setter for the University of Washington, is a senior from Kent,
Washington. Thompson, a three-time AVCA All-American, leads the nation with
14.70 assists per game average, while setting the Huskies to a .287 team kills
per game hitting percentage, sixth best in the country. The three-time All
Pac-10 selection and current Honda award winner also set a new Pac-10 career
assist record this season, which now stands at 6,531 going into the NCAA
National Semifinals.
Alesha Deesing,
a 6-2 middle blocker for the University of Washington, is a junior from Salem,
Oregon. Deesing, a two-time All Pac-10 selection, ranks 24th in the nation with
a .379 hitting percentage. The first-time AVCA All American is second on the
team with 113 block assists and 121 total blocks, while also chipping in 292
kills and 2.54 kills per game during the season.
Ashley Engle, a 6-3 right
side/opposite hitter for The University of Texas, is a freshman from Yorba
Linda, California. Engle, who earned the Big 12 Freshman of the Year award, the
third Longhorn so honored, is first on the team with 463 kills, 3.99 kills per
game and 82 block assists, while ranking second with 33 aces, 329 digs and 2.94
digs per game. The first time AVCA All-American and first-team All-Big 12
selection helped lead her team to a 24-7 record and the NCAA Region finals.
Christa Harmotto, a 6-2 middle
blocker for Penn State University, is from Aliquippa, Pennsylvania. Harmotto, a
first-team Big Ten selection, is 11th in the nation with a .404 hitting
percentage and 14th in the nation with 1.58 blocks per game. The first time
AVCA All-American had 316 kills, 22 solo blocks, 153 block assists and 175 total
blocks on the season for the Nittany Lions.
Asia Kaczor, a 6-4 right
side/opposite hitter for the University of Southern California, is a junior from
Wroclaw, Poland. Kaczor, an All-Pac 10 selection, is 13th in the nation with a
4.94 kills per game average. The first time AVCA All-American, who led Southern
California with 563 kills and 37 aces, helped lead the Women of Troy to a 27-5
record and the NCAA Region semifinals.
Bryn Kehoe, a 5-11 setter for
Stanford University, is a junior from North Bend, Ohio. Kehoe, a two-time AVCA
All American, is 18th in the nation with 13.28 assists per game and has set the
Cardinal to a No. 4 ranking with a .291 hitting percentage. The All-Pac 10
selection, who has 1,368 assists, and is second on the team with 21 aces and
third with 80 total blocks, will try to lead the Cardinal to their sixth
national championship.
Marisa Main, a 5-9 setter for The
Ohio State University, is a senior from Louisville, Kentucky. Main, a two time
AVCA All-American, had 1,465 assists and a 12.85 assist per game average for the
2006 season, leading the Buckeyes to a No. 9 ranking in team hitting percentage
with .281. The three-time All-Big Ten selection, who was third on the team with
a 2.29 digs per game average, helped Ohio State to a 25-8 record and the NCAA
Region semifinals.
Amber McCray, a 6-0 right
side/opposite hitter for the University of Florida, is a junior from Longview,
Texas. McCray, a first team All-SEC selection, is fourth in the Southeastern
Conference in hitting efficiency with a .370 hitting percentage. The first time
AVCA All-American led the Gators with 3.71 kills per game, was second on the
team with 26 aces and third with 338 kills.
Meredith Nelson, a 6-3 middle
blocker for the University of Minnesota, is a senior from St. Croix Falls,
Wisconsin. Nelson, a two-time first-team All Big Ten honoree, is eighth in the
Big Ten with a .325 hitting percentage, and led the Gophers with a 3.29 kills
per game average. The first time AVCA All American helped lead Minnesota to a
26-8 record, second place in the Big Ten and the NCAA Region finals.
Angie Pressey, a 5-8 outside hitter
for the University of California, is a junior from Heathrow, Florida. Pressey,
a three-time All Pac-10 selection, is third in the Pac-10 Conference with 487
kills and 4.39 kills per game. The first time AVCA All-American, who is also
second on the team with 300 digs and 2.70 digs per game, helped lead the Golden
Bears to a 22-10 record and the NCAA Region semifinals.
Airial Salvo, a 6-0 outside hitter
for the University of Utah, is a sophomore from Farmington, Utah. Salvo, the
Mountain West Conference (MWC) Player of the Year, was first in the conference
with 49 aces and second with 452 kills and 4.11 kills per game. The first-time
AVCA All-American, who led the Utes with 544 digs, helped Utah to a 28-4 record
and the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
Jackie Simpson, a 6-0 setter for the
University of Wisconsin, is a junior from Downers Grove, Illinois. Simpson, a
first time AVCA All-American, is ranked sixth in the Big Ten with 12.86 assists
per game and set the Badgers to a .257 team-hitting percentage. Also earning
her first All Big Ten team honor this year, she had 1,362 assists on the year
while leading Wisconsin to a 26-7 record and the NCAA Region semifinals.
Tracy Stalls,
a 6-3 middle blocker for the University of Nebraska, is a junior from Denver,
Colorado. Stalls, a first-time AVCA All-American, is ninth in the nation and
first in the Big 12 with a .405 hitting percentage. The first time All Big 12
honoree is also ranked fifth in the conference with 1.41 blocks per game, while
leading her team with 133 block assists and 151 total blocks.
Kristen Carlson,
a 6-2 outside hitter for the University of San Diego, is a senior from
Purcellville, Virginia. Carlson, the 2006 West Coast Conference (WCC) Player of
the Year, finished No. 11 in the nation with 5.04 kills per game, while leading
her team with 529 kills, 35 aces and 363 digs. The first-time AVCA All American
helped lead her team to a 26-6 record, the WCC title and the NCAA Region
semifinals.
Katie Carter,
a 6-3 outside hitter for UCLA, is a senior from Steamboat Springs, Colorado.
Carter, a first-time AVCA All American is second on the team with 396 kills,
3.36 kills per game and third with .93 blocks per game. Carter and UCLA square
off with Nebraska in the national semifinals this weekend.
Rachel Holloway,
a 5-10 setter for the University of Nebraska, is a redshirt freshman from
Franklin, Tennessee. Holloway, the Big 12 Newcomer of the Year and first team
All-Big 12 selection, is 14th in the nation and third in the Big 12 with 13.39
assists per game, while setting the Cornhuskers to a No. 2 ranking with a .302
team hitting percentage. The first time AVCA All-American had 1,393 assists, 21
aces, 260 digs in leading Nebraska to the NCAA national semifinals.
Jamie Houston,
a 6-1 outside hitter for the University of Hawai'i, is a sophomore from
Huntsville, Alabama. Houston, a two-time All Western Athletic Conference (WAC)
selection, is sixth in the nation with 5.49 kills per game and first in the
conference with 670 kills. The first time AVCA All-American, who was named the
WAC Tournament Most Valuable Player, is also second on the team with 33 aces,
and third with 313 digs, while helping lead her team to the NCAA Region
semifinals.
Danielle Meyer,
a 6-1 middle blocker for The Ohio State University, is a junior from Cincinnati,
Ohio. Meyer, a two-time AVCA All-American, was ninth in the Big Ten Conference
and second on the team with 4.26 kills per game. The two-time Big Ten selection
led the Buckeyes with 481 kills, 17 solo blocks and 96 total blocks and was
third with 33 aces.
Michelle Moriarty,
a 5-10 setter for The University of Texas, is a junior from Houston, Texas. The
2006 AVCA College Volleyball Showcase MVP ranks fourth in the NCAA with 13.68
assists per-game. Moriarty also recorded a team-high 32 service aces and ranks
fourth on the squad with 2.63 digs per-game this season, helping lead the
Longhorns to the NCAA Region finals.
Ashley Nu’u,
a 5-10 setter for the University of Colorado, is a senior from Aurora,
Colorado. She finishes her career third on Colorado’s all-time career assists
chart with 4,315 assists after dishing out an average 12.52 per game this
season, which ranked fifth in the Big 12. Nu’u helped lead the Buffs to a 17-12
record this season, and a second round NCAA Tournament appearance.
Kristin Richards, a 6-0 outside
hitter for Stanford University, is a senior from Orem, Utah.
A four-time All-Pac-10 selection,
Richards now owns the school record with 1,543 career digs and ranks fifth
all-time at Stanford with 1,768 career kills. The 2005 AVCA First Team
All-American has helped lead her team into the national semifinals and a
showdown with defending champion Washington.
Eliane Santos, a 6-2 middle blocker
for the University of Oklahoma, is a senior from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
The first team All-Big 12 selection
led all Big 12 players this season and finished in the top 20 nationally with
1.61 blocks per game; she also added 3.11 kills per game. Santos helped lead
Oklahoma to a record season, posting their highest regular season win percentage
in team history, and reaching the NCAA Region semifinals for only the second
time in team history.
Debora Seilhamer, a 5-5 defensive
specialist/libero for the University of Southern California, is a senior from
Ponce, Puerto Rico. Seilhamer
recorded a school record 721 digs this season, and reached the 2,000 career dig
mark in her career to become just the third Pac-10 player to reach that
milestone. She is now the Pac-10 all-time leader in digs, finishing her career
with 2,071.
Jessica Swarbrick, a 6-1 middle
blocker for the University of Washington, is a sophomore from El Dorado,
California. She leads the
Huskies with a .400 hitting percentage and 1.44 blocks per game, which rank
third and sixth in the Pac-10, respectively. Her 13 double-figure kill
performances have helped lead Washington back to the national semifinals, and a
chance to play for their second consecutive national championship.
Whitney Webb,
a 6-1 right side/opposite hitter for the University of Utah, is a junior from
Gilbert, Arizona. Webb averaged 3.13 kills, 2.67
digs and 1.29 blocks this season, while hitting .344, the second best mark on
the team. She helped lead Utah on a school-record 25-match win streak during
the season, and a trip to the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
