SACRAMENTO, Calif.
- The American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) is proud to announce the
27th annual AVCA Division I All-America Teams for women's volleyball. The awards
will be presented Dec. 14, 2007, at the AVCA All-America/Players of the Year
Banquet at the Sacramento Convention Center.
Each of the three AVCA All-America Teams is
comprised of 12 athletes. The Division I AVCA National Player of the Year will
be announced on Dec. 14 at the AVCA All-America/Players of the Year Banquet.
University of Nebraska senior right side/opposite
hitter Sarah Pavan becomes only the fourth player, and the first player not to
play for Stanford University, in the history of the AVCA Division I awards
program to make the AVCA Division I First-Team All-America four consecutive
years. The only other players to accomplish that feat were Bev Oden (1989-92),
Kerri Walsh (1996-99) and Logan Tom (1999-2002). Christal Morrison, outside
hitter for the University of Washington, is the only other player in 2007 making
her fourth appearance on an AVCA All-America Team, having made First-Team in
2006, Second-Team in 2005 and Third-Team in 2004.
The selections were made by the AVCA Division I All-America
Committee: chair –Pi’i Aiu, Colorado; Andy Banachowski, UCLA; Laura Farina;
Barry Goldberg, American; Debbie Kirch, Green Bay; Jolene Nagel, Duke; Mark
Rosen, Michigan; and Pat Stangle, Wyoming. The AVCA Awards Chair is New
Hampshire head volleyball coach Jill Hirschinger.
Foluke Akinradewo,
a 6-3 middle blocker for Stanford University, is a junior from Plantation, Fla.
Akinradewo, who earned 2007 Pac-10 Player of the Year honors and All-Pac-10
honors for the third time, led the Cardinal to a 31-2 overall record, the Pac-10
title and this week’s NCAA national semifinals. Leading the nation with a .498
hitting percentage, Akinradewo earns her third AVCA All-America honor, having
been named to the First-Team in 2006 and the Second-Team in 2005.
Cynthia Barboza,
a 6-0 outside hitter for Stanford University, is a junior from Long Beach,
Calif. Barboza received her second consecutive All-Pac-10 honor after helping
lead the Cardinal to the conference title with a 16-2 record and a berth in the
NCAA national semifinals this week against Southern California. Barboza's
consistent play saw her score 17 double-doubles on the year, which helped earn
her this AVCA First-Team All America nod for the second year in a row.
Juliann Faucette,
a 6-2 outside hitter for The University of Texas, is a freshman from San Diego,
Calif. In her first year on the court, Faucette became a team leader and helped
guide the Longhorns to a 27-4 overall record, a 19-1 conference record, and a
share of the Big 12 title, the first for Texas since 1997. The Big 12 Freshman
of the Year and All-Big 12 First-Team selection, who is ranked among the
nation’s leaders in kills per game, is a first-time AVCA All-American.
Nicole Fawcett, a
6-4 outside hitter for Penn State University, is a junior from Zanesfield, Ohio.
A three-time All-Big Ten First-Team selection, Fawcett helped lead the Nittany
Lions to its fifth-consecutive Big Ten Conference title with an undefeated 20-0
record. Fawcett, who set a school record with 31 kills against Cal Poly during
the 2007 season, is now a three-time AVCA All-America selection, having also
earned First-Team honors in 2006 and Second-Team honors in 2005.
Christa Harmotto,
a 6-2 middle blocker for Penn State University, is a junior from Aliquippa, Pa.
Harmotto, who was named 2007 Big Ten Player of the Year, is ranked in the top
five nationally in both hitting percentage at .489 and blocks per game with
1.4. A three-time Big Ten First-Team honoree, Harmotto is a two-time AVCA
All-America, having also earned Second-Team honors in 2006.
Megan Hodge, a
6-3 outside hitter for Penn State University, is a sophomore from Durham, N.C.
Hodge, a two-time First-Team Big Ten selection who helped lead the Nittany Lions
to its 11th Big Ten title, is third in the conference with 4.63 kills per game,
an average that also ranks her among the nation’s leaders. This is Hodge's
second consecutive AVCA First-Team All-America honor.
Asia Kaczor, a
6-4 right side/opposite for the University of Southern California, is a senior
from Wroclaw, Poland. Ranked among the nation’s elite in kills per game, Kaczor
helped guide the Women of Troy to a third-place finish in the Pac-10 with a 29-4
overall record and a 14-4 conference record, and in the process received her
second consecutive All-Pac-10 award. Kaczor is now a two-time AVCA All-American,
having garnered Second-Team honors in 2006.
Bryn Kehoe, a
5-11 setter for Stanford University, is a senior from North Bend, Ohio. Kehoe is
second in the nation with 14.30 assists per game, while leading the Cardinal
attack to a nationally ranked .316 hitting percentage and an average of 17.38
kills per game. A two-time All-Pac-10 selection, Kehoe earns her first AVCA
First-Team All-America nod, after garnering Second-Team honors in 2006 and
Third-Team honors in 2005.
Christal Morrison,
a 6-2 outside hitter for the University of Washington, is a senior from
Puyallup, Wash. A 2007 All-Pac-10 First-Team honoree - the first Huskie to
receive First-Team honors four times - Morrison is ranked in the top 10
nationally with 4.19 kills per game and 5.00 points per game. Morrison is now a
four-time AVCA All-American, having earned First-Team honors in 2006, Third-Team
honors in 2005 and Second-Team honors in 2004.
Sarah Pavan, a
6-5 right side/opposite for the University of Nebraska, is a senior from
Kitchener, Ontario. The 2007 Big 12 Player of the Year, and the first Husker to
earn that award three consecutive times, was ranked among the nation’s leaders
in kills per game and hitting percentage, and led the Huskers to a 30-2 record
and a share of the Big 12 title. Pavan, the 2006 AVCA National Player of the
Year, is now a four-time AVCA First-Team All-American, only the fourth player to
achieve that feat in the 27-year history of the AVCA Division I All-America
awards program.
Angie Pressey, a
5-8 outside hitter for the University of California, is a senior from Heathrow,
Fla. An All-Pac-10 selection this season, Pressey led California to a 26-7
overall record, a 12-6 Pac-10 record and the Golden Bears’ first-ever appearance
in the NCAA national semifinals this Thursday. Ranked among the national leaders
in kills per game, Pressey is a two-time AVCA All-American, having earned
Second-Team honors in 2006.
Nellie Spicer,
a 5-9 setter for UCLA, is a junior from Barrington, Ill. A three-time All-Pac 10
First-Team selection, Spicer led the Bruins to a fifth-place conference finish
and the NCAA Stanford Regional Final. She is ranked nationally in assists per
game, and has now earned AVCA First-Team All-America honors for the second
consecutive year.
Taylor Carico,
a 5-11 setter for the University of Southern California, is a sophomore from
Manhattan Beach, Calif. Carico earned her first All-Pac 10 laurels in 2007, as
she ranked fifth in the conference in assists per game (12.73) while directing
the Trojans’ offensive weaponry to a .267 team hitting percentage. In addition,
she contributed 1.07 kills, 2.00 digs and 0.54 blocks per game, en route to
earning her first-ever AVCA All-American recognition.
Hana Cutura, a 6-3 outside hitter
for the University of California, is a sophomore from Zagreb, Croatia. A 2007
All-Pac-10 selection, Cutura has helped the Golden Bears to a 26-7 record and a
trip to the Division I Championships, and is ranked among the top of the Pac-10
in several statistical categories, including kills per game (4.25), aces per
game (0.30) and points per game (4.95). This marks the first AVCA All-American
honor for Cutura.
Brittany Dolgner, a 6-0 outside
hitter for the University of Wisconsin, is a sophomore from Waupun, Wis. A
two-time All-Big Ten selection, Dolgner ranked third in the conference in kills
per game (4.63) and sixth in points per game (5.14), while helping the Badgers
to a 26-5 record on the season. In addition, Dolgner contributed 2.35 digs per
game and 0.53 blocks per game, as she earned her first AVCA All-American
recognition.
Alisha Glass, a 6-0 setter for Penn
State University, is a sophomore from Leland, Mich. Glass, who was among the top
25 in the nation and fourth in the Big Ten in assists per game (13.01), has
guided the Nittany Lions’ offense to a .351 hitting percentage, one of the
nation’s highest, and has helped lead Penn State to the NCAA Division I national
semifinals with a 32-2 record. After earning her first spot on the All-Big Ten
team in 2007, this honor marks the first AVCA All-American award for Glass.
Rachel Holloway, 5-10 setter for the
University of Nebraska, is a sophomore from Franklin, Tenn. Holloway was among
the nation’s best in assists per game, ranking ninth (13.66), while also ranking
second in the Big 12 in that category, while leading the Huskers to a .327
hitting percentage, and earning her second-consecutive All-Big 12 nod. Holloway
has now earned AVCA All-America honors for the second time in her career, being
named to the Third-Team in 2006.
Destinee Hooker, a 6-4 outside
hitter for The University of Texas, is a sophomore from San Antonio, Texas.
Hooker was among the nation’s best in hitting percentage (.345) and kills per
game (4.58) this season, while ranking second in the Big 12 in kills per game
and also in points per game (5.45). A first-time AVCA All-American, Hooker led
the Longhorns to a 27-3 record and Co-Big 12 Championship in 2007, en route to
earning her second-consecutive All-Big 12 selection.
Christina Houghtelling, a 6-2
outside hitter for the University of Nebraska, is a senior from Cambridge, Neb.
After missing the 2006 season due to injury, the 2005 AVCA Player of the Year
returned to the Husker squad where she earned Big 12 Defensive Player of the
Year laurels after ranking among the top of the league in service aces (0.30)
and digs per game (3.95). Houghtelling, who also averaged 3.02 kills and 0.60
blocks per game, is a two-time AVCA All-American, having earned First-Team
status in 2005.
Alix Klineman, a 6-4 outside hitter
for Stanford University, is a freshman from Manhattan Beach, Calif. In just her
first year on the collegiate scene, Klineman has already made waves, garnering
All-Pac-10 laurels, as well as being named both the Pac-10 and AVCA Pacific
Region Freshman of the Year. Klineman ranked fourth in the Pac-10 in points per
game (4.97) and fifth in kills per game (4.25) en route to capturing her first
AVCA All-American honor.
Gorana Maricic, a 6-3 outside hitter
for the University of Oregon, is a junior from Subotica, Serbia. Maricic, who
was an All-Pac-10 selection in 2007, ranked sixth nationally in kills per game
(5.43), while also ranking first in the Pac-10 in that category as well as in
points per game (6.07). Maricic, who was also among the Pac-10 leaders in aces
per game (0.33), is a first-time AVCA All-America honoree.
Angie McGinnis, a 5-11 setter for
the University of Florida, is a senior from Fraser, Mich. The two-time SEC
Player of the Year was sixth in the nation in assists per game this season,
averaging 13.97 helpers, while the Florida attack unit hit .313 under her
direction, the highest percentage in the Southeastern Conference. This is the
second straight AVCA All-American award for McGinnis, who earned First-Team
distinctions in 2006 and was a Third-Team honoree in 2005.
Jessica Swarbrick, a 6-1 middle
blocker for the University of Washington, is a junior from El Dorado, Calif. An
All-Pac-10 selection for the second time in her career, Swarbrick was tenth in
the nation and second in the Pac-10 in hitting percentage (.413), while ranking
fourth in the Pac-10 in blocks per game, with a 1.42 average. Swarbrick, who
also added 2.55 kills per game, is a two-time AVCA All-American, as she was a
Third-Team selection in 2006.
Tracy Stalls,
a 6-3 middle blocker for the University of Nebraska, is a senior from Denver,
Colo. Named to the All-Big 12 First-Team for the second consecutive year, Stalls
was first in the conference and third in the nation in hitting percentage (.471)
in 2007, while also averaging 2.83 kills and 1.13 blocks per game for the
Huskers. This marks the second career AVCA All-American selection for Stalls, as
she was a member of the Second-Team in 2006.
Kylie Atherstone,
a 6-1 right side/opposite for Cal Poly, is a junior from Chico, Calif. The Big
West Player of the Year the last two years, and a three-time Big West First-Team
selection, Atherstone helped the Mustangs to a 23-8 overall record and its
second consecutive Big West title. Atherstone, who is ranked nationally in kills
per game, is a first-time AVCA All-American.
Mekana Barnes, a 6-0 middle blocker
for Colorado State University, is a junior from Highlands Ranch, Colo. The
Mountain West Conference Player of the Year, Barnes was among the nation’s best
in blocks per game (1.65) and hitting percentage (.401), while also fourth in
the MWC in points (5.09) and eighth in kills per game (3.93). A two-time All-MWC
selection, Barnes has earned her first AVCA All-American recognition.
Chelsea Goodman,
a 5-11 outside hitter for Brigham Young University, is a senior from Mesa, Ariz.
Goodman, a three-time All-Mountain West Conference selection, ended the 2007
season ranked second in the MWC in points per game (5.17), while also ranking
fourth in both kills (4.45) and aces (0.34) per game. After helping BYU to a
24-8 record and NCAA tournament berth during the year, Goodman earned her first
AVCA All-American honor.
Marcie Hampton, a
6-1 outside hitter for the University of Florida, is a senior from Gainesville,
Fla. A three-time All-SEC honoree, Hampton led the conference with 4.5 kills per
game in league play, helping the Gators win its 17th straight SEC title. Hampton
is a first time AVCA All-American.
Hui Ping Huang, a
6-2 middle blocker for St. John’s University, is a senior from Shanghai, China.
The 2007 Big East Player of the Year, Huang ranked fourth in the nation and
first in the Big East in hitting percentage (.447), while ranking third in the
Big East with 4.68 kills per game. In addition, Huang averaged 1.50 digs and
1.12 blocks per game for the Red Storm, en route to earning her first AVCA
All-American award.
Nataly Korobkova,
a 6-3 outside hitter for Kansas State University, is a junior from Krasnoyarsk,
Russia. The Big 12 Newcomer of the Year and All-Big 12 First-Team honoree, she
helped lead the Wildcats to a 23-9 overall record, a third-place conference
finish with a trip to the NCAA Tournament second round. Korobkova is a
first-time AVCA All-American award winner.
Jordan Larson, a
6-2 outside hitter for the University of Nebraska, is a junior from Hooper, Neb.
A two-time All-Big 12 First-Team selection, Larson averaged over three kills and
three digs per game, and ranked among the nation’s leaders in aces per game.
Larson is a two-time AVCA All-American, having received First-Team honors last
season.
Tamari Miyashiro,
a 5-7 libero for the University of Washington, is a sophomore from Kanehoe,
Hawai'i. An All-Pac-10 First-Team selection, Miyashiro averaged a
nationally-ranked 5.80 digs per game, helping the Huskies to a second place
finish in the Pac-10. Miyashiro is a first-time AVCA All-American.
Michelle Moriarty,
a 5-10 setter for The University of Texas, is a senior from Houston, Texas. The
four-time All-Big 12 selection is ranked in the top five nationally in assists
per game, and led her team to a top five national ranking in hitting percentage
and a top 10 ranking in kills per game. Moriarty has now earned her second
consecutive AVCA Third-Team All-America honors.
Lauren Paolini, a
6-5 middle blocker for The University of Texas, is a junior from Ann Arbor,
Mich. A First-Team All-Big 12 selection, Paolini helped the Longhorns to a 27-3
overall record and a Big 12 title. Paolini, who led Texas with 1.28 blocks per
game and averaged 2.90 kills and 3.65 points per game, is a first-time AVCA
All-American.
Taylor Reineke, a 6-3 middle blocker
for the University of Wisconsin, is a senior from Naperville, Ill. A three-time
All-Big Ten selection, Reineke ranked fourth in the conference in blocks per
game with 1.54 and was third in hitting percentage (.331), while also adding
2.53 kills per game. After helping lead the Badgers to a 26-5 overall record,
Reineke earned her first ever AVCA All-American distinction.
Ashley Schatzle,
a 6-1 outside hitter for Michigan State University, is a senior from Monroe,
Mich. Schatzle, a two-time All-Big Ten honoree, led the Spartans to an NCAA
tournament berth, while ranking fifth in the Big Ten in kills per game (4.56)
and eighth in points per game (5.01), in addition to averaging 2.99 digs per
game. Schatzle is a first-time AVCA All-American.
