2002 AVCA Division I All-America Teams

Stanford’s Logan Tom was selected AVCA All-America First-Team for the fourth consecutive season to become just the third player to accomplish the feat. Amber Holmquist is a three-time AVCA All-American and is a repeat first-team choice. Hawai’i placed two players, Kim Willoughby and Lily Kahumoku, on the AVCA All-America First-Team for the second time. Florida’a Aury Cruz is a repeat AVCA All-America First-Team selection. The AVCA added a 12-member third-team to its All-America program this season, increasing the athletes recognized to 36 athletes.

The selections are made by the AVCA Division I All-America Committee:  chair – Jeff Nelson, Texas Tech; Judy Green, Alabama; Jill Hirschinger, New Hampshire; Janice Kruger, Maryland; Kathy Litzau, Wisconsin-Milwaukee; Jim McLaughlin, Washington; Steve Schlick, Cal Poly; and Pete Waite, Wisconsin.
 

2002 AVCA Division I All-America Third-Team

^ indicates 2002 AVCA First-Team All-America selection
* indicates 2001 AVCA First-Team All-America selection
% indicates 2000 AVCA First-Team All-America selection
# indicates 2002 AVCA Second-Team All-America selection
$ indicates 2001 AVCA Second-Team All-America selection
& indicates 2000 AVCA Second-Team All-America selection

2002 AVCA Division I Freshman of the Year: Kim Glass, University of Arizona
2002 AVCA Division I Player of the Year: Announced Dec. 20, 2002

AVCA All-America First Team

Emily Adams, a sophomore from Phoenix, Arizona, is a 6-5 middle blocker for top-ranked USC. She compiled season per game averages of 1.37 blocks and 3.05 kills in leading the Trojans through to the NCAA Tournament Final Four. An All-Pac 10 selection, Adams hit .419 for the season.

Danielle Bauer, a senior from Santa Ana, California, is a 5-11 right side/opposite hitter for UC Santa Barbara. She led the Gauchos to a 30-3 record and a spot in the NCAA Regional semifinals as she averaged 4.72 kills, 2.97 blocks and 1.17 blocks per game. Bauer also was selected the Big West Conference MVP.

Paige Benjamin, a senior from Redmond, Washington, is a 5-11 outside hitter for Washington. A Verizon Academic All-America, she paced the Huskies to the NCAA Tournament Second Round. Benjamin, who set school records for career hitting percentage and season kills with 573, averaged 5.31 kills per game in 2002.

Greichaly Cepero, a senior from Dorado, Puerto Rico, is a 6-2 setter for fourth-ranked Nebraska. She was a triple-threat for the Huskers with 12.50 assists, 1.25 blocks and 1.67 kills per game. Cepero, who paced Nebraska to a .329 team attack percentage, is a three-time AVCA All-American.

Aury Cruz, a junior from Levittown, Puerto Rico, is a 5-11 outside hitter for fifth-ranked Florida. Her 4.61 kills and 3.07 digs per game have played a key role in the Gators earning a berth into this week’s NCAA Tournament semifinal round. Cruz, a two-AVCA All-America first-team selection, earned the Southeastern Conference MVP award.

Stacey Gordon, a sophomore from Oshawa, Ontario, Canada, is a 5-11 outside hitter for Ohio State. She led the Big Ten Conference in kills per game at 5.98 and was third in the nation. Gordon, an AVCA All-American last season and the AVCA National Freshman of the Year in 2001, finished with 735 kills this season with 3.35 digs per game.

Amber Holmquist, a senior from Houston, Texas, is a 6-4 middle blocker for fourth-ranked Nebraska. She ranked second nationally in blocks with 2.05 per game. Holmquist, a three-time AVCA All-American and a Verizon Academic All-American, hit .410 for the season with 3.47 kills per game. She tallied 10 or more blocks in five three-game matches.

Lily Kahumoku, a junior from Lubbock, Texas, is a 6-2 outside hitter for second-ranked Hawai’i. She averaged 5.32 kills and 3.14 digs in leading the Rainbow Wahine to the NCAA Tournament championships this weekend. Kahumoku was a first-team AVCA All-America selection in 2000.

Sara McGee, a junior from Davis, California, is a 6-3 middle blocker for NCAA Tournament second-seed Stanford. She tallied 1.40 blocks per game for second in the Pac 10, in addition to 3.12 kills per game. McGee hit .431 for the season, which ranks third nationally.

April Ross, a junior from Newport Beach, California, is a 6-1 outside hitter for USC, the top-seed in the NCAA Tournament. She averaged 3.62 kills and 3.00 digs per game to help the Trojans to the number-one ranking in the USA Today/AVCA Coaches Top 25 Poll for much of the season. Ross is a two-time AVCA All-American.

Logan Tom, a senior from Salt Lake City, is a 6-1 outside hitter for third-ranked Stanford. She becomes just the third player ever selected AVCA All-America First Team four times. Tom, the 2001 AVCA National Player of the Year, averaged 4.94 kills, 3.17 digs and 0.82 blocks for third-ranked Stanford.

Kim Willoughby, a junior from Napoleonville, Louisiana, is a 6-0 outside hitter for second-ranked Hawai’i. She ranks second in the nation with a 6.28 kills per game average, in addition to 3.34 digs and 0.71 aces per game. Willoughby, a two-time AVCA All-American, helped the Rainbow Wahine to a 34-1 record heading into this weekend.

AVCA All-America Second Team

Cassie Busse, is a junior from Prior Lake, Minnesota, is a 6-2 right side/opposite hitter for Minnesota. She helped the Gophers go from unranked in the preseason to as high as sixth in the USA Today/AVCA Coaches Top 25 Poll. Busse, a Verizon Academcic All-American, averaged 4.15 kills and 1.02 blocks per game while hitting .320.

Erin Byrd, senior from Glen Ellyn, Illinois, is a 6-0 outside hitter for 18th-ranked Wisconsin. She led the Badgers with 4.34 kills per game and a team-best 353 digs. Byrd was a unanimous All-Big Ten Conference selection. She concluded her career second in digs and sixth in kills at Wisconsin.

Kim Glass, a freshman from Lancaster, Pennsylvania, is a 6-3 outside hitter for the University of Arizona. She was named All-Pacific 10 Conference as she averaged 4.37 kills per game while attacking at a .317 percentage for the 12th ranked Wildcats. Glass also was named the 2002 AVCA National Freshman of the Year.

Brittany Hochevar, a senior from Fowler, Colorado, is a 6-0 setter for 14th-ranked Long Beach State. She averaged 11.88 assists, 1.15 blocks, 2.40 digs and 1.97 kills per game for the 49ers. Hochever turned in five triple doubles this season and set the school record for career aces.

Jennifer Joines, a junior from Milpitas, California, is a 6-3 middle blocker for Pacific. She averaged 4.99 kills and 1.32 blocks per game in pacing the Tigers. Joines was named the AVCA/Sports Imports National Player of the Week on Oct. 7, in addition to Big West Conference Player of the Week three times.

Nicole McCray, a senior from Longview, Texas, is a 6-1 middle blocker for the fourth-ranked Florida Gators. She hit .413 for the season while tallying 1.19 blocks per game. McCray has helped the Gators to a 34-2 record this season and spot in the NCAA Tournament semifinal round.

Lynnette Moster, a sophomore from Liberty, Indiana, is a 5-10 outside hitter for Georgia Tech. She set the school record for kills in a season with 629 and finished fifth in the ACC in digs. Moster was the AVCA Sports Imports National Player of the Week to start the season.

Ogonna Nnamani, a sophomore from Normal, Illinois, is a 6-1 outside hitter for third-ranked Stanford. She averaged 4.06 kills and 0.66 blocks per game while hitting .327 for the season. Nnamani, a two-time AVCA All-American and a 2002 Verizon Academic All-American, tallied double-figure kills in 31 of 35 matches.

Laura Pilakowski, a senior from Columbus, Nebraska, is a 6-1 outside hitter for fourth-ranked Nebraska. She averaged 3.74 kills per game while hitting .344 for the season. Pilakowski, a two-time AVCA All-American, was selected Verizon Academic All-America First-Team.

Becky Potter, a junior from Clovis, California, is a 6-0 middle blocker for Santa Clara. She set a school single-season record for kills with 571 and kills per game with 5.34. Potter, an All-West Coast Conference selection, helped the Broncos to their fifth straight NCAA Tournament appearance.

Cara Smith, a junior from Lafayette, Indiana, is a 6-0 middle blocker for Penn State. She attacked at a .423 percentage for the season while averaging 3.34 kills and 1.21 blocks per game. Smith ranks second nationally in hitting percentage.

Katie Wilkins, a junior from Lakeside, California, is a 6-4 outside hitter for Pepperdine. She averaged 4.61 kills and 2.42 digs per game in leading the Waves to the NCAA Tournament Elite Eight. Wilkins, a two-time AVCA All-American, was selected the West Coast Conference Player of the Year.

AVCA All-America Third Team

Michelle Collier, a senior from Recife, Brazil, is a 5-9 outside hitter for University of South Florida. She connected for 738 kills in 2002 for a 5.63 kills per game average to go with 3.42 digs per game. Collier, a two-time Conference USA Player of the Year, set the league record for career kills earlier this season.

Lauren Duggins, a junior from Fullerton, California, is a 6-0 middle blocker for second-ranked Hawai’i. She has produced a .407 attack percentage this season while providing 1.37 blocks per game on defense. Duggins has chipped in 2.54 kills and 1.71 digs to help Hawai’i to the NCAA Tournament semifinal round.

Paula Gentil, a freshman from Fortleaza CR, Brazil, is a 5-9 libero for Minnesota. Her defense helped propel the Gophers into the NCAA Round of 16, despite Minnesota being unranked nationally in the preseason poll. Gentil averaged 4.63 digs per game and is the first-ever libero selected AVCA All-America.

Laura Greene, a senior from Yadkinville, North Carolina, is a 5-11 outside hitter for North Carolina. She contributed 4.47 kills and 4.06 digs per game to the Tar Heel stat sheet. Greene helped pace North Carolina to an all-time high of number 11 in the USA Today/AVCA Coaches Top 25 Poll as the Tar Heels finished 32-4.

Benavia Jenkins, a junior from Fort Pierce, Florida, is a 6-0 middle blocker for fourth-ranked Florida. She attacked at a .395 percentage this season as the Gators advanced through the NCAA regionals. Jenkins, a two-time AVCA All-American, also contributed 1.51 blocks and 2.37 kills per game this season.

Mia Jerkov, a sophomore from Split, Croatia, is a 6-3 outside hitter for California. She led the Bears with a school-record 578 kills, including six matches with 30 kills or more. Jerkov earned tournament most valuable player honors five times this year and was the AVCA/Sports Imports National Player of the Week once.

Christi Myers, a senior from Raytown, Missouri, is a 6-1 middle blocker for Missouri. She averaged 3.97 kills and 1.03 blocks per game while hitting .380. Myers is the school’s career hitting percentage leader at .321 and holds the school record for blocks with 454.

Brooke Niles, senior from Woodland Hills, California, is a 5-9 setter for seventh-ranked UC Santa Barbara. She averaged 14.11 assists per game while leading the Gauchos to a .288 team attack percentage. Niles helped UC Santa Barbara to a school-record 23-match win streak to open the season.

Molly O’Brien, a junior from Parnell, Iowa, is a 5-10 middle blocker for sixth-ranked Northern Iowa. She averaged 4.54 kills and 1.27 blocks to lead the Panthers to an all-time of number six in the USA Today/AVCA Coaches Top 25 Poll. O’Brien broke the school record for kills in a season with 595.

Morgan Shields, a junior from Watertown, Wisconsin, is a 5-11 setter for Wisconsin. She led the Big Ten and ranked among the top four nationally in assists per game with 13.91. Shields, an All-Big Ten performer, led the Badgers in service aces with 0.52 per game, second best in Wisconsin history for a single season.

Elisha Thomas, a senior from Grass Valley, California, is a 6-3 middle blocker for Long Beach State. She totaled 168 blocks this season for a 1.51 per game average. Thomas, an All-Big West Conference selection, posted double-figure kills in 29 of 33 matches this season.

Mira Topic, a sophomore from Kastela Kambelovac, Croatia, is a 6-3 outside hitter for the University of Texas. She became the first Longhorn to tally over 500 kills in each of her first two seasons. Topic, a All-Big 12 First Team selection, led Texas with 4.71 kills and 2.58 digs per game.