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National American University's Fernanda Vivancos Nelson
Named AVCA NAIA National Player of the Year

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - The American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) is pleased to announce National American University (S.D.) senior setter Fernanda Vivancos Nelson as its 2003 AVCA NAIA National Player of the Year.

Vivancos Nelson, who also earned AVCA NAIA National Player of the Year in 2001, averaged 13.10 assists, 1.92 kills, 0.54 blocks, 1.73 digs and 0.64 service aces in her senior season for NAU. She compiled an individual hitting percentage of .472 with 175 kills on 320 attempts. Vivancos Nelson was named the NAIA Region III Player of the Year for the third straight year. She has earned AVCA NAIA All-America honors four times, including the last three seasons on the first team.

"Fernanda is that special type of player that you usually only get to see once in a coaching career," NAU Head Coach Todd Lowery said. "Besides having amazing physical abilities, Fernanda understands the game of volleyball as well as anybody I know. She is one of the players that has the ability to control the game in so many different ways. If you need a big kills, she is able to do that. She is one of the best servers that I have been around, and of course guides our offense in everyway."

Vivancos Nelson paced the Mavericks to a 33-3 record and national tournament quarterfinal round finish this season. NAU, which had a season-ending loss to the eventual national champions at the NAIA Tournament, was ranked first in the NAIA Top 25 Poll from Oct. 28 to the final poll on Nov. 18.

The formal presentation of the award to the 2003 AVCA National Players of the Year will be made Dec. 19 in Dallas at the AVCA All-America/Player of the Year banquet. The banquet, which will take place at the Dallas Wyndham Anatole Hotel, is held in conjunction with the 2003 AVCA National Convention and NCAA Division I Women's Volleyball National Championship.