Shu Liu of Fresno Pacific Awarded 2007 AVCA NAIA Player of the Year
 

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LEXINGTON, Ky. (Dec. 9, 2007) - The American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) is pleased to announce Fresno Pacific University junior setter Shu Liu as its 2007 NAIA National Player of the Year.

 Liu, the first Fresno Pacific player to receive this award since 1996, helped lead the Sunbirds to a 37-1 record this season and their third NAIA National Championship.  The Shen Yang, China native ranked fifth in the NAIA and third in the Golden State Athletic Conference with 13.19 assists per game and also guided the Fresno Pacific attack corps to a .305 hitting percentage, which ranked first in the GSAC and sixth nationally. In addition the Sunbirds were No. 1 in the NAIA in kills per game (17.4), with Liu directing the offense.  For the season, the junior also averaged 1.41 kills and 2.83 digs per game.

 During her three-year career at Fresno Pacific, Liu has already garnered an impressive list of accolades. She is a three-time first team All-American, in addition to earning all-region and all-GSAC honors a trifecta of times. After her performance in leading the Sunbirds to a 3-1 victory over California Baptist in the NAIA title game on Dec. 1, which included 54 assists and 16 digs, Liu was also named the 2007 Tachikara NAIA Tournament MVP.

The formal presentation of the 2007 AVCA NAIA National Player of the Year will be made Dec. 15 in Sacramento, Calif. at the AVCA All-America/Players of the Year Banquet. The banquet, which will take place at the Sacramento Convention Center, is held in conjunction with the 2007 AVCA Annual Convention and NCAA Division I Women's Volleyball National Championships.