Volleyball Voices

College Volleyball News: Texas Volleyball to host 2010 NCAA Regional

College Volleyball News: 

Texas Volleyball to host 2010 NCAA Regional

The NCAA has named The University of Texas as one of its regional sites for the 2010 Division I Women’s Volleyball Championships.

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – The NCAA Division I Women’s Volleyball Committee announced Friday that The University of Texas has been selected as one of four regional sites for the 2010 Division I Women’s Volleyball Championships.

 

Texas’ Gregory Gymnasium will host a regional for the third time in five years as the Longhorns seek to make their fifth straight regional appearance.

The four 2010 regional sites include: Bank of America Arena on the campus of the University of Washington in Seattle, Wash.; Rec Hall at Penn State University in University Park, Pa.; the University of Dayton Arena in Dayton, Ohio; and Texas. All competition will be played December 10-11.

The NCAA also announced its four 2011 regional sites: the Stephen C. O’Connell Center at the University of Florida in Gainesville, Fla.; Sports Pavilion at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities in Minneapolis, Minn.; Honolulu/Stan Sherriff Center at the University of Hawaii in Honolulu, Hawaii; and Memorial Coliseum at the University of Kentucky in Lexington, Ky. All competition will be played December 9-10.

“The committee is excited to offer these opportunities to the institutions that bid on the regional championships,” said Terry Gawlik, the chair of the NCAA Division I Women’s Volleyball Committee and the associate athletics director at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. “It’s great to see institutions not only willing and able to host, but also providing an avenue to expose and grow the volleyball championship across the country.”

Previously announced were the finals sites for both the 2010 and 2011 Division I Women’s Volleyball Championships. The University of Missouri, Kansas City and the Greater Kansas City Sports Commission will host the 2010 championship at the Sprint Center. In 2011, UTSA and the San Antonio Sports Foundation will host the championship at the Alamodome.

 

 

Hook'em

(sponsor link)

 

(Sponsor link)

Now you can shop, compare prices and find coupons for 

volleyball uniforms and volleyball training equipment. 

Here's Seven Reasons Why Players Will Gossip About The New Nfinity Volleyball Shoes

April Chapple is a fan of

Volleyball Voices Fan Page

Create your Fan Badge

About Volleyball Voices

Volleyball Voices is a volleyball news hub where girls high school volleyball, club 

volleyball, college volleyball players, parents and fans learn about the indoor and 

sand volleyball game and its female heroes with breaking news stories of college 

and women's pro volleyball players, self-coaching and volleyball training 

information, a gift and shopping directory, beach volleyball pictures and indoor 

volleyball videos.

 

 

College Volleyball News: Washington To Host 2010 NCAA Volleyball Regionals

College Volleyball News: 

Washington To Host 2010 NCAA Volleyball Regionals

The Huskies have reached the Final Four twice before when hosting Regionals.

SEATTLE – With a reputation as one of college volleyball’s most successful and respected programs – on the court and in the stands – the University of Washington has been a key destination for NCAA postseason play in recent years.

 

The NCAA has just announced that next season, for the fourth time since 2004, Bank of America at Hec Edmundson Pavilion will serve as one site for the 2010 NCAA Volleyball Regionals.  The winner of the four-team regional, scheduled for Dec. 10-11, will advance to the NCAA Final Four at the Sprint Center in Kansas City, Mo.

 

The three other Regional hosts for 2010 include Penn State, Texas, and Dayton.

 

“The committee is excited to offer these opportunities to the institutions that bid on the regional championships,” said Terry Gawlik, the chair of the NCAA Division I Women’s Volleyball Committee. “It’s great to see institutions not only willing and able to host but also providing an avenue to expose and grow the volleyball championship across the country.”

 

In the six NCAA regional games it has hosted (NCAA first & second round games are not included), the UW has averaged nearly 5,500 fans per session.  The Huskies defeated UCLA at home in 2004 to advance to their first-ever NCAA semifinal appearance.  Two years later, the UW knocked-off fifth-seeded Penn State to qualify for its third-straight semifinal appearance. That was the last NCAA tournament loss for the Nittany Lions, who have won the last three NCAA titles.

 

In 2008, Washington swept Utah to reach the Regional final, but lost a five-set heartbreaker to the Nebraska Cornhuskers in the next match.

 

Stay tuned to GoHuskies.com for ticket information.

(sponsor link)

 

(Sponsor link)

Now you can shop, compare prices and find coupons for 

volleyball uniforms and volleyball training equipment. 

Here's Seven Reasons Why Players Will Gossip About The New Nfinity Volleyball Shoes

April Chapple is a fan of

Volleyball Voices Fan Page

Create your Fan Badge

About Volleyball Voices

Volleyball Voices is a volleyball news hub where girls high school volleyball, club 

volleyball, college volleyball players, parents and fans learn about the indoor and 

sand volleyball game and its female heroes with breaking news stories of college 

and women's pro volleyball players, self-coaching and volleyball training 

information, a gift and shopping directory, beach volleyball pictures and indoor 

volleyball videos.

 

 

Eastern Washington University Volleyball: Todorovich and Hamilton honored for pair of perfect single match hitting performances

Senior Ashley Hamilton was named MVP and won two other team awards as the Eastern Washington University volleyball team had their 2009 season banquet on Jan. 10.

Besides MVP honors, she was named Teammate of the Year, which is an award voted on by the players and is a reflection of that student-athlete and the impact on her teammates.

Hamilton also won the Eagle Award, which is earned by the player who exemplifies the qualities that are valued by the team as a whole, including leadership, commitment and work ethic. She also won that award in 2008.

Eastern also presented special awards for Hamilton and junior Sara Todorovich for tying an NCAA Division I record with 1.000 hitting efficiency in separate matches. Hamilton had 12 kills in 12 attempts with no errors, which equals the fourth-best hitting performance in the history of NCAA Division I Volleyball. That performance on Oct. 23 against Weber State was the best performance in Division I since the 2005 season.

Todorovich had 10 kills in 10 attempts on Nov. 14 against Northern Arizona, which equals the seventh-best hitting performance in Division I. It is the first time in Division I women's volleyball history that teammates have accomplished this feat in the same season.

The Most Inspirational honors went to senior setter Amanda Yausie, for being an energetic player who showed a high level of enthusiasm every time she stepped on the court. She also won the award in 2008.

Junior Chenoa Coviare was named Most Improved for her performance on the court.

The banquet was also the final farewell for seniors JaNae Mortensen, Hamilton, Yausie and Hayley Hills.

 

LSU Women's Volleyball Player Brittnee Cooper to Train with U.S. National Team

LSU Women's Volleyball Player Brittnee Cooper to Train with U.S. National Team

BATON ROUGE – Former LSU middle blocker Brittnee Cooper is one of 18 players selected to train with the United States Women’s National Team Team during its second winter training block. The session begins Monday and ends on April 9th held at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo.

 

“I’m very excited about this opportunity but at the same time I’m nervous,” Cooper said. “I know that with the support of my family, friends, LSU coaching staff, teammates and God that I’ll do just fine.”

 

Cooper, the 2009 SEC Player of the Year, also became the third player to notch AVCA First-Team All-America honors as LSU won its first SEC championship since 1991. She powered home 1,110 career kills and racked up 504 blocks, one of four players to accomplish that feat in program history. Her .329 career hitting percentage ranks third in the LSU record book. The Houston native has already won a pair of medals as a member of the 2008 & 2009 USA Women’s National A2 Team.

 

“We’re extremely proud of Brittnee for getting this chance to train and compete with the nation’s best volleyball players,” head coach Fran Flory said. “She was a key part to our program’s success and developed into one of the nation’s elite players during her time at LSU. We wish her nothing but the best of luck as she continues her career.”  

 

USA Volleyball could expand the training group at the end of February following the U.S. National Team Open Tryouts set for Feb. 19-21. 

 

 

Middle Blocker

Mekana Barnes

Brittnee Cooper

Alexis Crimes

Jennifer Joines Tamas 

Tracy Stalls

Cheryl Weaver

 

Outside Hitters/Opposite

Jill Collymore

Heather Hughes

Brittany Moore

Angie Pressey

Katie Wilkins Kimmich

Airial Salvo

 

Setter

Bryn Kehoe

Nellie Spicer

Courtney Thompson

 

Libero

Jessica Fine

Jaimi Gregory

Tamari Miyashiro

New 2010 Women's College Volleyball Recruits: TCU Volleyball Has Signed Two for 2010

Jordan Raines Transfers To TCU
Volleyball has signed two for 2010

FORT WORTH, Texas – TCU volleyball head coach Prentice Lewis has announced the signing of Jordan Raines. Raines transfers to TCU after two seasons at Denver. A 6-0 outside hitter, she becomes the second member of the 2010 signing class, joining Yvonne Igodan who was signed in November. Raines will be a junior next fall.

"Raines’ accolades show what a great athlete she is and we are happy to add to our roster," said Lewis.

A native of Coppell, Texas, Raines played in 222 sets for the Pioneers over the last two seasons. After a successful freshman campaign in which she earned the team’s Most Valuable Freshman honors, she followed up with an even stronger sophomore season. She ranked second on the team with 337 kills, an average of 2.79 per set.

In high school, Raines helped guide her squad to a district championship as a senior and was named the district’s Most Valuable Player. She was a first-team all-area, all-district and all-state performer as a senior. Raines also spent seven years playing club volleyball at Texas Advantage Volleyball (TAV).

College Volleyball Player Teams: Cougar Volleyball Announces Banquet to Celebrate 2009 Season

↑ Grab this Headline Animator

PULLMAN, Wash. -- The Washington State University volleyball program will hold its awards banquet to celebrate the 2009 NCAA Championship Tournament season Saturday, February 20, beginning at 6 p.m. in the Compton Union Building (CUB) Junior Ballroom.

 

The Cougars, under the direction of Head Coach Andrew Palileo, the 2009 Pacific-10 Conference Coach of the Year, posted an 18-13 season and returned to the NCAA Championship tournament for the first time in seven years. Four seniors, Jackie Albright, Rene Bordelon, Kelly Hyder and Cassie Robbins, were instrumental in the Cougars’ success in 2009 and will be honored at the banquet as well as recognition of the accomplishments of the rest of the WSU team.

 

The cost to attend the banquet is $22 per person and reservations can be made with Assistant Coach TeAna Tramel via email at ttramel@wsu.edu. If you cannot attend but wish to sponsor a player, please contact coach Tramel via email.

 

-www.wsucougars.com-

 

 

AVCA College Volleyball Player Awards and Honors: Naomi Washington named All-America for the second consecutive year

LONG BEACH, Calif. – 49er outside hitter Naomi Washington earned Honorable Mention All-America honors after leading Long Beach State to a second-straight Big West title in 2009, as announced by the American Volleyball Coaches Association today.

 

                Washington also won the award last season, making her the 17th player in Long Beach State history to be a two-time All-American.

 

                Washington, a senior outside hitter from New Orleans, La., led the 49ers in kills with 464 on the season and averaged 4.14 kills per set, a mark that was third in the Big West and ranked 38th nationally. Additionally, she was second on the team in hitting with a .269 percentage and made 66 blocks on the year.

 

                Over the course of the season, Washington had over 20 kills on eight occasions, including a career high of 29 in a win over Tulane in New Orleans. She was twice named the Big West Player of the Week, and also earned first-team All-Big West and AVCA All-Region honors.

 

                In the final regular season match, Washington also passed 1,000 kills over her career, becoming the 15th player in Long Beach State history to reach that milestone.

AVCA College Volleyball Player Awards and Honors: Ashley Benson Becomes First All-American in Program History

AVCA College Volleyball Player Awards and Honors: 

Indiana Volleyball Player Ashley Benson Becomes First All-American in Program History

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Junior middle blocker Ashley Benson is officially the first All-American in IU Volleyball history, announced by the American Volleyball Coaches of America on Wednesday. She was named Third-Team All-America.


"There is no single individual honor more prestigious than being named to one of the All-America teams," said Head Coach Sherry Dunbar. "To be the first in Indiana Volleyball history adds to how special that award is to Ashley and our program. I'm very proud of Ashley for her commitment to this team, this program, and Indiana University."

The Bloomington, Ind., native was a unanimous All-Big Ten selection a few weeks ago, and was among the country's best in hitting percentage, blocks and points per set. She put together one of the most dominant seasons in the league both offensively and defensively. In addition to shattering the IU record for season hitting efficiency with her .361 efficiency, Benson could be found all over the Big Ten's statistical leaders as well. That .361 attack percentage slotted her fourth in the conference and 29th nationally. The 6-foot-3 middle blocker also cracked the top-10 in kills, blocks, points and service aces:

6th with 1.18 blocks per set (49th nationally)
7th with 4.24 points per set
8th with 3.32 kills per set
9th with 0.26 aces per set

In just three years leading the IU Volleyball program, Coach Dunbar has guided two Hoosiers to national recognition. Erica Short became just the second Hoosier to earn All-America Honorable Mention honors in 2008.

Hoosiers With National Recognition:
Ashley Benson (2009), Third Team All-America
Erica Short (2008), All-America Honorable Mention
Karen Dunham (1985), All-America Honorable Mention

Don't miss these stories of other junior college volleyball players on volleyballvoices.com.

Lots of college volleyball players were honored this season. Be sure to check out their stories!

College Volleyball Coach Awards and Honors: Anne Kordes Receives Carl O. Bauer Award

College Volleyball Coach Awards and Honors: 

Anne Kordes Receives Carl O. Bauer Award

 ST. LOUIS – Saint Louis head volleyball coach Anne Kordes has been named the 2009 recipient of the Carl O. Bauer Award presented by the Missouri Athletic Club. The award, which was established in 1978, is presented annually to the top amateur sports figure in the St. Louis area. Kordes will receive her award at the 40th annual Jack Buck Awards Banquet Thursday, Dec. 17, at the Missouri Athletic Club in downtown St. Louis. The proceedings will be broadcast live on KMOX radio. 

 

         Kordes has guided the SLU volleyball program to unparalleled success, including threeNCAA Tournament appearances and Atlantic 10 regular-season titles in the last four seasons as well as two A-10 Championship crowns. The Billikens broke into the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) top 25 for the first time Oct. 20, 2008, and have remained in the top 25 ever since. In 2008, Kordes led Saint Louis to another milestone – its first NCAA Tournament victory in only its second tournament match. That year, the Division I-AAA Athletics Directors Association selected her squad as the “All-Sports Trophy Champion” as the top I-AAA women’s volleyball program in the nation.  

 

         Kordes has been named A-10 Coach of the Year three times. In 2008, she earned CVU.com (Collegiate Volleyball Update) National Coach of the Year honors, was named AVCA Northeast Region Coach of the Year and was a finalist for AVCA National Coach of the Year accolades. Kordes’ career record is 127-62 in six seasons at Saint Louis, her only Division I head coaching stop. She is the only coach in Billiken volleyball annals to pilot her team to four consecutive 20-win campaigns.

       

         Kordes is the ninth person from Saint Louis University to receive the Carl O. Bauer Award, which is named in honor of the MAC’s Athletic Director who brought innovation and inspiration to the Club during his 45 years of service. Former Billikens who received the honor are Cheryl Levick (2006), Marque Perry (2003), Doug Woolard (2002), Larry Hughes (1998), Erwin Claggett, Scott Highmark and H Waldman (1995), and Anthony Bonner (1990).

 

        

Check out more stories of college volleyball coaches in the news on volleyballvoices.com.

(sponsored links)

Finally! Here's the volleyball tips e-book that will really help you to 

become a better volleyball player!

86 Girls Indoor Volleyball Tips: How To Gain Confidence On The Volleyball Court, The E-Book

Everybody writes books for coaches.  But here is the volleyball tips self-coaching e-book written just for you, the young female high school or collegiate volleyball player.. 

BUY Your Copy Now!

 

(Sponsored links)

Now you can shop, compare prices and find coupons for 

volleyball uniforms and volleyball training equipment. 

Here's Seven Reasons Why Players Will Gossip About The New Nfinity Volleyball Shoes

April Chapple is a fan of

Volleyball Voices Fan Page

Create your Fan Badge

About Volleyball Voices

Volleyball Voices is a volleyball news hub where girls high school volleyball, club 

volleyball, college volleyball players, parents and fans learn about the indoor and 

sand volleyball game and its female heroes with breaking news stories of college 

and women's pro volleyball players, self-coaching and volleyball training 

information, a gift and shopping directory, beach volleyball pictures and indoor 

volleyball videos.

 

 

AVCA College Volleyball Player Awards and Honors: Temple Volleyball's Yun Yi Zhang Earns AVCA All-America Honorable Mention

NCAA Volleyball D-I Kill Leader Temple Volleyball's Yun Yi Zhang Earns 

AVCA All-America Honorable Mention

Awards keep piling up for senior outside hitter who led NCAA Division I in kills

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Yun Yi Zhang has earned the first-ever AVCA All-America recognition for Temple volleyball, taking home honorable mention honors after a truly outstanding senior season.

The postseason award is the first in nine years for the Owls' program, since Alma Kovaci earned Asics All-American honorable mention in 2000.

Zhang, who led NCAA Division I in kills per set this year, had already earned AVCA All-Region Honors in the Northeast Region. As a junior, Zhang earned all-region honorable mention honors.

Zhang’s 5.55 kills per set were tops in the nation as she helped the Owls to a 14-12 record and an appearance in the Atlantic 10 Tournament semifinal against nationally-ranked Dayton.

At the conference level, Zhang was named to the A-10 First Team after earning second team honors a year ago. She was a two-time A-10 Player of the Week this season, and finished her Temple career with 1,656 kills to rank third all-time in the history of the program.

AVCA College Volleyball Player Awards and Honors: Saint Louis University Volleyball: Three Billikens Achieve AVCA All-America Honorable Mention Status

Fonke, McCloud, Roth recognized for second consecutive season 

 

         ST. LOUIS – Saint Louis had three players achieve All-America status Wednesday when seniors  Bridget Fonke (St. Louis, Mo. / St. Joseph’s), Sammi McCloud (Columbia, Ill. / Columbia) and Whitney Roth (Louisville, Ky. / Assumption) picked up American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) All-America honorable mention plaudits. It is the second straight season that the trio received the distinction.      

 

       Fonke, a 6-foot-1 outside hitter, earned her second consecutive Atlantic 10 Conference first-team accolade in 2009 after leading the Billikens with 3.43 kills per set, 45 service aces and 20 solo blocks. She finished the league slate ranked among the A-10’s top 10 in kills, service aces, points per set and hitting percentage. Fonke, a 2008 AVCA All-America honorable mention selection, ranks 35th in the nation with 0.42 service aces per set through matches of Dec. 13. She completed her career second on the program’s career service aces list (155) and eighth in career kills (1,274).     

 

         McCloud, who garnered A-10 Player of the Year laurels in 2008 and 2009, is just the fifth player in program annals who is a member of both the 1,000-kills and 1,000-digs clubs. The three-time A-10 first-team pick led the Billikens with 3.52 kills per set, 31 blocks and a .317 hitting percentage in league matches this season. She ranked among the conference’s top 10 in kills, service aces, points per set and hitting percentage. Last season, McCloud became the first Billiken named to one of the three AVCA All-America squads when she was named to the third team. She also achieved Under Armour/Volleyball Magazine All-America honorable mention status in 2008. McCloud finished her career as one of just three Billikens ranked among the program’s top 10 in five statistical categories. She is fifth with 1,418 career kills, sixth with 1,143 digs, eighth with 119 service aces and ninth with 246 block assists and 268 total blocks.     

 

         Roth, a 5-foot-9 setter, is the only player in league history to garner A-10 Setter of the Year honors three times (2007-09). She led the A-10 with 11.76 assists per set in conference tilts, while averaging a league-high 11.24 assists per set in all matches. A 2008 AVCA All-America honorable mention designee, Roth was also second on the SLU squad with 2.73 digs per set. Saint Louis’ career assists leader (5,463) also became a member of the program’s 1,000-digs club in her final match. Roth is also fourth in program annals with 126 career matches played. The three-time A-10 first-team selection ranks 22nd in the nation in assists per set through matches of Dec. 13. Additionally, Roth was named to the 2009 A-10 All-Academic team and captured ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District second team plaudits. 

FIU Volleyball Players Rosa, Valentin & Bjelica Earn AVCA All-America Honors

AVCA College Volleyball Awards: 

FIU Volleyball Players Rosa, Valentin & Bjelica 

Earn AVCA All-America Honors

The three picks mark a program-best as Rosa becomes FIU’s first ever four-time All-American

 

 

MIAMI – Three FIU volleyball players earned AVCA All-America honors on Wednesday, as senior Yarimar Rosa, junior Natalia Valentin and freshman Jovana Bjelica became the first trio in FIU volleyball history to garner All-America accolades. The awards will be presented on Dec. 18, 2009, at the AVCA All-America/Players of the Year Banquet presented by Zamst at the Tampa Convention Center in Tampa, Fla.

 

Prior to this season’s All-America Honorable Mention selections, Rosa was the only volleyball player in FIU history to receive All-America recognition as the 2009 honor marks the fourth of her career. She is now the only four-time All-American in school history across all sports.

 

“I am thrilled to have three of our players named 2009 AVCA All-Americans,” said head coachDanijela Tomic. “It just shows how far our program has come in the last five years.”

 

Rosa ended her career as FIU’s all-time leader in career kills (2,083) and career digs (1,053) and is coming off a senior campaign in which she led FIU in kills (382, 4.60 kps), despite missing 11 matches due to injuries. The Vega Baja, Puerto Rico, native earned Sun Belt Conference Volleyball Player of the Week accolades on four occasions in 2009 and a league-record 13 times over her career. She has also been a first team All-SBC and All-South Region selection in each of her four years, while earning SBC Freshman of the Year and AVCA South Region Freshman of the Year honors in 2006, and SBC Player of the Year accolades in 2008 and 2009. Also in 2008, Rosa was tabbed SBC Female Student-Athlete of the Year after leading the nation in kills per set.

 

“Yarimar was our first All-American four years ago, and with the fourth honor this year, she’s accomplished what no other athlete at FIU has ever done,” said Tomic. “She’s set so many records at FIU and in the Sun Belt Conference, but to be FIU’s first ever four-time All-American in any sport is something special. Nobody is more deserving than her, and the legacy that she leaves at FIU is extraordinary.”

 

Valentin was largely responsible for setting up an FIU offense which consistently ranked in the top 15 in the country in kills per set and assists per set in 2009. Valentin ended the Sun Belt Conference regular season ranked first in the assists per set category and she ranks among the top 10 in the nation with a final season average of 11.87 assists per set. The Caguas, Puerto Rico, native registered 1,448 assists over her junior campaign, a total which marks an FIU all-time single-season record, and she now owns 3,143 career assists to rank third on the all-time charts. Valentin received her first career All-South Region nod this year while also garnering first team All-SBC accolades. She was named to the All-SBC second team in 2008.

 

“Natalia is so deserving of this honor and I am glad that the committee has recognized that,” said Tomic. “Without her passion and leadership, I don’t think we would have had the best season in the history of the program.”

 

Bjelica enjoyed a stellar freshman campaign, registering 10 double-doubles (kills-digs) and reaching double-digits in kills in 20 of 32 matches played. The outside hitter ranked second on the team in service aces (25) and third in kills (344), digs (249) and total blocks (57), and, in the final Sun Belt Conference regular season statistics, Bjelica was the only freshman ranked in the top 10 in two categories, ranking sixth in kills per set (3.41) and seventh in points per set (3.96). A native of Belgrade, Serbia, Bjelica was named the SBC Freshman of the Year and was also a second-team all-league honoree and an honorable mention All-South Region pick.

 

“Jovana is the first freshman after Yarimar [Rosa] to be named an All-American, and it is a huge honor for her and for our program,” said Tomic. “She had a stellar freshman year and if she stays focused and continues improving, she has a potential to be our second four-time All-American student-athlete.”

 

FIU ended the 2009 season with an overall record of 32-4, as the 32 wins mark a school record. Heading into tournament play, FIU was one of three schools in the country to have won 30 or more matches along with Penn State (32) and Northern Iowa (30). The Panthers won their second straight Sun Belt Conference Regular Season Championship in 2009 and put together a 23-match win streak, which, at the time, was the fourth-longest such streak in the country.

 

 

 

Five Mountain West Conference Student-Athletes named AVCA ALL-AMERICA

Five Mountain West Conference Student-Athletes named AVCA ALL-AMERICA

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - The 2009 American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) All-America teams were announced today, with five Mountain West Conference student-athletes earning accolades. Colorado State’s Danielle Minch (Jr., OH), New Mexico’s Taylor Hadfield (Jr., RS/Opp.) and TCU’s Kourtney Edwards (Sr., MB), Christy Hudson (Jr., RS/Opp.) and Megan Munce (So., S) nabbed honorable mention All-American acclaim. Since 1999, 15 student-athletes have garnered All-America status, while an additional 22 have been honorable mention All-Americans.

Minch, the 2009 MWC Player of the Year, earned her first nod as a honorable mention All-American after finishing the season leading the league in kills per set in overall and Conference matches (3.80). She also led the MWC in points per set in overall matches (4.17), while finishing Conference play ranked third in the category (4.16). Minch tallied double-digit kills in 23 matches this season and was honored as the MWC Player of the Week on November 16.

Hadfield, a Corte Madera, Calif., product, garnered her first honorable mention All-American recognition.  In Conference play this season, she finished seventh in kills per set (2.98) and points per set (3.41), while ranking ninth in hitting percentage (.303). Overall, Hadfield ranked 10^th in points per set (3.12), while placing in the top-15 in kills per set (13^th, 2.63) and hitting percentage (15^th, .252). Hadfield was also named to the all-Conference team this season.

Edwards, a Haltom City, Texas, product, is a first-time honorable mention All-American honoree. In overall matches, she led the Conference and is currently ranked 18^th nationally in hitting percentage (.373) this season. She also ranked fifth in kills (3.24) and points per set (3.85), and ninth in blocks per set (1.03). In Conference play, she was fifth in hitting percentage (.327), while ranking sixth in kills (3.11) and points per set (3.64). Edwards was also named MWC Player of the Week five times this season.

Hudson, a Yorba Linda, Calif., native, also earned the first honorable mention All-American accolade of her career. She finished the 2009 season ranked ninth in the MWC in hitting percentage (.297) for overall matches. She also ranked in the top-15 for hitting percentage (11^th, .292) and kills per set (14^th, 2.61) in league play. She is a two-time all-Conference honoree and was named MWC Player of the Week on November 30.

Munce, a Costa Mesa, Calif., native, led the MWC in service aces per set in overall (0.42) and Conference matches (0.57), while ranking fourth in assists per set in overall (9.94) and league play (10.12) in 2009. Nationally, she currently ranks 33^rd in aces per set. She also topped the MWC with 13 double-doubles on the season. Munce was named to the all-Conference team this season and was voted as the MWC Player of the Week on October 26.

 

--mwc--

 Be sure to check out more college volleyball players in the news on volleyballvoices.com!

(sponsored links)

Tools To Help You Become a Better Volleyball Player

It's finally here! The best volleyball tips  e-book that will help you to 

become a better volleyball player!

86 Girls Indoor Volleyball Tips: How To Gain Confidence On The Volleyball Court, The E-Book

Everybody writes for coaches and parents but nobody writes volleyball self-coachingbooks or booklets for you, the young female high school or collegiate volleyball player, right? ...

So that's why I did. 

BUY Your Copy Now!

 

(Sponsored links)

Now you can shop, compare prices and find coupons for 

volleyball uniforms and volleyball training equipment. 

Here's Seven Reasons Why Players Will Gossip About The New Nfinity Volleyball Shoes

April Chapple is a fan of

Volleyball Voices Fan Page

Create your Fan Badge

About Volleyball Voices

Volleyball Voices is a volleyball news hub where girls high school volleyball, club 

volleyball, college volleyball players, parents and fans learn about the indoor and 

sand volleyball game and its female heroes with breaking news stories of college 

and women's pro volleyball players, self-coaching and volleyball training 

information, a gift and shopping directory, beach volleyball pictures and indoor 

volleyball videos.

 

 

Baylor Volleyball Ranked No. 20 in Final Poll, Makes Sweet 16, Receives All America Awards, Firsts In Program History

Baylor College Volleyball Team Ranked No. 20 in Final Poll

Baylor earns Sweet 16 appearance and All-America awards for the first time in program history

 

WACO, Texas – Capping a historic season, Baylor’s college volleyball team was ranked No. 20 in the final poll released on Tuesday by the American Volleyball Coaches Association.

 

The Bears (24-10, 11-9 Big 12), who reached as high as 17^th during a school-record nine-week stretch of earning a top 25 ranking, finish the season ranked for just the second time in program history. Baylor’s NCAA Tournament run to finish the year included a sweep of Georgia Tech and an upset of eighth-seeded UCLA in Los Angeles, before coming to a halt against ninth-seeded California.

 

BU began the season with a school-record 11-match win streak, going on to win 17 of its first 18 matches. The stretch included a 3-0 sweep over Iowa State, who finished the season ranked sixth in the nation. At the time, ISU was ranked 11^th, which stood as the highest-ranked win ever for BU, until the Bears pulled off the upset of ninth-ranked UCLA. The Bears defeated four Top 25 opponents during the season, also including No. 24 Purdue and at No. 23 Texas A&M.

 

Individually, senior setter Taylor Barnes and senior middle blocker Anna Breyfogle became the first All-Americans in program history when they were named to the AVCA All-America Honorable Mention. Both earned all-Big 12 and all-region honors, while Breyfogle was named the Big 12’s Defensive Player of the Year. Freshman middle blocker Torri Campbell was named to the All-Big 12 Freshman Team.

 

 

 

Destinee Hooker vs. Megan Hodge, College Volleyball's Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant, Meet in NCAA Championships Finals Today in Two Hours




Destinee Hooker vs. Megan Hodge, 

College Volleyball's Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant, 

Meet in NCAA Championships Finals Today in Two Hours

Destinee Hooker

Hooker's Big Day: Win and Marriage Proposal by Jim Vertuno

"This was the perfect place," Hooker said, still wiping away the tears. "My team's here, my family's here, this was perfect."

Destinee Hooker named Big-12 Athlete of the Year

"Hooker was the 2009 NCAA Indoor and Outdoor high jump champion, the first athlete since 2004 to capture both titles in the same year. "

Hodge-Hooker showdown could help sport's popularity by Nick Williams

"Destinee Hooker and Megan Hodge are arguably the top two players in women's college volleyball.

"What you would hope would happen is that there's a whole bunch of young kids around the country watching volleyball that see two charismatic players going out there and playing hard and playing with passion, and that it sparks more young kids playing volleyball around the country," Rose said.

Texas Smashes Into NCAA Volleyball Championship match

“We’re extremely excited to represent the University of Texas in the championship match,” Elliott said. “We want to play whichever team is better, and we’re just focused on winning the championship.”

Megan Hodge

Hooker, Horns Stand In The Way by Bill Landis

"If the No. 1 Penn State women's volleyball team wants to win a third straight national championship, the way to do so is quite clear -- stop Destinee Hooker.

Easier said than done."

Durham Native Megan Hodge Named Volleyball Player Of The Year‎ 

"Penn State senior and Durham, NC native, Megan Hodge was named the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Division I National Player of the Year for 2009."

AP Photo- Penn State's Megan Hodge, left, blocks against Hawaii's Dani Mafua, right, and Stephanie Brandt (10) during the NCAA college volleyball national semifinal 

Hodge named ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District

"...This is the second ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District honor of Hodge's career."

Glass, Hodge finalists for Honda Sports Award from Penn State Live

"Penn State women's volleyball senior setter Alisha Glass (Leland, Mich.) and senior outside hitter Megan Hodge (Durham, N.C.) have been named two of four finalists for the 2009-10 Honda Sports Award to determine the top woman collegiate athlete in that sport. Cal's Hana Cutura and Texas' Destinee Hooker join Glass and Hodge as finalists."

Penn State's Megan Hodge's Wired Up video

Here are some more great stories of senior volleyball players in the news. 

(sponsored links)

Tools To Help You Become a Better Volleyball Player

If I didn't think my e-book would help you to 

become a better volleyball player, I wouldn't promote it on my blog!

86 Girls Indoor Volleyball Tips: How To Gain Confidence On The Volleyball Court, The E-Book

Everybody writes for coaches and parents but nobody writes volleyball self-coachingbooks or booklets for you, the young female high school or collegiate volleyball player, right? ...

So that's why I did. 

BUY Your Copy Now!

 

(Sponsored links)

Now you can shop, compare prices and find coupons for 

volleyball uniforms and volleyball training equipment. 

Here's Seven Reasons Why Players Will Gossip About The New Nfinity Volleyball Shoes

April Chapple is a fan of

Volleyball Voices Fan Page

Create your Fan Badge

About Volleyball Voices

Volleyball Voices is a volleyball news hub where girls high school volleyball, club 

volleyball, college volleyball players, parents and fans learn about the indoor and 

sand volleyball game and its female heroes with breaking news stories of college 

and women's pro volleyball players, self-coaching and volleyball training 

information, a gift and shopping directory, beach volleyball pictures and indoor 

volleyball videos.

 

 

NCAA Volleyball Tournament Championship Playoffs 64 Team Bracket To be Announced In Less Than An Hour on ESPNnews.

Let the countdown begin. 

The entire 64-team bracket for the 2009 NCAA Division I Volleyball Championship will be announced at 3 p.m. ET on ESPNews.

There were a lot of upsets in conference championships this past week as regular season leaders lost against lower seeded and lower ranked teams in their respective finals. 

Check out who failed to do what this week on the NCAA Division I Women's Volleyball blog.

Also check out ESPN TV college volleyball analyst and color commentator Phil Bush's take on how the teams should seeded.

good luck to all the teams.

To Seed 16 Or Seed 64 Teams In the "Horribly Flawed" NCAA Volleyball Tournament This Monday? TV Color Analyst Phil Bush Thinks That Is A Huge Question

Six days from today the NCAA Women's Volleyball Tournament Playoff Committee will announce the seeded teams participating in the 2009 NCAA Women's Volleyball Playoffs Tournament. 

Every year there's debate over which teams should have received better matchups, which shouldn't have to travel and those teams that just plain out got disrespected despite their year-end conference standings or team records. So, this year I decided to ask someone who's been sitting on the sidelines with a ringside seat of many of these college volleyball in-season and playoff season volleyball games to share his take on the seeding process.

I asked TV color analyst and veteran volleyball broadcaster Phil Bush permission to reprint and share with Volleyball Voices readers his article, originally published in the May edition of Volleyball Magazine entitled "Horribly Flawed". 

Phil is No shrinking violet when it comes to expressing his opinion on modifications he thinks the NCAA should make to the women's playoff tournament. 

Phil IS opinionated. You've been warned. 

But don't let that stop you from following him on twitter at: http://twitter.com/psbush

After reading Phil's views if you have some of your own, please share them. Leave a comment below. 

Horribly Flawed

The NCAA Division I women’s tournament
needs some modifications made to it.

By Phil Bush

The NCAA Division I Women’s Volleyball Tournament should be a big showcase for the sport in the U.S., but the tournament is marred with problems.

I see two themes here. 

First, teams 1-16 are seeded. Seeds 17-64 are an afterthought. Secondly, regionalization is an option.

See if I’m off-base here.

Kentucky and Michigan played in the first round this past season. These teams had regional seeds of five and 12. I’ll let you figure out which was which. Both deserved a better first round match-up. But Michigan is near Kentucky travel-wise, right? And the winner got St. Louis in the second round?

Alabama-Birmingham and Missouri State played in the first round and were seeded eight and nine. In the second round, the winner played Nebraska—the top seed in this part of the bracket.

How does Missouri State, which only got in by winning its conference tournament, end up with an eight or nine seed? Or does the committee say, “You are both going to lose to Nebraska, so who cares?” 

UAB travels to Nebraska. Is Birmingham close to Nebraska? Missouri State’s power ranking was low.  If you rewarded them, other teams like Michigan and Kentucky have to think, “Why are we fighting to get out of the first round against a higher RPI team and two lower RPI teams played each other?”

LSU played UCLA in the first round. LSU once again must have annoyed someone.

They got sent to the west again. Why not send them to Texas?

Louisville and Purdue also squared off in the first round. Louisville was a 14 seed. Putting Louisville in a worse spot than teams like American (11 seed), Missouri State (9 seed) and Florida International (12 seed) is wrong. How is it fair to Louisville?

Colorado State and Florida matched up in the second round. Maybe the seeding made sense, but why send CSU cross country? Why not to Cal, Nebraska, UCLA or even Texas? 

The fact these teams played each other earlier in the year also seems unfair to CSU, which won the first time and had to play the Gators in Gainesville in a rematch.

The committee plays the regional card when it is convenient. Exceptions this year included Duke, LSU, Albany, Belmont, Oregon, Siena and Colorado State.


And not officially seeding past 16 is just ridiculous. Anyone reviewing RPIs can figure out the seedings to a pretty good degree. When will the NCAA committee learn that seeding all 64 teams would be a good thing? 

It would promote controversy, conversation and debate—which this event needs. 

The tourney hardly warrants a line in the national media.

A big reason March Madness is so great is because of the conversation it provokes. Volleyball has none of that outside of hardcore fans. Controversy creates attention and attention creates media coverage. 

Media coverage increases interest and that is what is lacking today.

To not seed all teams is a disservice primarily to the student-athletes who have worked hard to be in a position to compete for a national championship.
This should not be a tournament where the top 16 teams are what matters and the others do not.

It should be about getting to that next match, getting to the round of 16 and maybe being that year’s Cinderella.