CAMBRIDGE, Mass.-- A trio of America East volleyball senior standouts earned All-Region honorable mention status from the American Volleyball Coaches Association this week. The 2011 America East Player of the Year Alicia Nelson from Stony Brook, and Albany teammates Laurie Gonzalez and Casey Wright received the honors.
Nelson (Apple Valley, Minn./Eastview) led the conference
in kills per set (4.39) and points per set (4.93). A three-time
conference player of the week, Nelson had 13 double-doubles and recorded
double-digit kills in all but three matches.
Nelson became the eight player in program history to pass 1,000
career kills earlier this season at Bucknell and ranked 21st in the
country in kills per set and points per set. She also led the Seawolves
to the America East finals for the first time since 2007.
Gonzalez
was named the America East Defensive Specialist of the Year for the fourth
consecutive season this year after leading the Great Danes to a 21-9 overall
record, going 10-1 in league play. Gonzalez averaged a conference-high 5.33
digs per set and also finished with 23 service aces on the season. A native of
Carolina, Puerto Rico, Gonzalez was also named to the COBRA Magazine All-Northeast
Region Team.
Wright, a native of Ballston Spa,
N.Y., earned her first AVCA All-Region award as well, after leading the Great
Danes and finishing fourth in the conference with 3.37 kills per set. She also
led the America East in hitting percentage for the third straight season,
hitting at a .393 clip, and was ranked eighth in blocks (0.81 per set). Wright,
who helped lead UAlbany to their sixth conference title in the last eight
years, was ranked fourth in points, averaging 3.95 per set.
AVCA Northeast All-Region Team
| Lola Arslanbekova*** |
University of Louisville |
OH |
Jr. |
| Taylor Brauneis |
University of Louisville |
S |
So. |
| Sarah Brown |
Xavier University |
OH |
So |
| Megan Campbell |
University of Dayton |
MB |
So |
| Danielle Carlson |
Marquette University |
MB |
Jr. |
| Melissa Harpenau |
University of Cincinnati |
OH |
Sr. |
| Chelsea Heier |
Marquette University |
S |
Fr. |
| Ciara Jones |
Marquette University |
OH |
Sr. |
| Rachel Krabacher |
University of Dayton |
OH |
Jr. |
| Kiesha Leggs |
University of Pittsburgh |
MB |
Sr. |
| Kim Maroon** |
Villanova University |
L |
Sr. |
| Kendall Polan |
Yale University |
S/H |
So. |
| Jordanne Scott |
University of Cincinnati |
RS |
Jr. |
| Samantha Selsky |
University of Dayton |
S |
Jr. |
Region Freshman of the Year: Chelsie Heier, Marquette, S
Honorable Mention: Emily
Juhl (Louisville, OH/RS, So.), Alicia Nelson (Stony Brook, OH, Sr.),
Laurie Gonzalez (Albany, L, Sr.), Meghan Matusiak (Seton Hall, RS, Sr.),
Sara Rishell (American, MB, Fr.), Casey Wright (Albany, MB, Sr.)