GVSU's Alexander Named AVCA Division II Volleyball All-American
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LEXINGTON, Ky. - The American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) is proud to announce the 28th annual AVCA All-America teams for NCAA Division II women's volleyball. Grand Valley State University senior middle blocker Danielle Alexander (Newport, Mich./Carelton Airport)earned First-team All-America honors, while teammate, senior setter Jamie Ashmore (LaPorte, Ind.) garnered Second-Team All-America accolades.
Three other GLIAC student-athletes, junior outside hitter Sarha Gosselin of Wayne State University (Harrison, Twp., Mich./Warren Lincoln), senior middle blocker Jen Jung of Michigan Technolgical University (Andover, Minn./Coon Rapids), and senior outside hitter Sarah Redoute of Saginaw Valley State University (Clinton Twp., Mich./L'Anse Creuse) were named to the AVCA Division II Honorable Mention All-America team.
Alexander was also named the GLIAC and Midwest Region "Player of the Year," becoming the first GVSU player to own that distinction since 2003. She helped lead the Lakers to a 26-3 regular season record and a 15-1 GLIAC mark. Grand Valley State won all six of its matches at the GLIAC and Midwest Regional tournaments and Alexander was named to both all-tournament teams.
Alexander was named the GLIAC North Division Player of the Week three times and became the first GVSU player to ever be named the AVCA Division II National Player of the Week. Alexander enters the NCAA Elite Eight next weekend hitting .325 and has tallied 413 kills and 148 total blocks. In program history, Alexander is first in block assists (393), third in total blocks (454), ninth in kills per game (3.41), and 10th in kills (1,146).
Ashmore was named the GLIAC Tournament most valuable player and was also honored as an all-tournament selection at the Midwest Regional. For the first time in her career, she was named to the All-GLIAC First Team, after being a second team choice each of the last two years. Ashmore ranks third in school history in assists (4,995), fifth in assists per game (10.07), and seventh in digs (1,148) and service aces (191).
Concordia University-St. Paul setter Maggie McNamara and California State University, San Bernardino right side/opposite Jessica Granados are the only repeat First-Team selections from a year ago, with McNamara also nabbing Second-Team honors in 2006. Katie Gangelhoff of the University of Minnesota Duluth and Monica Miesner of Washburn University join McNamara as the only athletes to earn AVCA All-America honors three times - Gangelhoff was a Second-Team recipient in 2007 and a Third-Team honoree in 2006; Miesner earned Second-Team laurels in 2005 and 2007.
The 2008 All-America selections were made by the AVCA Division II All-America Committee: Laurie Lokash, Slippery Rock University, chairperson; Mario Andaya, Central Washington University; Christy Benner, Wheeling Jesuit University; Jim Boos, University of Minnesota Duluth; Todd Caughlin, St. Mary's University; Shelton Collier, Wingate University; Sandy Hoffman, Bentley College; Deanne Scanlon, Grand Valley State University; and Jill Stephens, Florida Southern College.
2008 AVCA Division II First-Team All-America
Player |
Institution |
Pos. |
Yr. |
Ht. |
Hometown |
|
Danielle Alexander & |
Grand Valley State University |
MB |
Sr. |
5-11 |
Newport, Michigan |
|
Angie Alvord |
Western Washington University |
MB |
Sr. |
6-0 |
Laurel, Washington |
|
Katie Gangelhoff %^ |
University of Minnesota Duluth |
|
Sr. |
5-8 |
South St. Paul, Minnesota |
|
Jessica Granados * |
California State Univ. San Bernardino |
RS/Opp. |
Sr. |
6-1 |
Beaumont, California |
|
Sara Hoffman & |
California State Univ. San Bernardino |
|
Jr. |
5-6 |
San Clemente, California |
|
Linda Igbinigie |
Pittsburg State University |
MB |
Sr. |
6-4 |
Richardson, Texas |
|
Ting Liu |
Emporia State University |
|
So. |
6-1 |
Beijing, China |
|
Maggie McNamara *^ |
Concordia University-St. Paul |
|
Jr. |
5-9 |
Zumbrota, Minnesota |
|
Monica Miesner %! |
Washburn University |
OH |
Sr. |
5-11 |
Florissant, Missouri |
|
Rhe-Ann Niles |
University of New Haven |
MB |
Sr. |
5-11 |
St. Thomas, Barbados |
|
Emily Palkert |
Concordia University-St. Paul |
MB |
So. |
5-11 |
Excelsior, Minnesota |
|
Laura Prinsen |
West Texas A&M University |
RS/Opp. |
Jr. |
5-9 |
Spring, Texas |
|
Melissa Vanderhall |
University of Tampa |
OH |
So. |
5-9 |
Hempstead, New York |
|
Jeri Walkowiak |
University of Nebraska-Kearney |
MB |
So. |
5-11 |
Grand Island, Nebraska |
2008 AVCA Division II Second-Team All-America
|
Player |
Institution |
Pos. |
Yr. |
Ht. |
Hometown |
|
Ludmila Amaral |
California University of Pennsylvania |
MB |
Jr. |
6-0 |
Sao Paulo, Brazil |
|
Jamie Ashmore |
Grand Valley State University |
|
Sr. |
5-9 |
LaPorte, Indiana |
|
Rhea Cardwell |
University of Alaska-Anchorage |
OH |
Sr. |
5-10 |
Prineville, Oregon |
|
Allie Cherven % |
Truman State University |
MB |
Sr. |
6-1 |
St. Charles, Missouri |
|
Natalie Forbes |
Northern Kentucky University |
|
Sr. |
5-9 |
Fort Thomas, Kentucky |
|
Whitney Meierotto |
Concordia University-St. Paul |
OH |
Sr. |
5-8 |
Washburn, Wisconsin |
|
Camilla Pagnan |
Barry University |
OH |
Sr. |
5-10 |
Morra da Fumaca, Brazil |
|
Valia Petrova |
Nova Southeastern University |
|
Sr. |
5-10 |
Sofia, Bulgaria |
|
Luciana Rapach & |
The University of West Florida |
RS/Opp. |
Sr. |
5-9 |
Porto Alegre, Brazil |
|
Whitney Sanders |
University of North Alabama |
MB |
Sr. |
6-1 |
Haleyville, Alabama |
|
Mary Slinger |
Concordia University-St. Paul |
DS/Lib. |
Jr. |
5-8 |
Faribault, Minnesota |
|
Maria Steinhagen & |
Concordia University-St. Paul |
MB |
Sr. |
5-10 |
Alexandria, Minnesota |
|
Vanessa Williams |
Cal Poly Pomona |
MB |
Sr. |
6-1 |
Riverside, California |
|
Sarah Wyffels |
University of Minnesota Duluth |
MB |
Jr. |
5-10 |
Marshall, Minnesota |
2008 AVCA Division II Third-Team All-America
|
Player |
Institution |
Pos. |
Yr. |
Ht. |
Hometown |
|
Rebecca Bailey |
University of California, San Diego |
OH |
Sr. |
5-9 |
Escondido, California |
|
Gabriela Bulawcyzk |
California State Univ., Los Angeles |
OH |
Jr. |
6-1 |
Sulechow, Poland |
|
Pamela Cartagena % |
Pittsburg State University |
OH |
Jr. |
5-7 |
Bayamon, Puerto Rico |
|
Renata da Silva & |
California University of Pennsylvania |
|
Jr. |
5-8 |
Sao Paulo, Brazil |
|
Danielle Higginbotham |
Florida Southern College |
MB |
Sr. |
6-1 |
Tallahassee, Florida |
|
Jessica Howe |
Regis University |
OH |
So. |
6-0 |
Pueblo, Colorado |
|
Kasey Loeslie |
Southwest Minnesota State Univ. |
MB |
Sr. |
6-1 |
Tracy, Minnesota |
|
Eli Medina |
Truman State University |
OH |
Sr. |
5-8 |
Kansas City, Missouri |
|
Ashley Nachreiner & |
Minnesota State University |
OH |
Sr. |
5-11 |
Round Rock, Texas |
|
Michelle Nogueras |
Saint Leo University |
|
Jr. |
5-8 |
Cayey, Puerto Rico |
|
Melissa Powers |
Catawba College |
MB |
Sr. |
5-10 |
Bennett, North Carolina |
|
Arica Shepard |
Emporia State University |
OH |
Jr. |
5-9 |
Rossville, Kansas |
|
Andrea Tuck |
Adams State College |
OH |
Jr. |
6-0 |
Erie, Colorado |
|
Sammie Williams |
Pittsburg State University |
RS/Opp. |
Sr. |
6-1 |
Blue Springs, Missouri |
* indicates 2007 AVCA First-Team All-America selection
% indicates 2007 AVCA Second-Team All-America selection
& indicates 2007 AVCA Third-Team All-America selection
$ indicates 2006 AVCA First-Team All-America selection
^ indicates 2006 AVCA Second-Team All-America selection
@ indicates 2006 AVCA Third-Team All-America selection
! indicates 2005 AVCA Second-Team All-America selection
2008 AVCA Division II Freshman of the Year: Maja
Potpara, Dowling College, S
2008 AVCA Division II Player of the Year: announced December 3, 2008 at the NCAA Division II Championships' banquet
