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November 5, 2008
Contact: Mike Christie, Assistant Commissioner
USA South Volleyball Awards Announced
(FAYETTEVILLE, N.C.) - The USA South Athletic
Conference has announced its All-Conference awards for volleyball. A total of
34 student-athletes have been named to the USA South
All-Conference teams. Christopher Newport University's Ellen Koch has been
named the Player of the Year, Mackenzie Tingle of N.C. Wesleyan College is the Rookie
of the Year, MaryBeth Finegan of Meredith College is the Libero of the Year
while Christopher Newport head coach Lindsay Birch is the Coach of the
Year. Also, the USA
South recognized an All-Sportsmanship Team consisting of one member
from each competing school. All awards are voted on by the
volleyball coach at each institution.
Koch, a senior outside hitter from Crozet, Virginia, led the Captain
offense this fall. She averaged a team-best 2.8 kills/set while posting
a .255 hitting percentage with 1.3 digs/set and 0.3 blocks/set. Her kill
total ranked ninth in the USA South. She helped the Captains to an
undefeated mark in league play and collected her fourth all-conference
honor. Koch earned honorable mention accolades as a freshman and
sophomore before garnering second team honors last year and first team
acclaim this year. Additionally, Koch was named USA South
Player of the Week twice this season.
Tingle, a Clearbrook, Virginia freshman setter, played an integral role in
the Bishops' success this season. Tingle averaged 8.4 assists/set which
ranked second in the USA South. She also averaged 1.0 kills/set, a .332
hitting percentage, 2.0 digs/set, 0.5 service aces/set and 0.3
blocks/set. Tingle received First Team All-Conference honors and was
named USA South Rookie of the Week once this season.
Finegan, a Chapel Hill, North Carolina freshman was the Avenging Angels' defensive
specialist this season. She was first in the USA South in digs,
averaging 5.5/set. Finegan's regular season total of 641 set a new
school and USA South record. Additionally, she earned Honorable Mention
All-Conference
Honors while being named USA South Rookie of the Week once and Defensive Player of the Week
once this season.
This season marks the fourth time that Birch has been named Coach of the Year. This
fall, she
has led
her team to a 30-6 overall record, including a 18-0 mark in USA South play.
The unblemished league mark gave Christopher Newport its seventh regular
season title in eight years. In her seventh year at the helm of the team,
Birch leads the Captains into the
semifinals of the Conference tournament as the top seed.
Player
of the Year
Ellen Koch - Christopher Newport
Rookie of the Year
Mackenzie Tingle - N.C. Wesleyan
Libero of the Year
MaryBeth Finegan - Meredith
Coach of the Year
Lindsay Birch - Christopher Newport
The 2008 USA South Volleyball All-Conference Teams follow:
| First Team | Second Team | Third Team |
|
Liz Bush - Christopher Newport Kacie Hyatt - Greensboro Brittany Insley - N.C. Wesleyan Ellen Koch - Christopher Newport Mackenzie Tingle - N.C. Wesleyan Allison Wolfe - Christopher Newport |
Jessica Flanagan -
Ferrum Ryann Lowery - Christopher Newport Jordan Maupin - Averett Sha McDuffie - Greensboro Meghan Puckli - Christopher Newport Morgan White - Meredith |
Shannon Andy - Averett Kelsey Hargrove - Greensboro Leslie Hassell - N.C. Wesleyan Jesse Jones - Averett Jalesty Washington - Methodist Sara Yeatman - Methodist |
| Honorable Mention | All-Sportsmanship Team | |
| Sydney Bens - N.C.
Wesleyan MaryBeth Finegan - Meredith Jessie Heavenrich - Christopher Newport Laura Sayabouth - Meredith Meredith Schwane - Averett Brittany Walters - Averett |
Meredith Schwane - Averett Becca Davis - Christopher Newport Lauren Thurman - Ferrum Emily Thompson - Greensboro Kara Jenkins - Mary Baldwin Sara Elliott - Meredith Rachel Evans - Methodist Sydney Bens - N.C. Wesleyan Amber Lowe - Peace Amber DeHaven - Shenandoah |