AVCA RELEASE
LEXINGTON, Ky. - The American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) is proud to announce the 32nd annual AVCA All-America teams for NCAA Division II women's volleyball. Top-ranked Concordia-St. Paul boasts four All-Americans –
Cassie Haag (Plymouth, Minn.), Kayla Koenecke (Delano, Minn.) and
Amanda Konetchy (Victoria, Minn.) on the First Team, and
Ellie Duffy (Fridley, Minn.) on the Second Team.
Exactly 33 of the athletes honored on the AVCA All-America teams in 2012 are first-time recipients of the award. Headlining this year's selections is a pair of Concordia-St. Paul Golden Bears and a Tampa Spartan. Teammates
Kayla Koenecke and
Amanda Konetchy each are three-time AVCA All-Americans as well as Spartan Danielle Selkridge.
Concordia bios by David Portney, AVCA Media Relations & Awards Support Specialist
Cassie Haag, a 6-0 middle blocker, is a senior from Plymouth, Minn. trying to help lead the Golden Bears to their unprecedented sixth straight national championship. Haag ranked third in the nation heading into the NCAA Tournament with a .409 hitting percentage. She also got it done defensively, leading her team in blocks with 76. This is Haag's second appearance on the AVCA All-American First-Team after making it in 2010.
Kayla Koenecke, a 5-9 right side/setter, is a junior from Delano, Minn. Her .396 hitting percentage currently ranks in the top-10 nationally to go along with her 3.42 kills per set, which is good for second on the team. Koenecke is one of three members of this year's class to be named an AVCA All-American for the third time.
Amanda Konetchy, a 5-7 setter, is a junior from Victoria, Minn. Widely regarded as one of the top setters in the country, it should come as no surprise she is the Division II leader averaging 13.08 assists per set. She also notched 249 digs and 28 service aces in her memorable season. The Minnesota native is a three-time AVCA All-American.
Ellie Duffy, a 5-8 outside hitter, is a senior from Fridley, Minn. It was another highly successful season for the Concordia-St. Paul Golden Bears, and the aggressive play of Duffy provided balance to a consistently powerful offensive attack. Her 0.43 service aces per game led the Northern Sun Conference, and she finished third in total points scored in the entire league. She has started in all 34 of her team's matches and helped lead them to a 30-4 record, including a 19-1 record at home. This is her first AVCA All-American recognition.
The 2012 All-America selections were made by the AVCA Division II All-America Committee: Shelton Collier, Wingate University, chairperson; Mario Andaya, Central Washington University; Laurie Lokash, Slippery Rock University; Debbie Hendricks, Metro State University; Gail Wasmus. NY Institute of Technology; Wick Colchagoff, Findlay University; Ashley Buckley, Augustana College; Steve Wilcosky, Nova Southeastern; Will Condon, Armstrong Atlantic State University.
2012 AVCA Division II First-Team All-America
|
Name |
School |
Pos. |
Year |
|
|
Ying Chun Chen^ |
BYU-Hawai'i |
S |
SO |
|
|
Shih Ting Chen |
BYU-Hawai'i |
OH |
SO |
|
|
Marlayna Geary |
Western Washington |
OH |
SR |
|
|
Cassie Haag* |
Concordia-St. Paul |
MB |
SR |
|
|
Lacy Hayes@ |
West Texas A&M |
S |
SR |
|
|
Maddie Huth |
Angelo State |
MB |
JR |
|
|
Kristina Kerrigan |
Indianapolis |
OH |
SR |
|
|
Kayla Koenecke#& |
Concordia-St. Paul |
RS |
JR |
|
|
Amanda Konetchy#% |
Concordia-St. Paul |
S |
JR |
|
|
Kate Lange# |
Minnesota-Duluth |
OH |
JR |
|
|
Liz McGowan |
Nebraska-Kearney |
Libero |
SO |
|
|
Juliia Pakhomenko |
Northwood |
OH |
SO |
|
|
Danielle Selkridge#% |
Tampa |
MB |
SR |
|
|
Alex Woolsey |
Angelo State |
S |
SR |
|
2012 AVCA Division II Second-Team All-America
|
Name |
School |
Pos. |
Year |
|
|
Lindsay Biggs@ |
Eckerd |
OH |
JR |
|
|
Erin Dougherty |
West Texas A&M |
MB |
SR |
|
|
Ellie Duffy |
Concordia-St. Paul |
OH |
SR |
|
|
Autumn Duyn |
West Florida |
OH |
SO |
|
|
Emilee Gutzmer |
Southwest Minnesota St. |
S |
FR |
|
|
Lauren Hagemeyer |
BYU-Hawai'i |
OH |
SR |
|
|
Samantha Hutchinson |
Western Washington |
L |
SO |
|
|
Marquis Mora |
Cal. State-LA |
MB |
SR |
|
|
Mariela Quesada |
Palm Beach Atlantic |
OH |
SR |
|
|
Jenna Rouzee |
Nebraska-Kearney |
S |
SR |
|
|
Ali Skayhan |
Florida Southern |
S |
JR |
|
|
Erin Smith |
Central Washington |
MB |
JR |
|
|
Jackie Stabell@ |
Colorado School of Mines |
OH |
SR |
|
|
Melanie Wannamaker |
Colorado School of Mines |
MB |
JR |
|
2012 AVCA Division II Third-Team All-America
|
Name |
School |
Pos. |
Year |
|
|
Lauren Beville |
West Texas A&M |
L |
SR |
|
|
Meghan Binkerd |
Indianapolis |
S |
SO |
|
|
Meagan Burke |
Tampa |
MB |
SO |
|
|
Shelbi Goode |
Angelo State |
MB/RS |
JR |
|
|
Holly Hafemeyer |
Augustana |
MB |
JR |
|
|
Krista Haslag |
Missouri S&T |
MH |
FR |
|
|
Anna Hilton |
Wingate |
RS |
JR |
|
|
Krissi Kemper |
Western Oregon |
MB |
JR |
|
|
Ali McAlvany |
Eckerd |
RS |
SO |
|
|
Kristin Preach |
Grand Canyon |
S |
SR |
|
|
Holly Reschke |
Tampa |
OH |
JR |
|
|
Ashley Seal |
Armstrong |
S/RS |
SR |
|
|
Kelsey Stratman |
Rockhurst |
MH |
FR |
|
|
Taylor Sturms |
Colorado Christian |
OH |
FR |
|
# indicates 2011 AVCA First-Team All-America selection
^ indicates 2011 AVCA Second-Team All-America selection
@ indicates 2011 AVCA Third-Team All-America selection
* indicates 2010 AVCA First-Team All-America selection
% indicates 2010 AVCA Second-Team All-America selection
& indicates 2010 AVCA Third-Team All-America selection
$ indicates 2009 AVCA First-Team All-America selection
2012 AVCA Division II Freshman of the Year: Emilee Gutzmer, SW Minnesota State, S
2012 AVCA Division II Player of the Year: Announced at the Division II Awards Banquet on Wednesday, December 5th.
