2006 SAC Volleyball All-Conference Team Announced

Wingate?s Brezovec named Player of Year

November 3, 2006

ROCK HILL, S.C. - Conference volleyball co-champions Lenoir-Rhyne College and Wingate University dominated the post-season awards, the league announced today.

Wingate senior middle blocker Rebecca Brezovec was named the Player of the Year and also received the SAC Scholar Athlete Award for the second year in a row. Brezovec finished second in the conference in hitting percentage, kills per game and was fourth in blocks per game.

Lenoir-Rhyne head coach Dave Markland, who guided the Bears to a share of the league crown, was named Coach of the Year for the second time in three years. Senior middle blocker Kathryn Phillips also was named SAC Scholar Athlete for volleyball.

Rebecca Brezovec

Kathryn Phillips

Lorena Maia

Dave Markland

Newberry College freshman Lorena Maia was named SAC Freshman of the Year after ranking eighth in kills per game and was the statistical champion in aces with 0.63 per game.

Wingate, Lenoir-Rhyne and Catawba each placed four on the All-Conference Team. Wingate led the way with three on the First Team, with Brezovec, Melissa Deluca and Molly Kerns all earning First Team recognition. Lauren Alley was a Second Team selection.

Lenoir-Rhyne's Abby Smith was a First Team selection for the Bears, while Phillips, Lauren McLelland and Katie Novacek were all named to the Second Team.

For Catawba, Melissa Powers and Missy Bartholomew at Libero were named to the First Team, while Melissa Griffith and Andi Henderson were named to the Second Team. Powers led the conference in hitting percentage and kills per game.

Tusculum rounded out the All-Conference team with two selections. Vivian Lacy was named to the First Team, while Alexis Rowles was Second Team at the Libero position.

Joining Maia on the All-Freshman Team are Katie Troyer, Carson-Newman; Mai Zova Lo, Catawba; Jordan Ledford, Lenoir-Rhyne; Julie Hollrah, Presbyterian; and Jacki Emmenecker, Wingate.

The All-Conference Team is selected by the league's head coaches.

The Food Lion South Atlantic Conference volleyball tournament begins Friday morning at Wingate University, in Wingate, N.C. The All-Conference team and other award winners will be recognized after the 9:30 a.m. matches.

Awards ceremony photo gallery

2006 SOUTH ATLANTIC CONFERENCE VOLLEYBALL
ALL-CONFERENCE TEAMS AND AWARD RECIPIENTS

ALL-SAC FIRST TEAM
Kelli Sorensen, Carson-Newman
Melissa Powers, Catawba
Missy Bartholomew (Libero), Catawba
Abby Smith, Lenoir-Rhyne
Vivian Lacy, Tusculum
Melissa Deluca, Wingate
Molly Kerns, Wingate
Rebecca Brezovec, Wingate

ALL-SAC SECOND TEAM
Kari Gibson, Carson-Newman
Melissa Griffith, Catawba
Andi Henderson, Catawba
Kathryn Phillips, Lenoir-Rhyne
Lauren McLelland, Lenoir-Rhyne
Katie Novacek, Lenoir-Rhyne
Alexis Rowles (Libero), Tusculum
Lauren Alley, Wingate

ALL-FRESHMAN TEAM
Katie Troyer, Carson-Newman
Mai Zova Lo, Catawba
Jordan Ledford, Lenoir-Rhyne
Lorena Maia, Newberry
Julie Hollrah, Presbyterian
Jacki Emmenecker, Wingate

COACH OF THE YEAR: Dave Markland, Lenoir-Rhyne
FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR: Lorena Maia, Newberry
PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Rebecca Brezovec, Wingate
SAC SCHOLAR-ATHLETE: Rebecca Brezovec, Wingate; Kathryn Phillips, Lenoir-Rhyne

STATISTICAL CHAMPIONS

(through games of October 31)
Hitting Percentage - Melissa Powers, Catawba, .333
Kills Per Game - Melissa Powers, Catawba, 4.27
Assists Per Game - Melissa Deluca, Wingate, 12.61
Blocks Per Game - Kathryn Phillips, Lenoir-Rhyne, 1.13
Service Aces Per Game - Lorena Maia, Newberry, 0.63
Digs Per Game - Tiffany Oreka, Mars Hill, 5.62
Team Hitting Percentage - Wingate.269
Team Assists Per Game - Catawba, 13.82
Team Kills Per Game - Catawba, 14.99; Wingate, 14.99
Team Winning Percentage - Wingate, .759 (22-7)
Opponent Hitting Percentage - Wingate, .153
Team Blocks Per Game - Tusculum, 2.59
Team Service Aces Per Game - Wingate, 2.30
Digs Per Game - Catawba, 18.94