Wingate’s Cory McGowan Named To All-National Team By COBRA Magazine

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Wingate University freshman outside hitter Cory McGowan (Pittsburgh, Pa) has been named to the All-National third team by COBRA Magazine.

COBRA Magazine is the first publication that primarily showcases the talents of players of African descent. The three All-National teams are made up primarily of Division I players. McGowan is one of only three Division II players to be honored.

Other teams represented on the All-National team include four-time defending Division I national champion Penn State, along with Division I powers Texas, Hawaii, USC, California and Florida. The other two Division II schools represented are Tampa and Cal State San Bernardino, who both finished the 2010 season in the top five nationally.

"I think it is great that a publication recognizes young minority female student athletes; we are extremely proud that Cory received this honor as only a first year player," head coach Shelton Collier says. "In looking at the names of the elite players from top Division I programs on the list, Cory is definitely in some exceptional company. I believe an award like this will be very inspiring and motivational for Cory. As a result, it brings some unique and positive attention to Wingate as a university and as a volleyball program, which is exciting."

McGowan ranked second on the team and eighth in the SAC with 2.96 kills per set during her freshman season at Wingate. She was also second on the team with 2.95 digs per set, while notching eight double-doubles. McGowan had double-digit kills 14 times in 2010, while collecting double-digit digs in 15 matches.

In Wingate's regular season win over Flagler, McGowan had 14 kills, seven digs and a .364 hitting percentage. She had 13 kills and 14 digs in the win at LMU. McGowan racked up 16 kills and 14 digs in the 3-1 win over Tusculum. She had a career-high 17 kills along with 15 digs and a .308 hitting percentage in the SAC championship match against Tusculum. McGowan had 12 kills and 11 digs in the regional quarterfinal win over Lees-McRae, while collecting 12 kills and a career-high 18 digs in the semifinal win over Montevallo.

McGowan was named to the All-SAC Freshman team in 2010. She also earned all-tournament honors at the Food Lion SAC Tournament and the NCAA Southeast Regional Tournament. McGowan helped Wingate win both titles in 2010.

McGowan and her teammates helped lead Wingate to a 31-2 overall record in 2010, as the Bulldogs became the first volleyball team in SAC history to reach the Elite Eight. Wingate went undefeated in conference play for the fourth consecutive year, while claiming its fifth consecutive SAC regular season and tournament title. The Bulldogs are riding a league-record 64-match conference winning streak, which dates back to the beginning of the 2007 season.

COBRA's goal is to tell inspiring stories of black volleyball players that show young African American players that they too have opportunities to thrive in the sport despite cultural differences and economic disadvantages. "One of COBRA's goals is to share the success of players while exposing the barriers that they have had to face by being in a sport that is not highly promoted amongst their peers," Gezus Zaire, creator of COBRA Magazine, says. "COBRA is an advocate that previously didn't exist for black volleyball players."

THE ALL-NATIONAL FIRST TEAM: Texas' Rachael Adams, Missouri's Paola Ampudia, Cal St. San Bernardino's Mbebui Chafeh, Hawaii's Kanani Danielson, USC's Falyn Fonoimoana, New Mexico State's Kayleigh Giddens, Tulsa's Tyler Henderson, Tennessee's Kayla Jeter, LSU Brittney Johnson, USC's Alex Jupiter, Penn State's Deja McClendon, California's Tarah Murrey, Florida's Callie Rivers, Washington's Bianca Rowland, Penn State's Arielle Wilson.

THE ALL-NATIONAL SECOND TEAM: Florida's Lauren Bledsoe, Miami's Lane Carico, Memphis' Altrese Hawkins, Iowa State's Victoria Henson, Texas' Sha'Dare McNeal, Georgia Tech's Monique Mead, Arizona's Tiffany Owens, Western Michigan's Lena Oliver, Texas' Amber Roberson, Louisville's Gwen Rucker, Cincinnati's Jordanne Scott, Florida International's Natalia Valentin, Missouri's Caitlyn Vann, Georgia State's Vineece Verdun, American's Angelina Waterman.

THE ALL-NATIONAL THIRD TEAM: Liberty's Karyl Bacon, Alabama A&M's Karensa Beckford, Missouri's Brittney Brimmage, South Carolina State's Jarne Gleaton, Western Nebraska's Fernanda Gonclaves, Albany's Laurie Gonzalez, Arizona's Cursty Jackson, Saint Mary's Gabby Jolly, Marquette's Ciara Jones, Emory's Amelia McCall, Wingate's Cory McGowan, College of Charleston's Whitney Russell, Kentucky State's Brittany Stewart, Tampa's Melissa Vanderhall, West Texas A&M's Keidra Williams.

HIGH HONORABLE MENTION: Middle Tennessee State's Ashley Adams, Florida's Cassandra Anderson, Washington's Lauren Barfield, Long Beach State's Janisa Johnson, Northwestern's Sabel Moffett, SMU's Dana Powell, Loyola Marymount Jasmine Rankins, Arizona State's Sarah Reaves, Chicago's Isis Smalls, Ole Miss' Regina Thomas.