Tusculum’s Lacy, Wingate’s DeLuca Named Volleyball Honorable Mention All-Americans

LEXINGTON, Ky. - The American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) is proud to announce the 27th annual AVCA All-America teams for NCAA Division II women's volleyball, and two South Atlantic Conference players received honorable mention recognition.

Tusculum College's Vivian Lacy, the 2007 SAC Volleyball Player of the Year, and Wingate University's Melissa DeLuca, the two-time Food Lion SAC Tournament MVP, were both named honorable mention All-Americans. The pair were also named to the All-South Region Team. Catawba College's Melissa Powers was named an honorable mention All-Region performer.

Lacy becomes the first volleyball player in Tusculum history to earn NCAA II All-America honors.

Vivian Lacy

Melissa DeLuca

Lacy, a 5-7 senior from Palm Bay, Fla., was named to the AVCA and Daktronics All-South Region Teams earlier this month.

The 2007 South Atlantic Conference Player of the Year led the Pioneers averaging 4.75 kills per game, which are ninth in NCAA Division II. She posted a .288 hitting percentage, while averaging 2.70 digs and 0.61 blocks per game.

Earlier this season, she was named the AVCA Division II National Player of the Week and was selected SAC Player of the Week on two occasions. Lacy is also a two All-SAC First Team selection.

In just two seasons at Tusculum, she established a new school record with her 4.86 career kills per game average. Her .291 career hitting percentage is the second highest in Tusculum history.

Lacy led Tusculum to a 25-10 record, its second straight 20-win season. The 25 victories are the most by the Pioneers since becoming a NCAA Division II member in 1998. TC finished second in the South Atlantic Conference, its best finish since beginning its association with the league in 1999.

DeLuca (Bahama, N.C.) is the first Bulldog volleyball student-athlete to earn AVCA All-South Region and All-America honors.

Earlier, DeLuca was named to both the 2007 AVCA and DAKTRONICS All-South Region volleyball teams. DeLuca and the Bulldogs put together a magical season in 2007, as Wingate compiled a 33-2 overall record. The Bulldogs won the South Atlantic Conference regular season and tournament championships, posting the top winning percentage in the nation.

"As a result of her leadership, skills and personality, Melissa DeLuca has brought so much positive attention to Wingate University and our volleyball program," Bulldog head coach Shelton Collier says. "She has won so many prestigious awards and honors. As a result, more people around the country have developed a favorable opinion of our school and volleyball team."

DeLuca led the South Atlantic Conference with 12.90 assists per game. She was 14th in the NCAA Division II in the same category. For the second consecutive year, DeLuca was the Most Valuable Player of the Food Lion SAC tournament. She is a three-time All-SAC selection.

In Wingate's final regular season match against Lincoln Memorial, DeLuca became Wingate's all-time leader in assists. Her 12.90 assists per game this season is a school record, breaking her own record from last season.

In addition, DeLuca ranked third on the Wingate team with 2.82 digs per game. She helped the Bulldogs lead the conference with a .256 hitting percentage. DeLuca is a two-time ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District III volleyball first team (college division) honoree, selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).

"Melissa joins elite company due to her selection to the (AVCA) honorable mention All-America team," Collier adds. "I am very proud to be her coach. She has given so much to Wingate, so I am so happy for her when she receives such recognition."

The 2007 South Region champion (and defending national champion) the University of Tampa led the way with five selections on the All-South Region Team. The Sunshine State Conference filled 10 of the 12 available spots on the AVCA All-South Region team.

Founded in 1896, Wingate University is a private four-year co-educational institution of 2,041 students, offering active learning opportunities through personalized instruction, world travel, faith development, career discovery and community service.

Wingate offers more than 40 undergraduate majors in arts and sciences, business, education, fine arts, music and sport sciences. It also offers pre-professional programs, graduate degrees in business, education, physical education and sport administration and the doctor of pharmacy degree.

In the spring of 2007, Wingate University awarded its first-ever doctor of pharmacy degrees. Bulldog student-athletes compete in 17 NCAA Division II sports.

University of Minnesota Duluth right side/opposite hitter Vicky Braegelmann was selected to the AVCA First-Team All-America for the fourth consecutive season, becoming only the second player in the history of the AVCA Division II All-America program to achieve that feat. Portland State University's Lynda Johnson was the first, garnering first-team honors from 1982-1985. Southwest Minnesota State University outside hitter Erin Contons is the only other selection to make at least three AVCA All-America teams; Contons was a second-team selection in 2005 and 2006. Katelen Dixon, an outside hitter for University of Tampa, earned her second consecutive first-team selection this season.

The 2007 All-America selections were made by the AVCA Division II All-America Committee: Kim Sudbeck, Augustana College (S.D.), chairperson; Mario Andaya, Central Washington University; Christy Benner, Wheeling Jesuit University; Jim Boos, University of Minnesota Duluth; Debbie Hendricks, Metropolitan State College of Denver; Sandy Hoffman, Bentley College; Laurie Lokash, Slippery Rock University; Stephanie Radecki, University of North Alabama; and Jill Stephens, Florida Southern College.

2007 AVCA DIVISION II FIRST-TEAM ALL-AMERICA
Player Institution Pos. Yr. Ht.
Melissa Bartlett Hillsdale College OH Sr. 5-10
Vicky Braegelmann Minnesota Duluth RS/Opp. Sr. 6-0
Erin Clark Tampa MB Sr. 5-11
Erin Contons Southwest Minnesota State OH Sr. 5-10
Katelen Dixon Tampa OH Sr. 5-10
Jessica Granados California St., San Bernardino RS/Opp. Jr. 6-0
Liz Holmes Northern Kentucky MB Sr. 5-10
Tessa Jones Washburn RS/Opp. Sr. 6-1
Maggie McNamara Concordia University-St. Paul S So. 5-9
Courtney Schneider Western Washington DS/Lib. Sr. 5-9
Margeaux Sinibaldi Tampa DS/Lib. Sr. 5-6
Kari Wolford Minnesota Duluth OH Sr. 5-11

2007 AVCA DIVISION II SECOND-TEAM ALL-AMERICA
Player Institution Pos. Yr. Ht.
Pamela Cartagena Pittsburg State OH So. 5-7
Allie Cherven Truman State MB Jr. 6-1
Carlie Christensen Nebraska at Omaha MB Sr. 6-0
Sharea Drawn California St., San Bernardino MB Sr. 6-0
Katie Gangelhoff Minnesota Duluth S Jr. 5-8
Ashley Martin Florida Southern RS/Opp. Jr. 6-1
Monica Miesner Washburn OH Jr. 5-11
Jillian Ohrman Central Missouri MB Sr. 6-0
Allyson Riley Grand Valley State DS/Lib. Sr. 5-9
Emily Schroeder Wayne State (Neb.) MB Sr. 5-11
Beverly Stasis Florida Southern OH Sr. 5-9
Lindsay Tye Ferris State OH Sr. 5-10

2007 AVCA DIVISION II THIRD-TEAM ALL-AMERICA
Player Institution Pos. Yr. Ht.
Danielle Alexander Grand Valley State MB Jr. 5-11
Mallory Clements Southern Illinois, Edwardsville S Jr. 6-0
Renata da Silva California, Pennsylvania S/H So. 5-8
Alyssa Given Seattle Pacific OH Sr. 5-10
Alisha Green Tampa MB So. 6-2
Sara Hoffman California St., San Bernardino S So. 5-6
Melissa Keck Truman State RS/Opp. Jr. 6-0
Justyna Michon Dowling OH Sr. 5-10
Ashley Nachreiner Minnesota State, Mankato OH Jr. 6-0
Luciana Rapach West Florida RS/Opp. Jr. 5-9
Maria Steinhagen Concordia-St. Paul MB Jr. 5-10
Lynsey Warren Ashland S Sr. 6-1

2007 AVCA Division II Freshman of the Year: Emily Palkert, Concordia University-St. Paul, MB

2007 AVCA Division II Honorable Mention All-America
Lacie Allen (Central Oklahoma, DS/Lib., Sr.)
Jaime Anderson (Western Washington, OH, Sr.)
Rebecca Bailey (UC San Diego, OH, Jr.)
Ann Casado (Georgian Court, OH, Jr.)
Melissa DeLuca (Wingate, S, Sr.)
Cammy Dranginis (Northwest Nazarene, MB, So.)
Kristina Eisenmenger (Northern Kentucky, RS/Opp., Jr.)
Natalie Forbes (Northern Kentucky, S, Jr.)
Tiffany Garry (Bryant, S/H, Sr.)
Vicky Gentile (Clarion, DS/Lib., Sr.)
Mary Kate Glowe (Ashland, OH, Sr.)
Likica Grceva (Bryant, OH, Sr.)
Audrey Jensen (Central Missouri, DS/Lib., Sr.)
Vivian Lacy (Tusculum, OH, Sr.)
Lindsay Macias (Chico State, OH, Jr.)
Brittany McGowan (Northern Michigan, S/H, Sr.)
Sam Mitchell (Mount Olive, OH, Sr.)
Edith Musebe (Henderson State, MB, Sr.)
Jenna Newman (Edinboro, MB, Sr.)
Rhe-Ann Niles (New Haven, MB, Jr.)
Joanna Nist (California [Pa.], OH, So.)
Michelle Nogueras (Saint Leo, S/H, So.)
Camilla Pagnan (Barry, OH, Jr.)
Danielle Palasak (North Alabama, OH, Sr.)
Emily Palkert, (Concordia-St. Paul, MB, Fr.)
Katie Rickwartz (West Texas A&M, S, So.)
Daris Rodriguez (Lynn, MB, Jr.)
Tiana Roma (Western Washington, MB, Jr.)
Gabriela Saade (Tampa, S, Jr.)
Christina Sadowski (Bentley, MB, Sr.)
Amber Santavy (California [Pa.], OH, Sr.)
Rachael Schurman (Central Washington, MB, Jr.)
Arica Shepard (Emporia State, OH, So.)
Mary Slinger (Concordia-St. Paul, DS/Lib., So.)
Erica Vandekopple (Grand Valley State, MB, Sr.)
Sammie Williams (Pittsburg State, RS/Opp., Jr.)
Vanessa Williams (Cal Poly Pomona, MB, Jr.)
Anicia Wood (New Haven, MB, Sr.)
Sarah Wyffels (Minnesota Duluth, MB, So.)

AVCA All-South Region team
Player Institution Pos. Yr.
Erin Clark Tampa MB Sr.
Melissa DeLuca Wingate S Sr.
Katelen Dixon Tampa OH Sr.
Alisha Green Tampa MB So.
Vivian Lacy Tusculum OH Sr.
Ashley Martin Florida Southern RS/Opp. Jr.
Michelle Nogueras Saint Leo S/H So.
Camilla Pagnan Barry OH Jr.
Daris Rodriguez Lynn MB Jr.
Gabriela Saade Tampa S Jr.
Margeaux Sinibaldi Tampa DS/Lib. Sr.
Beverly Stasis Florida Southern OH Sr.

Region Freshman of the Year: Kaitlin McKenna, Saint Leo, MB

Honorable Mention: Lydee Benoit (Eckerd, OH, So.), Melinda Gorman (Nova Southeastern, MB, Jr.), Camila Lins (Lynn, OH, Junior), Kaitlin McKenna (Saint Leo, MB, Fr.), Valia Petrova (Nova Southeastern, S/H, Jr.), Melissa Powers (Catawba, MB, Jr.)