Volleyball All-Conference Awards Announced
Michael Pierce
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – The Sun Conference announced the 2011 All-Conference volleyball team at the conference tournament banquet on Thursday evening. The All-Conference roster was voted on by the league head coaches and featured 12 student-athletes representing four schools.
Joslynn Gallop of Embry-Riddle was named the 2011 Coach of the Year for the second consecutive season, after leading the Eagles to their third straight undefeated conference regular season (12-0), a 25-4 overall record, and a No. 5 national ranking.
Player of the Year honors went to Embry-Riddle’s Abby Hall for an unprecedented third consecutive year. A senior outside hitter from Louisville, Ky., Hall played in 92 of the 93 sets for the Eagles this season, ranking second in the conference in kills per set (3.6) and total kills (334). A two-time league Player of the Week, she was also fifth in the league in hitting efficiency at .281 and sixth in service aces with 42.
Hall’s fellow senior Nina Kontrec garnered Libero of the Year recognition for the second straight season after playing in all 93 sets during the regular season. Kontrec leads The Sun Conference in total digs (488) and digs per set (5.3). Kontrec’s 488 digs are 140 more than the next-highest total in the conference.
Embry-Riddle junior Adriana Vazquez was named the Setter of the Year for the third consecutive season after playing in 88 of the 93 sets for the Eagles. The Orlando, Fla. native has 991 assists and leads the league in assists per set with 11.3, ranking her sixth in the nation in that category.
SCAD Savannah freshman Lauran Eschenroeder was named the league’s Newcomer of the Year. Eschenroeder has played in 85 of the 86 sets for the Bees and is leading the conference in hitting percentage at .390, which is also eight-highest in the country. Eschenroeder is also averaging 2.9 kills per set, fifth-best in the conference, and 0.9 blocks per set, sixth-best in the conference.
Southeastern’s Christine Dell was selected as the 2011 Champion of Character Award winner. A senior outside hitter for the Fire, Dell has racked up 144 kills on the season. Described by Head Coach Terry Thomas as a prime example of perseverance and a player who exemplifies all of the Champion of Character qualities, Dell competed in 91 of SEU’s 110 sets, ranking third on the Fire with 46 total blocks (16 solo).
The 2011 Sun Conference tournament hosted by St. Thomas gets underway at 10 a.m. on Friday with No. 6 Southeastern taking on No. 3 SCAD Savannah followed by No. 5 Warner against No. 4 Ave Maria at 1 p.m. The winner of the first match will play No. 2 Webber International at 4 p.m. and No. 1 Embry-Riddle will take on the winner of the second match in the nightcap at 7 p.m. The conference final is set for 2 p.m. on Saturday.
2011 All-Conference Team
Abby Hall, ERAU (Sr., OH, Louisville, Ky.)
Adriana Vazquez, ERAU (Jr., S, Orlando, Fla.)
Nina Kontrec, ERAU (Sr., Libero, Slovenj Gradec, Slovenia)
Taylor Martin, ERAU (Jr., OH, Orange Park, Fla.)
Jordan Holcomb, ERAU (Jr., OH, New Smyrna, Fla.)
Gloria Kemp, ERAU (Jr., MB, Jacksonville, Fla.)
Julianne Dougherty (Sr., OH, Orlando, Fla.)
Katie Lindstrom (So., S, Daytona Beach, Fla.)
Lauran Eschenroeder, SCAD (Fr., MH, Tarpon Springs, Fla.)
Jen Drouin, SCAD (Jr., OH, Richland, Mich.)
Olympia Haney, SCAD (Jr., OH, Atlanta, Ga.)
Megan Arago, AMU (Jr., S, Kissimmee, Fla.)
Champion of Character
Christine Dell, SEU (Sr., OH, Naples, Fla.)
Newcomer of the Year
Lauran Eschenroeder, SCAD (Fr., MH, Tarpon Springs, Fla.)
Libero of the Year
Nina Kontrec, ERAU (Sr., Gradec, Slovenia)
Setter of the Year
Adriana Vazquez, ERAU (Jr., Orlando, Fla.)
Player of the Year
Abby Hall, ERAU (Sr., OH Louisville, Ky.)
Coach of the Year
Joslynn Gallop, ERAU