Monday, September 19, 2005

Macon, Ga. – Coming off a record-setting weekend, Lipscomb's Ann Mullins (Nashville, Tenn./Psychology) was today named Atlantic Sun Volleyball Player of the Week.

The junior libero set a new A-Sun Conference single-match record for digs in a four-game match with 43 in a 3-1 victory over Tennessee Tech Saturday at the Dunn Hospitality Aces Invitational at the University of Evansville. Mullins shattered the old conference mark of 39 set by Liz Kane in 2004. She also broke the Lipscomb school record of 31 set by Julie Holliday and Erin Shremp last season.

Mullins was named to the Aces Invitation All-Tournament team and posted 80 digs for the week, with 43 against Tennesee Tech, 14 against Evansville, six against IUPUI and 17 against Tennessee-Martin as the Lady Bisons went 2-2 overall. She currently has 191 digs so far this season.

The Atlantic Sun Conference announces the Player of the Week every Monday during the 2005 volleyball campaign.

The 11-member league headquartered in Macon, Ga., consists of Belmont, Campbell, ETSU, Florida Atlantic, Gardner-Webb, Jacksonville, Kennesaw State, Lipscomb, Mercer, North Florida and Stetson.

Honorable Mention

Lindsay Cleveland, BEL -- Cleveland had quite an eventful week for the Bruins. Her season-high 23 kills against TSU moved her into 2nd place all-time in kills for Belmont. Over the weekend, Cleveland led the Bruins to a 2-1 record at the BSC Challenge in Birmingham, Ala. and was named to the All-Tournament Team for her efforts. Lindsay had 4.57 kills per game and hit .336 for the week.

Rachel Templin, CAM -- Templin led the Fighting Camels averaging 3.69 kills per game and .92 blocks per game. She smashed a career-high 22 kills in the final match of the week against Maine and led all players with 10 kills against No. 5 Minnesota. It the Camels two other matches, the Andersonville, Tenn. native blasted eight kills. She tallied five blocks in the Camels 3-0 win over UNC Greensboro and four against Maine, finishing with 12 on the week.

Kelly Paiva, FAU -- Paiva's fourth tournament MVP honor came with her third 30+ kill performance of the season. She also broke the FAU single match record for attempts in a match with 90 against Boston College. Against Siena she recorded a career-high seven service aces. The senior finished the weekend with 62 kills (5.64 kills per game) and a .276 hitting percentage.

Joanna Silva, JU -- Silva earned all-tournament team honors at the FIU Invitational over the weekend, leading the Dolphins a 2-1 record. She recorded two double-doubles during the tournament and led the Dolphins with 17 kills in their win over A-Sun rival Stetson.

Kellie Violette, MER -- Violette led Mercer with 1.29 blocks per game last week. The highlight of he week was an 11-kill, nine block match against Tennessee Chattanooga on Saturday, September 17. The Bears came back from a 2-0 deficit for a 3-2 win to snap a ten match losing-streak.