Tuesday, November 14, 2006

MACON, Ga. -- The Atlantic Sun Conference today announced its Volleyball All-Conference Team, selected by the league's 10 head coaches. Each of the six teams entering the 2006 Atlantic Sun Volleyball Tournament are represented on the first, second and all-freshmen teams.

Belmont was highly favored among the coaches, as the Bruins walked away with three-first team selections, one second team pick, as well as Player and Coach of the Year honors.

Colleen Nilson (McHenry, Ill.) was voted Player of the Year and First Team All-Atlantic Sun. The junior setter was named A-Sun Player of the Week twice during the regular season, leads the league in assists, averaging 13.33 per game and is currently ranked 14th in the nation. She is also ranked second in the league in aces, averaging 0.51 per game. Nilson is joined by teammates Katie Tobiasz (Rocky River, Ohio) and Jaye Schuler. Tobiasz is ranked among the league's top-10 in hitting percentage while Schuler leads the league with a .381 hitting percentage (ranked 30th nationally) and the Bruins in blocks with 65 total. The Lexington, Ill., native earned Player of the Week honors on Sept. 11.

Belmont head coach Deane Webb was chosen as Coach of the Year. Leading the Bruins to 22 wins for the second consecutive time, Webb tied his record for program wins at Belmont. Webb, who received the award in 2004, has reached the A-Sun Championship finals for the past two years.

Regular season champion ETSU had one player on the first team and three on the second team. Named Player of the Week on Oct. 30, Jennifer Sartor (Toronto, Canada) received first team honors after being named second team last season. Hitting .311, the senior middle blocker is ranked seventh in the league in hitting percentage and leads the league in kills with 465. Sartor and the Lady Bucs rode a wave of momentum throughout the season, racking up a school record 16 consecutive wins.

Lipscomb boasts a pair on the first team as well. Two seniors, Ann Mullins (Nashville, Tenn.) and Lindsey Rutherford (Hendersonville, Tenn.) have been a huge part of the Lady Bisons' success this season. Mullins who was voted to the second team and Libero of the Year a season ago, is leading the league in digs, averaging 6.16 per game and ranks 11th nationally. Meanwhile, Rutherford is averaging 2.87 kills per game and ranked ninth in digs.

Rounding out the first team is UNF's Maegan Weisert (Virginia Beach, Va.). The junior outside hitter is ranked fourth in the league in kills with 437. Weisert posted an impressive 21 double-doubles and has 386 digs on the season.

Mercer's Jen Darty (Orlando, Fla.) earned All-Freshman and Freshman of the Year honors. In her rookie campaign, Darty amassed 223 kills, 29 digs and 100 blocks. She and rest of the Bears will face Lipscomb Friday at the 2006 Atlantic Sun Tournament, hosted by Belmont.