AVCA releases 2013 All-Region teams

The American Volleyball Coaches Association released its 2013 Division III All-Region teams today. The following are the Central and Midwest First Teams. See the link for Central and Midwest Honorable Mention teams and the other All-Region teams.

Central First Team Lexi Alm, Saint Benedict senior outside Sara Atkinson, St. Thomas junior opposite Caroline Dupont, Washington-St. Louis freshman middle Kelly Foley, St. Thomas junior middle Jill Greenfield, St. Thomas junior outside Taya Kockelman, Saint Benedict junior setter Emily McCourt, Augsburg senior setter Jackie Nelligan, Washington-St. Louis sophomore middle Colleen Ourada, Augsburg senior outside Ashley Peper, Augsburg sophomore opposite McKenna Reagan, St. Thomas senior libero Lexi Rinde, Saint Benedict junior opposite Ramey Sieck, Wartburg senior setter Bailey Wilson, Wartburg senior middle Freshman of the Year: Caroline Dupont Coach of the Year: Jane Becker, Augsburg

Midwest First Team Emma Brunkhorst, Wisconsin-Stevens Point sophomore middle Ariel Feiertag, Wisconsin-Whitewater junior opposite Kim Frei, Wisconsin-Whitewater junior setter Alexis Hartman, Wisconsin-Stevens Point junior setter Alivia Holman, Wisconsin-Whitewater junior middle Audrey Krajec, Millikin junior outside Maddie McGinnis, Wheaton (Ill.) junior outside Marci Novak, Elmhurst senior opposite Kathleen O’Connor, Cornell senior outside Megan Reynolds, Elmhurst senior middle Kelly Schuh, Wisconsin-Eau Claire senior outside Sam Szarmach, Elmhurst junior outside Kylea Weber, Cornell senior libero Kaitlyn Wilks, Elmhurst senior middle Freshman of the Year: Lauren Pfeifer, Wisconsin-Whitewater outside Coach of the Year: Julie Hall, Elmhurst

The voting process changed this year. From the AVCA website:

This fall the process for selecting and naming the AVCA All Region Teams is changing. In order to increase the representation of the AVCA’s member head coaches within the selection process, all member head coaches will now vote for the players they feel are most deserving of the award.

Also, the team itself will be specialized by position. This is due to the growing specialization of the game in which many student-athletes play exclusively in the front row or back row.

The amount of each position will include:

• 5 Outside/Opposite Hitters

• 3 Middle Blockers

• 2 Setters

• 1 Libero/Defensive Specialist

• 3 At-Large Selections

Voting results can be found at the bottom of the AVCA release. The AVCA Division III All-America teams and the National Freshman of the Year will be announced Nov. 21.

-Ricky Nelson