All-SSC Volleyball Team Announced
Seven institutions were represented on the All-Sunshine State Conference Volleyball Team, which was announced Thursday by Commissioner Michael J. Marcil. Tampa’s Erin Clark was named SSC Player of the Year, while Saint Leo’s Kaitlin McKenna was selected Freshman of the Year, and Nova Southeastern’s Steve Wilcosky was named Coach of the Year.
Voting for the all-conference volleyball team was conducted among the league’s head volleyball coaches and sports information directors.
Joining Clark on the All-SSC First Team were: outside hitter Lydee Benoit (Eckerd), outside hitter Katelen Dixon (Tampa), middle blocker Alisha Green (Tampa), setter Michelle Nogueras (Saint Leo), outside hitter Camilla Pagnan (Barry), and defensive specialist Margeaux Sinibaldi (Tampa).
Selected to the All-SSC Second Team were: middle blocker Melinda Gorman (Nova Southeastern), outside hitter Camila Lins (Lynn), opposite Ashley Martin (Florida Southern), middle blocker Daris Rodriguez (Lynn), setter Gabriela Saade (Tampa), outside hitter Beverly Stasis (Florida Southern), and defensive specialist Lauren Evans (Barry).
Receiving all-conference honorable mention distinction were middle blocker Keisha Carter (Eckerd), middle blocker Kaitlin McKenna (Saint Leo), and setter Valia Petrova (Nova Southeastern).
Six student-athletes were also named to the All-Freshman Team. Earning recognition with McKenna were: setter Elise Burke (Florida Southern), outside hitter/libero Lacy Redwine (Lynn), middle hitter Stefanie Sveiven (Barry), outside hitter Melissa Vanderhall (Tampa), and setter Devon Woolard (Lynn).
A senior middle blocker, Clark (Tampa, Fla.) had a stellar campaign for the defending national champion Spartans, averaging 3.99 kills per game, while hitting at an impressive .471 percentage. She ranks first in the SSC in attack percentage and fourth in kills per game. Clark’s average of 0.41 service aces per game ranks sixth among SSC players. A five-time SSC Offensive Player of the Week honoree, Clark also averaged 0.85 digs, 0.59 blocks, and 0.21 assists per frame.
McKenna (Farmington Hills, Mich.) had a solid debut season for the Lions, averaging 2.7 kills with a .451 attack percentage. She ranks second in the league in hitting percentage and also places seventh with an average of 0.96 blocks per game. Additionally, McKenna registered 0.16 digs, 0.12 service aces, and 0.06 assists per frame.
In his first full season as head coach at Nova Southeastern, Wilcosky guided the Sharks to a 25-9 overall record and their first NCAA tournament appearance in program history. NSU finished the regular season with an 11-5 mark in conference play, tying for the second-best record in the league and marking an eight game improvement over the squad’s 3-13 finish in 2006. Picked to finish eighth in the SSC’s preseason volleyball poll, the Sharks are the third-seeded team heading into Thursday’s NCAA Division II South Region Tournament.
2007 ALL-SUNSHINE STATE CONFERENCE VOLLEYBALL TEAM
FIRST TEAM
OH – Lydee Benoit, Eckerd, Sophomore
MB – Erin Clark, Tampa, Senior
OH – Katelen Dixon, Tampa, Senior
MB – Alisha Green, Tampa, Sophomore
S – Michelle Nogueras, Saint Leo, Sophomore
OH – Camilla Pagnan, Barry, Junior
DS – Margeaux Sinibaldi, Tampa, Senior
Player of the Year – Erin Clark, Tampa
Coach of the Year – Steve Wilcosky, Nova Southeastern
Freshman of the Year – Kaitlin McKenna, Saint Leo
SECOND TEAM
MB – Melinda Gorman, Nova Southeastern, Junior
OH – Camila Lins, Lynn, Junior
OPP – Ashley Martin, Florida Southern, Junior
MB – Daris Rodriguez, Lynn, Junior
S – Gabriela Saade, Tampa, Junior
OH – Beverly Stasis, Florida Southern, Senior
DS – Lauren Evans, Barry, Junior
HONORABLE MENTION
MB – Keisha Carter, Eckerd, Junior
MB – Kaitlin McKenna, Saint Leo, Freshman
S – Valia Petrova, Nova Southeastern, Junior
ALL-FRESHMAN TEAM
S – Elise Burke, Florida Southern
MB – Kaitlin McKenna, Saint Leo
OH/L – Lacy Redwine, Lynn
MH – Stefanie Sveiven, Barry
OH – Melissa Vanderhall, Tampa
S – Devon Woolard, Lynn