TicketsHellsten Named Region Freshman of the Year
DuPont, Lauder named all-region
Contact: Shawn Sell
12/10/2003
Myanna Hellsten was named Midwest Region Freshman of the Year on Wednesday. |
CINCINNATI, Ohio--Myanna Hellsten was named Midwest Region Freshman of the Year, leading three University of Cincinnati players honored by the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) on Wednesday.
Hellsten (Austin, Texas/St. Michael?s Academy) becomes the third UC player in the last five years to earn the award, joining Bonita Wise (1999) and Becky Stahl (2001). Senior Laura Lauder (Louisville, Ky./Presentation Academy) and junior Julie DuPont (Muskego, Wis./Muskego) were also honored, being chosen to the 12-player all-region team. In addition, Hellsten was recognized as an all-region honorable mention selection.
Hellsten, who was also named Conference USA?s Freshman of the Year, finished her initial collegiate campaign ranked second in the leauge with 1.30 blocks per game. From her middle blocker position, Hellsten averaged 2.00 kills per game, while hitting .271.
The selection for Lauder marks the first ever all-region honor for UC?s all-time assists leader. Lauder had a memorable senior year that saw her named C-USA?s Setter of the Year, in addition to being picked to the league?s all-conference first team. Lauder averaged a conference-high and career-best 13.87 assists per game this fall, which ranked in the top-three nationally for much of the year. She also helped the Bearcats to top-20 national rankings in kills and assists per game, as well as hitting percentage.
DuPont, an all-region selection for the second straight year, was C-USA?s Player of the Year. She led the league in kills and points per game for the season, while ranking seventh in digs per game. DuPont?s kill total ranks her 15th in the nation this week. For the year, DuPont set a new school record for single season kills (624) and kills per game (5.43).
The Bearcats capped off one of the best seasons in schools annals with a fifth consecutive appearance in the NCAA tournament. UC, which earned a share of the C-USA regular season championship, finished the year with a 27-6 record, bowing out of the NCAA Championship with a first round defeat to Central Florida.