TicketsDuPont Earns Second Player of the Year Honor
Torblaa, Hellsten also honored by C-USA
Contact: Shawn Sell
11/18/2004
Julie DuPont was named the 2004 Conference USA Player of the Year. |
IRVING, Texas---For the second consecutive season, University of Cincinnati senior Julie DuPont has been named Conference USA Volleyball Player of the Year. DuPont, along with classmate Rachel Torblaa and sophomore Myanna Hellsten, were among the Bearcats honored by the league's coaches on the three all-conference teams announced on Thursday.
DuPont (Muskego, Wis./Muskego) is just the third player to earn conference player of the year more than once, joining Michelle Collier and Erica Berggren, both of USF. This season, DuPont ranks second in C-USA in both kills (4.99) and points (5.62), while adding 3.24 digs and 0.70 blocks per game. Entering this week's C-USA Tournament, DuPont has recorded double figure kills in 37 straight matches dating back to last season. This marks the fourth straight year DuPont has been honored by C-USA, after earning an All-Freshman Team award in 2001 and a second team all-conference selection in 2002, before last year's player of the year award.
Torblaa (Savage, Minn./Burnsville) was named to the All C-USA second team, after being a third team selection last year. This season, Torblaa has averaged 2.92 kills and 1.10 blocks per game, while hitting .305. She has posted at least five blocks 10 times this season, including seven times in league play, and has reached double figure kills in 19 of 29 matches. Against Memphis, she tallied a career-high 20 kills, while registering a season-best nine blocks vs. Houston.
Hellsten (Austin, Texas/St. Michael's Academy) was a third team all-conference selection, after being named the 2003 C-USA Freshman of the Year award. Hellsten is currently ranked fifth in the league in blocks per game (1.32), while being listed eighth in hitting percentage (.316). She has recorded five or more blocks 14 times this year, including six against C-USA foes, while reaching double figure kills in nine matches. Hellsten was named C-USA Co-Player of the Week after posting career-highs of 14 kills, four aces and three solo blocks at Tulane.
The Bearcats will open the 2004 C-USA Tournament, their final as a member of the league, on Saturday (Nov. 20) at 6 p.m. at Cardinal Arena in Louisville, Ky. UC, seeded second for the tournament, will square off with the winner of No. 7 Saint Louis and No. 10 USF in the tournament's quarterfinals.