Big Ten Volleyball Rakes in Regional Honors - BIG TEN CONFERENCE Official Athletic Site

Big Ten Volleyball Rakes in Regional Honors

Illinois' Bartsch named Freshman of the Year, Penn State's Rose named Coach of the Year.

	Illinois' Michelle Bartsch is the fourth consecutive Big Ten player to be named Mideast Region Freshman of the Year.

Dec. 10, 2008

PARK RIDGE, Ill. – Thirteen Big Ten volleyball players were named to the All-Mideast Region team, the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) announced on Wednesday. In addition, seven more student-athletes earned honorable mention honors, including Illinois’ Michelle Bartsch who was tabbed the Mideast Region Freshman of the Year. Also earning regional honors, Penn State head coach Russ Rose was named Mideast Region Coach of the Year.

Rose earns regional coaching honors for the sixth time in his career and for the second consecutive season. Now in his 30th season with the Nittany Lions, Rose’s squad is 34-0 and has yet to drop a single set in 2008. Behind Rose, Penn State won its sixth consecutive and 12th overall Big Ten title this year.

Six conference programs were represented on the All-Region team, led by Penn State who placed a school-record six players on the 14-member list. Nittany Lion seniors Nicole Fawcett and Christa Harmotto each earned their fourth career All-Region selections while juniors Megan Hodge and Alisha Glass earned their third and second respective All-Region honors. Sophomores Blair Brown and Arielle Wilson each took home their first regional accolades.

Minnesota placed three players on the All-Region squad, including Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year Christine Tan. The libero is joined by teammates Brook Dieter and Lauren Gibbemeyer.

Unanimous All-Big Ten selection Stephanie Lynch of Purdue earned her third All-Mideast Region accolade and was joined by teammates Kristen Arthurs and Kelli Miller who each earned spots on the honorable mention squad.

Michigan’s Lexi Zimmerman was last year’s Mideast Freshman of the Year and earned her second career selection to the All-Region team. Fellow Wolverine Beth Karpiak earned honorable mention recognition.

Following Zimmerman, Bartsch becomes the fourth consecutive Big Ten player to be named Mideast Region Freshman of the Year. She is joined by teammates Laura DeBruler, a first-time All-Region honoree, and Johannah Bangert, an honorable mention selection.

Rounding out the All-Mideast Region team, Indiana’s Erica Short earns her first career honor, while fellow Hoosier Ashley Benson receives honorable mention distinction. Ohio State’s Katie Dull also claims a place on the honorable mention list.