Four Spartans Earn AVCA All-American Honors
LEXINGTON, Ky. - The American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) has announced the 33rd annual AVCA All-America teams for NCAA Division II women's volleyball. Among the honorees are the University of Tampa's Berkley Whaley, Holly Reschke, Marissa Lisenbee and Meagan Burke.
Whaley, a 6-0 outside hitter for UT, is a sophomore from St. Petersburg, Fla. In just her sophomore year, Whaley put the Spartans on her back en route to their fifth consecutive NCAA South Region Title. In the title-clinching win over West Florida, Whaley nailed 21 kills on .455 hitting as Tampa heads into the national quarterfinals as the No. 1 ranked squad in the most recent AVCA Coaches Poll. The Daktronics South Region Player of the Year earns AVCA All-American honors for the first time.
Reschke, a 6-0 outside hitter for the Spartans, is a senior from Naples, Fla. Leading her Tampa squad to their fifth straight regional championship, Reschke currently ranks second on the Spartans averaging 2.77 kills per set while placing in the top-20 in the Sunshine State Conference in hitting percentage (.259) and points per set (3.01). Reschke garnered AVCA All-American honors last year, making this her second appearance.
Lisenbee, a 6-2 outside hitter for Tampa, is a sophomore from Seminole, Fla. Lisenbee improved on an impressive freshman season and now owns a .351 hitting percentage with 73 blocks. Her outstanding play helped Tampa to a perfect Sunshine State Conference record (16-0) for the second consecutive season and a number one ranking in the AVCA Division II poll. This is her first AVCA All-America award.
Burke, a 6-2 middle blocker from Jacksonville, Fla., leads all Spartans with a .427 hitting percentage. The three-year starter and two-sport star (softball) also ranks second on the squad with 102 total blocks. Among her total blocks are 21 solos and 81 assisted. Burke was a third-team All-American in 2012.
Exactly 29 of the athletes honored on the AVCA All-America teams in 2013 are first-time recipients of the award. Headlining this year's selections are a pair of Concordia-St. Paul Golden Bears. Teammates Kayla Koenecke and Amanda Konetchy each are the only four-time AVCA All-Americans being honored in 2013.
The 2013 All-America selections were made by the AVCA Division II All-America Committee: Shelton Collier, Wingate University, chairperson; Mario Andaya, Central Washington University; Laurie Lokash, Slippery Rock University; Gail Wasmus. NY Institute of Technology; Wick Colchagoff, Findlay University; Steve Wilcosky, Nova Southeastern; Will Condon, Armstrong Atlantic State University; Dave Fleming, Colorado Mesa University, Flip Piontek, University of Central Missouri.