LEXINGTON, Ky. - The American
Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) released its 28th annual
All-American teams for Division III and Salisbury University had
four players receive honorable mention status; senior
Stacey Krebs, junior Gabby Long,
junior Rachel Downes and sophomore
Alexandria Malesick. The four helped lead No. 22
Salisbury to its best season in program history, as the Sea Gulls
won a record breaking 36 consecutive matches, which included the
first-ever NCAA tournament victory for SU.
Krebs last year made SU volleyball program history when she was
named to the AVCA All-American third team. This season she earns a
second All-American honor as an honorable mention recipient. The
two-time Capital Athletic Conference Player of the Year concluded
her career as the all-time kills' leader in Salisbury history with
1,734 kills. The Eldersburg, Md., native led the team and CAC in
kills (400) and kills per game (3.42). The senior had 328 digs, 64
blocks and 28 service aces in 37 matches played. The three-time
All-CAC first team selection was second on the team with 117 sets
played. Krebs became the all-time career kills leader at SU on
September 5 against Eastern Mennonite, breaking the former mark of
1,366 held by Donna Hudson. Her efforts propelled SU to 21st in the
nation in kills per set (12.5). The three-time All-CAC first team
selection is third on the team in hitting percentage (.287) and
fifth in blocks (64). The outside hitter was named MVP of the SU
Invitational on September 27. Krebs was named to the all-tournament
team for both the Garnet Classic and Green Terror Invitational. The
two-time AVCA All-Mid-Atlantic region first team selection was
named the CAC Player of the Week for the week of October 13.
Downes makes her first career selection as an AVCA All-American.
Her selection continues a long list of accolades this season as she
was named to the all-region and all-conference first teams. The
junior was named the AVCA Division III National Volleyball Player
of the Week on October 28 after she recorded three straight
double-doubles in the Sea Hawk Invitational. Downes put together an
impressive season for the Sea Gulls as she racked up 313 kills, 338
digs and 34 service aces. Her .286 hitting percentage helped guide
the Sea Gulls to seventh in the nation in hitting percentage
(.278). She is one of four players to start and play in all 38
matches. She led the team in sets played with 119. The Salisbury,
Md., native was named MVP of the Garnet Classic on September 14.
The junior has also been named CAC Player of the Week twice
this season (September 15 and October 27). In her three-year
career, she has 841 kills and 785 digs.
Long receives her first career All-American award as she leads
the CAC and stands 35th in the nation in digs per set (5.51). The
award is among a series of honors for Long this postseason as she
has already been named to the all-region and all-conference first
teams. The Bel Air, Md., product had 55 service aces and an average
of 0.47 service aces per game, which ranks 10th in the CAC. The
defensive specialist was named to the all-tournament team for both
the Sea Gull Classic and the Seahawk Invitational. Long had an
outstanding game for Salisbury in the first round of the NCAA
tournament against Richard Stockton when she registered 19 digs and
three service aces. The junior will enter her senior season at SU
with 1,755 digs, which ranks third all-time in school history.
Malesick is one of 19 sophomores to receive AVCA All-American
honors. She has already been named to the AVCA Mid-Atlantic first
team and the All-CAC second team in '08. The Arnold, Md., product
was one of four Sea Gulls to start and play in all 38 matches. The
middle hitter was second on the team in blocks (82) and
blocks per game (0.74). In her first season as a Sea Gull, Malesick
was first on the team in hitting percentage (.322) and fourth on
the team in kills (227) and kills per set (2.05). Malesick, who
transferred from Anne Arundel Community College, played in 111 sets
for SU this season. She had an outstanding game for Salisbury in
the CAC championship against St. Mary's (Md.) College when she
registered a team-high 13 kills.
The 2008 All-America selections were made by the AVCA Division
III All-America Committee: Danny Miller, of Averett; Julie Hall, of
Elmhurst; Steph Schleuder of Macalester; Paul Dill of MIT; Cal
Wickens of Nazareth; Amber Warners of Calvin; Valerie Cowan of
Pomona-Pitzers; and Harleigh Chwastyk of Swarthmore.
The All-American awards will be presented Nov. 19, 2008, at the
NCAA Division III Women's National Championship banquet in
Bloomington, Ill., where the 2008 Division III AVCA Player of the
Year will be announced. Calvin College middle back Rebecca
Kamp was named the 2008 Division III AVCA Freshman of the Year. The
AVCA selected 42 players, 31 for the first time, to one of the
first three All-American teams. The honorable mention list features
75 players from across the country.
Also see:
2008 Salisbury
University Volleyball All-American Honorees
