Northeastern?s Bacon and Towson?s Keliikoa Earn AVCA All-Region Honors
RICHMOND,
Va. (December 5, 2012) - Northeastern's Kelly Bacon and Towson's I'ishah
Keliikoa were named to the 2012 American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA)
Division I East Region team, announced Tuesday. Bacon was one of 15 players
across the East Region to earn top honors from the AVCA, while Keliikoa was one
of six to earn an honorable mention.
Bacon claimed 2012
Colonial Athletic Association Player of the Year honors after helping lead the
Huskies to their second-consecutive 20-win season for the first time since 2003
and 2004. NU's two-way
player displayed her versatility all season, leading Northeastern's offensive
and defensive units. Bacon's 326 kills were a team best while her 247 digs were
second highest.
Bacon helped
anchor a defense that held opponents to a league-low .169 hitting percentage.
As one of five Huskies to start in all 26 matches
and compete in every set (91), Bacon led the team in kills on 22 occasions. The
Temecula, California native also led the team in total attacks in 22 matches.
In addition to
her postseason awards, Bacon was named the CAA Volleyball Co-Offensive Player
of the Week on Sept. 17 after posting a pair of double-doubles in NU's three
wins against Boston College (Sept. 14), Harvard (Sept. 15) and Connecticut
(Sept. 15) as Northeastern swept the New England Classic Tournament. In
addition, Bacon was named tournament MVP.
Keliikoa
became the third Tiger to earn honorable mention accolades from the AVCA,
joining teammate Katy Buck (2011) and Liz Goubeaux (2003 and 2004). Keliikoa
had a strong final season for the Tigers, appearing in 26 of 29 matches.
She was a
second team All-CAA selection and was the MVP of the Montana Tournament.
Keliikoa was also named to the Hilton University 49er Invitational
All-Tournament team, while picking up CAA Defensive Player of the Week honors
on September 24.
Keliikoa set
the school record for single-season hitting percentage with a mark of .438 in
2012. She led the CAA in that category and as of Monday, Dec. 3 was still
ranked fourth in the nation for hitting percentage. Keliikoa also finished
fifth on the team with 195 kills, second on the team with 70 blocks, and
recorded double digit kills in seven matches.
Keliikoa
recorded a career-high 14 kills in the Tigers' 3-1 win at Delaware on October
26. She also recorded a career-best eight blocks in Towson's 3-1 win over La
Salle at home on September 18th.
2012 AVCA Division I All-East Region Teams
Sandra
Adeleye | Clemson University |
MB | Senior
Kelly Bacon
| Northeastern University |
OH | Junior
Megan Cyr |
North Carolina State University
| Setter |
Senior
Sareea
Freeman | Florida State University |
MB | Senior
Alex
Johnson | University of Miami |
RS | Junior
Ali
McCurdy | Duke University |
Libero | Junior
Emily
McGee |
University of North Carolina
| OH |
Senior
Monique
Mead |
Georgia Tech | RS | Senior
Alexis
Mourning | University of Miami |
MB | Sophomore
Ashley
Neff | Florida State University |
MB | Junior
Paige
Neuenfeldt | University of North Carolina |
MB | Freshman
Emani
Sims |
University of Miami | MB
| Sophomore
Nrithya
Sundararaman | University of Miami |
Setter | Senior
Fatma
Yildirim | Florida State University |
OH | Senior
Region Freshman of the Year: Paige Neuenfeldt, North Carolina, MB
AVCA East Region Honorable Mention
Cara
Baarendse | Virginia Tech
| MB |
Senior
Ashleigh
Crutcher | University of Maryland |
OH | Sophomore
Caroline
Douglas | Liberty University |
OH | RS Freshman
I'ishah Keliikoa
| Towson University |
MB | Senior
Chaniel
Nelson |
University of North Carolina
| RS | Sophomore
Ryan
Shaffer | University of Miami |
Libero | Junior