Northeastern’s Bacon and Towson’s Keliikoa Earn AVCA All-Region Honors

Courtesy: CAA

Release: 12/05/2012

Kelly Bacon Highlights

AVCA Division I Regional Awards

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 18^th.

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