Williamson Named to Capital One Academic All-America First Team

Dec. 15, 2011

TOWSON, Md. – University of New Mexico senior Kelly Williamson was selected to the 2011 Capital One Academic All-America® Division I Volleyball First Team today. Williamson is the first-ever repeat recipient in program history, as she was named to the academic All-America third team last year. She is also the first Lobo volleyball athlete ever to be selected to the academic All-America first team.

“It’s a great honor,” Williamson said. “I would never have achieved it without the support of my team, coaches, professors, parents and the incredible academic support staff at UNM. I would like to give special thanks to Katie Scanlon, my academic advisor, who kept me on track to graduate and was someone I could always turn to for great advice. I would also like to thank my parents who instilled good work ethic and passion into me from a young age. Thanks go out to my professors, who have challenged me to go beyond the classroom to discover my love for science and the environment and to my team and coaches who have made my experience at UNM so unforgettable.”

The award is a true testament to what hard work and dedication in the classroom can bring. Williamson is the epitome of what a student athlete should strive to be. Her relentless diligence finally paid off in the form of an academic All-America first team selection. The award should come as now surprise when looking at Williamson’s track record.

First and foremost, Williamson was named a Rhodes Scholar Candidate in 2010. She has made UNM’s Dean’s List all three years she has attended UNM. She is one of the UNM Student Athlete Advisory Committee Representatives. And she is involved in student government as a senator in ASUNM.

Williamson is a Conservation Biology major with a 4.00 G.P.A. and is a three-time member of the All-MW Academic team. Last June, Williamson competed in the USA Challenge Invitational Tournament for the Bring it Promotions (BIP)/USA Development Team. BIP, in conjunction with USA Volleyball, sent two teams of top-level collegiate players to compete in the event in Beijing, China. She was also named the Lobo Club Student-Athlete of The Year for community service contributions as well as academic excellence.

The 6-2 outside hitter also earned her stripes on the court this season, as she was a first team All-Mountain West selection. The Buenos Aires, Argentina, native led the Lobos to a 14-15 record and was second on the team with 3.64 kills per set, while averaging 1.51 digs per set.

To paint an even brighter picture of Williamson’s academic achievements you would have to start by mentioning the fact she was named a Rhodes Scholar candidate in 2010. She has made UNM’s Dean’s List all three years she has attended UNM. She is one of the UNM Student Athlete Advisory Committee Representatives and is also involved in student government as a Senator in ASUNM.

Williamson’s societal contributions don’t just start and stop with academic accolades and on court success. Staying true to her conservation biologist background, the activist in her came out while at UNM. During her time as a Lobo, Williamson organized annual “Green Games” during her playing career. The aim of the events was to ensure that everyone gained an understanding of how sustainability can be incorporated into their daily lives.

Head coach Jeff Nelson summed everything up by adding, “”Kelly is our first two-time academic All-American, she works really hard at everything she does and is exceptional in the classroom. She really leads our team in terms of classroom and community service and I think she’s really deserving of the award. I don’t know anyone in that group that’s worked harder and that has been more involved on campus and in everything else. I’m really excited for her and it’s exciting to have her win it two years in a row.”

Rhoades will look to help fill some holes on the depleted UNM roster that have been ravaged by injuries.

Courtesy UNM Sports Information

Allison Buck Named One of the Top Perfomers [sic] in the Nation
The senior libero was recognized by CVU.com for her outstanding play

Sept. 15, 2011

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Lobo senior libero Allison Buck was recognized by CVU.com (Collegiate Volleyball Update) as one of the Top Performers in the country for her play from Sept. 5 through Sept. 11. Buck was named the MVP of the Comcast/Sheraton Lobo Classic after averaging over 6.00 digs in matches against UC Irvine and Portland State. Buck set a career-high in digs with 34, 10 more than her previous best, against UC Irvine.

Buck looks to continue her dominant defensive play this weekend as the Lobos compete in the Pitt Blue and Gold Classic. The Lobos first match of the tournament is set to take place tomorrow night at 5 p.m. MT against host school Pittsburgh.

DENVER - New Mexico State senior setter Jennah DeVries has been named Western Athletic Conference Volleyball Player of the Week for the week of Sept. 5-11. This is the first-ever WAC Player of the Week honor for DeVries.\

The Sedalia, Colo. native earned CenturyLink Premier Tournament MVP honors after leading New Mexico State to the tournament title by defeating four teams in two days.

“We played a tough schedule in San Marcos (Texas), basically playing back-to-back matches each day,” head coach Mike Jordan said.  “DeVries did a good job of leading the team to four victories and I can see her continuing to improve as the season rolls along.”

DeVries tallied two double-doubles, averaged 12.07 assists and 2.93 digs and set her team to a .246 hitting percentage over the four matches. Her first double-double came in a four-set win over Northwestern State when she posted 47 assists, 12 digs and four kills. She followed that up with her second double-double of the weekend against host Texas State, when she tallied a season-high 51 assists while adding 15 digs and four kills. DeVries currently ranks second in the WAC with 10.77 assists per set and has six double-doubles on the year.

Groen has transferred to Campbell University, in Buies Creek, NC to play for the Fighting Camels. Approximately 30 miles from Raleigh, Campbell plays in the Big South Conference.  Groen will join the Camels as a redshirt freshman next season with four years of eligibility.

Groen attended Mayfield High School where she led the Trojans to a 5A state title as a junior in 2008, and also named New Mexico 5A state player of the year that same year.

Heavily recruited out of high school, Groen chose North Carolina led by Charita Stubbs, with hopes of seeing some action on a very young team. Unfortunately Stubbs was fired in the off-season and her replacement, Bryan Bunn, opted to lay the foundation of his new program with transfers, forcing Jessica to redshirt.

Groen will be one of eight newcomers to the program that went 10-17 last season. Losing eight letterwinners from last year, head coach Leigh Mullins is stacking up the tall hitters, with three of the signees  (including Jessica) standing at 6′ 2″.

To learn more about Jessica’s move, visit the Campbell Fighting Camel website.

Rhoades Golden in U.S. Open Volleyball Championships

Rhoades’ Team USA Blue squad wins 26-24 in Golden Set playoff for title

Dallas, Texas – When Ashley Rhoades gets ready for fall camp in about eight weeks, she will have some pretty cool bling around her neck.  Rhoades, who was one of 36 collegians selected to the 2011 U.S. Women’s National A2 Program roster, helped her team to the gold medal with a 26-24 win in a Golden Set tiebreaker.

Rhoades was a starting middle blocker for Team USA Blue, who went 8-1 in the four-day event, held in Dallas, Texas.  USA Volleyball considers the event as the National Championship for the sport of volleyball in the United States.

The championship was decided with a Golden Set, basically a one-set winner take all.  Rhoades’ squad forced that Golden Set with a 19-25, 25-23, 25-18, 25-23 win over Team USA Red in the semifinals.  That win avenged Team USA Blue’s only tournament loss.

In the Golden Set, Team USA Blue was down 24-22, and fought off two championship points, reeling off four straight points to win the gold medal 26-24.

Rhoades was coached at the tournament by Fran Flory from LSU.  Rhoades’ teammate Tara Murrey from the University of California was named tournament MVP.  Rhoades was originally selected back on March 21 after tryouts in Colorado Springs at the Olympic Training Center in late February. The rosters were stocked with players with remaining collegiate eligibility, and Rhoades was the only Mountain West player selected, and one of three players to come from non-BSC conferences. A record 204 athletes participated in the three-day tryouts, representing 81 different college programs

The four-day event was held at the Dallas Convention Center, and the teams trained for a week in Dallas prior to the event, staying in the dorms at the University of Texas-Dallas.

“It was an amazing experience to get to play with and against all of these great players from around the country,” said Rhoades.  “I had great teammates and coaches.  It was really fun and exciting to win it.”

Rhoades, who has helped lead the Lobos to back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances, will benefit greatly from the experience, said Lobo head coach Jeff Nelson, who will enter his fifth season in 2011.

“Our entire program is so proud and happy for Ashley,” he said, adding, “She has no doubt gained a ton of confidence playing at a high-level and with tons of pressure.  Congratulations to Ashley and her team.”

Ashley Rhoades (red headband) claps as one of her teammates receives her gold medal and award (photo Bill Kaufman/USA Volleyball)

Rhoades, a product of Rio Rancho, helped lead the Lady Rams to three consecutive 5A state title (’05-’07) and earned numerous awards in her prep career.

Courtesy UNM Sports Information Department

March 21, 2011

Colorado Springs, Colo. – Upcoming senior Ashley Rhoades, a Rio Rancho native, was selected as one of 36 players to the 2011 U.S. Women’s National A2 Program roster. The roster is stocked with players with remaining collegiate eligibility, and Rhoades was the only Mountain West player selected, and one of three players to come from non-BSC conferences. Rhoades was selected after participating in the U.S. Women’s National Team Open Tryouts held Feb. 25-27 at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs. A record 204 athletes participated in the three-day tryouts, representing 81 different college programs

The U.S. Women’s National A2 Program will take place in Dallas from May 23 through June 1. The program includes training and competition in the 2011 USA Volleyball Open National Championships in the Open Division from May 28-31. USA Volleyball considers the event as the National Championship for the sport of volleyball in the United States.

“Each year, the depth of talent has increased to the point that it made sense to involve 12 more athletes in the Women’s A2 program and enter a third team in the USA Volleyball Open National Championships,” USA Volleyball Managing Director of Indoor High Performance Tom Pingel said. “I am very much looking forward to this group of athletes and coaches assembling in Dallas in May.”

The 2011 U.S. Women’s National A2 Program will have six setters, nine middle blockers, 10 outside hitters, five opposites and six liberos. Rhoades averaged 1.08 blocks per set to lead New Mexico as a junior last fall. She added 2.42 kills per set while holding a .254 hitting efficiency. For the season, Rhoades averaged 3.10 points per set as the Lobos reached the NCAA Tournament for the second consecutive season.

Along with Rhoades, middle blockers in the 2011 A2 Program include Rachael Adams (University of Texas, Cincinnati, Ohio), Cassandra Anderson (University of Florida, Bakersfield, Calif.), Brittney Brimmage (University of Missouri, East St. Louis, Ill.), Kelli Fiegen (South Dakota State University, Parkston, S.D.), Cursty Jackson (University of Arizona, Los Angeles), Correy Johnson (University of California-Berkeley, Winter Park, Fla.), Alexis Mathews (Michigan State University, Detroit, Mich.) and Gwen Rucker (University of Louisville, Lexington, Ky.).

“I’m extremely excited for Ashley. She has worked extremely hard and is a very gifted athlete,” said head coach Jeff Nelson, who will be entering his fifth season with the Lobos in the fall of 2011. “Looking at the roster, Ashley is in the company of some tremendous players, and I think she will represent New Mexico and the Mountain West Conference very well.”

Along with Rhoades, only Missouri State setter Carly and South Dakota State middle Kelli Fiegen are the only others on the roster that are not a part of a BSC conference.

Geoff Carlston (Ohio State University), Fran Flory (LSU) and Kelly Sheffield (University of Dayton) will serve as the three head coaches for the U.S. Women’s National A2 Program in 2011.

A total of 22 colleges are represented in the U.S. Women’s National A2 Program with University of Texas, University of Florida, University of Illinois and University of Tennessee having three players each. The A2 group represents 13 states, led by Illinois with nine players and California with seven. Texas has four players in the mix, including two players from the same hometown – Amarillo.

Bonilla, Hagglund, Kingdon, Plum, Robinson and Thomas are also eligible for the U.S. Women’s Junior National Team, which will be announced in early May. All six players were born in either 1992 or 1993. The U.S. Women’s Junior National Team will compete at the 2011 FIVB Women’s Junior (Under 20) World Championship held July 21-30 in Peru.

During the training sessions in Dallas, the coaching staff will divide the 36 players into three teams of 12 players to compete in the USA Volleyball Open National Championships. Last year, two A2 teams competed in the Open Division, producing a gold and bronze medal.

UNM finished up a very, very successful 2010 campaign, including a sweep of their in-state rivals, NM State, and a post-season appearance in the NCAA tournament. Individual highlights include academic honors for Kelly Williamson:

Kelly Williamson was named Third Team CoSIDA/ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America honors, becoming only the second Lobo volleyball player in school history to make that squad. “Kelly is the epitome of a student-athlete,” said coach Nelson. “She is a great person who has been outstanding on the court, in the classroom, and she is working to really make a difference.”

Meanwhile, both  Lisa Meeter and Jade Michaelsen capped off a fantastic season and career with the Lobos earning selections to the Honorable Mention All-American team. I’ve been lucky enough to see these two in action over the past few years, and the recognition is well deserved.

Michaelsen, Meeter Earn Honorable Mention All-America Honors from AVCA
Seniors end their career with national honor

Jade Michaelsen and Lisa Meeter, two four-year seniors who were instrumental in turning around the Lobo fortunes over their four-year careers, ended their careers with national honors as the pair was named honorable mention All-America selections by the American Volleyball Coaches Association.

The pair was joined by Taylor Hadfield on the All-West Region team last week, and Meeter and Michaelsen were two of four Mountain West student-athletes to earn honorable mention honors, along with Colorado State’s Danielle Minch and Megan Plourde, who both earned the same honor last year.

“This is great of the program, and I’m very happy for both of the girls as they have worked very hard and are very deserving,” said head coach Jeff Nelson. In noting that fellow senior Taylor Hadfield was honored with honorable mention All-America honors last year, Nelson said, “I’m very proud of all of them. It has been a great run for Lobo volleyball and all three of our seniors.”

For Meeter, the honor is one in a host she has received this season. Meeter was a three-time Mountain West Conference Player of the Week, and she also was named to the All-MWC team. Meeter during the season became the third Lobo, and the third player in Mountain West history to record 1,000 career kills and 1,000 career digs, and 100 career aces. Meeter also earned Collegiate Volleyball Update’s National Player of the Week after her performance in UNM’s sweep of #13 Colorado State in November.

Said Meeter, “I feel so honored by this. I could not have made it without all the support and help from my team and coaches. This was such a nice surprise to end the season and I feel so blessed to have been a part of New Mexico volleyball.”

Michaelsen became the first Lobo to break the 4,000-career assist mark with 4,174. Michaelsen was the conference’s Setter of the Year and an All-MWC selection, as well as a semifinalist for the Lowe’s Senior CLASS award.

“This honor is such an incredible surprise and great recognition for the program. It’s a testament to how far it has come in the last four years,” said Michaelsen. “Congratulations to Lisa who had a tremendous year, and I can’t thank the coaches and my teammates who have made all these incredible honors possible.”

The Lobos finished the season 20-10, finishing second in the Mountain West with a 12-4 record a school MWC high for wins, and a second straight NCAA Tournament berth.

To top it all off, UNM head coach Jeff Nelson was named Mountain West Coach of the Year for 2010.

New Mexico State had a rough season, but played tough through the injuries and difficult schedule. That didn’t keep Jennah DeVries from getting noticed and selected to the honorable mention team.

The American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) announced the 30th annual AVCA Division I All-American Teams for women’s volleyball, Wednesday, Dec. 15. Junior setter Jennah DeVries earned her second AVCA All-American honor has she was named to the honorable mention team.

DeVries, a native of Sedalia, Colo., earned the honor for the second consecutive year and is only the second NM State volleyball player to earn multiple All-American honors. Kim Oguh was named an All-American from 2005-07.

“We’re really proud of Jennah,” head coach Mike Jordan said. “She’s a great setter and a great person. She works hard and earned this type of recognition.”

She led the Aggies and was second in the Western Athletic Conference with 11.06 assists per set. Dani Mafua of Hawai’i, was also named an honorable mention selection. Mafua didn’t have many more assists than DeVries as she averaged 11.19 per set.

DeVries continues to impress everyone and continues to move up the record’s ladder with 2,833 assists in her career. She is now No. 6 on the all-time list passing Jill Hendry who played for NM State from 1987-88. She is now behind Jessica Rombach (1996-99) who posted 3,031 assists in her career while Christine Jinbo tallied 4,294 from 1993-96 to sit atop the all-time list.

Jillian Davis

Another area player making a name for herself is Jillian Davis, former outside hitter for El Paso Coronado. Davis also made her mark playing with the El Paso Wildfire and El Paso Sunspots.

Davis has been named NCAA Division III West Region Freshman of the Year by the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) playing her first year on the Whitman College volleyball team.

Davis also earned a spot on AVCA’s All-West Region Team and received an Honorable Mention recognition on the AVCA NCAA Division III All-America team.

Visit the Whitman College to read more about Davis’ great freshman season.

Perrault, the dynamic Cruces libero, signed with Western Wyoming

In the “Where are they now?” category, Cori Perrault, the former Las Cruces High libero, signed to play with Western Wyoming Community College Mustangs in Rock Springs, Wyoming.

Perrault eventually found a starting spot on the squad in the 2010 campaign and made her presence known, leading the Mustangs with 3.955 digs and 0.316 aces per set, enough to tie her for fourth place on the squad.

The Mustangs earned a No. 2 seed in the National Junior College Athletic Association Division I Women’s National Volleyball Championship Tournament in West Plains, Mo. last week.

Western Wyoming eventually finished the tournament in third place; a strong finish for a squad with 13 freshmen.

Head coach Rick Reynolds has done a fantastic job with the program, and regularly updates the Mustang volleyball blog. Read more about Cori and the program at their blog http://westernwyomingvolleyball.blogspot.com/ or visit the WWCC volleyball home page at http://www.wwcc.wy.edu/athletics/vball.htm