Dec. 9, 2009
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Georgia Tech junior setter Mary Ashley Tippins has been named to the American Volleyball Coaches Association All-Region team it was announced this afternoon. This is the first time Tippins has been an all-region selection in her career. In addition, freshman right-side hitter Monique Mead was an honorable mention all-region pick.
The AVCA All-American teams will be announced later this month.
Tippins also earned her first career all-conference honor as she ranks first in the ACC and 18th nationally dishing out 11.27 assists per set. She recorded her first career double-double Oct. 4 at Miami with 60 assists and 10 digs and now has four in the last two months. Tippins is seventh in the ACC with 0.31 service aces per set and is chipping in with 1.92 digs per set as well. Despite playing in just 40 matches over her first two seasons, Tippins ranks sixth in Tech history averaging 10.25 assists per set and is eighth with 2,334 career helpers.
Last week, Mead was named the ACC Freshman of the Year and was also a first-team all-conference pick. Mead, who was also named to the All-Freshman team, is Tech’s first ACC Freshman of the Year since Lauren Sauer won the award in 200. Mead is second on the team and seventh in the ACC averaging 3.07 kills per set this year. She reached double-figures in 22 of Tech’s 30 matches and tallied at least 15 kills in five matches. That includes a career-high 21 against Miami on Nov. 13. Mead is also averaging 1.94 digs per set and 0.77 blocks. In the Jackets’ NCAA Tournament loss to Baylor, Mead just missed a double-double as she had 12 kills and nine digs.
Mead and Tippins led Tech to its first NCAA Tournament since 2004. Under first-year head coach Tonya Johnson, the Yellow Jackets went 21-10 and finished third in the ACC. The Jackets lost to Baylor in the first round of the NCAA Tournament in Los Angeles, Calif. The Bears went on to upset No. 8 UCLA and are playing in the Gainesville, Fla. regional this weekend.
2009 AVCA East All-Region Team
Sandra Adeleye Clemson University MB Fr.
Brianna Barry Florida State University MB Sr.
Lane Carico** University of Miami OH So.
Kellie Catanach Duke University S So.
Mira Djuric Florida State University RS/Opp. Sr.
Didem Ege** Clemson University DS/Lib. Sr.
Holly Goode George Mason University RS/Opp. Jr.
Cassie Loessberg University of Miami DS/Lib. Sr.
Rachael Moss*** Duke University OH Sr.
Kelsey Murphy*** Clemson University S Sr.
Jordana Price Florida State University MB Sr.
Lia Proctor** Clemson University OH Sr.
Mary Ashley Tippins Georgia Tech University S Jr.
Felicia Willoughby** Virginia Tech MB Jr.
Region Freshman of the Year: Sandra Adeleye, Clemson, MB
Honorable Mention: Kelsey Bohman (George Mason, MB, So.), Michala Kvapilova (Virginia Commonwealth, OH Fr.), Chelaine McCarty (Liberty, MB, Sr.), Monique Mead (Georgia Tech, RS/Opp., Fr.), Rachael Morgan (Florida State, OH, So.), Lindsey Pflunger (William and Mary, DS/Lib., Sr.)
