The North Carolina Collegiate Sports Information Association (NCCSIA) announced its selections for the 2015 College Division All-State Volleyball Team Wednesday. Fourteen student-athletes from eight North Carolina colleges and universities were selected to the first and second teams, some for the first time in their career.
The South Atlantic Conference led the way with seven honorees, including four from Wingate University. The SAC’s Catawba and Brevard received the remaining three selections. Wingate Bulldog Abby Saehler earned All-State first team honors in the middle, along with Catawba Indian Bri Howard. Saehler, an All-SAC first team selection, averaged 3.47 kills per set and ranked second in the conference with a .324 hitting percentage. Howard led the SAC with 1.11 blocks per set and averaged 2.21 kills per set.
Conference Carolinas Player of the Year Hannah Schellenberg was the leading vote getter among outside hitters and averaged 4.82 kills per set for Belmont Abbey. She completed her four-year career as the NCAA Division II leader with 1,772 total kills. Stephanie Pingyin averaged 4.76 kills per set for the Barton Bulldogs and earned All-State first team honors as a sophomore.
Brevard’s sophomore setter Erin Barr garnered All-State first team honors averaging 9.28 assists per set. The Hamptonville, North Carolina, Tornado set a school record with 993 assists in a single season and ranks fifth in the SAC.
Rookie Kimberly Hovey led the Wingate Bulldogs to a SAC championship averaging 4.64 digs per set. Hovey’s efforts advanced the Bulldogs to a top-10 national ranking in hitting percentage this season.
SAC Player of the Year Shelly Stumpff collected All-NCCSIA first team honors as a right side hitter with a 3.90 kills average and a .292 hitting percentage. Stumpff led the SAC in kills per set and aces per set and finished the season ranked fifth nationally in service aces.
The NCCSIA All-State second team selections include two Chowan University Hawks, outside hitter Suraya Chase and right side hitter Ashley Tutherow. Jocelyn Mills of Winston-Salem State and Alexandra Cullens of Barton filled the middle blocker spots, and Wingate’s Oakley Attaway rounded out the second team attackers at the outside.
Senior setter Jaden Lynch of St. Andrews University earned second team honors, and Aleksandra Vrvilo of Brevard was recognized for her efforts as libero.
Nominees were submitted by North Carolina sports information professionals and voted on by the NCCSIA members.
Founded in 2002, NCCSIA is comprised of sports information professionals from NCAA Division I, II, III, NAIA and independent institutions from the state of North Carolina. The organization seeks to promote collegiate athletics and student-athletes at all schools. Membership is open to anyone affiliated with a college, university or conference located in North Carolina, and whose area of responsibility lies within sports information.
NCCSIA selects All-State teams for men's and women's soccer, volleyball, men's and women's basketball, softball and baseball on the College (Division II, III, NAIA) and University (Division I) levels.
North Carolina Collegiate Sports Information Association
2015 College Division All-State Volleyball Teams
First Team |
||||
Pos. |
Name |
Class |
School |
Hometown |
OH |
Hannah Schellenberg#$ |
Sr. |
Belmont Abbey College |
Jacksonville, Fla. |
OH |
Stephanie Pingyin |
So. |
Barton College |
Christchurch, New Zealand |
MB |
Abby Saehler$ |
Jr. |
Wingate University |
Iowa City, Iowa |
MB |
Bri Howard |
Jr. |
Catawba College |
Graham, N.C. |
RS |
Shelly Stumpff&$ |
Sr. |
Wingate |
Iowa City, Iowa |
S |
Erin Barr |
So. |
Brevard College |
Hamptonville, N.C. |
L |
Kimberly Hovey |
Fr. |
Wingate |
Raleigh, N.C. |
Second Team |
||||
Pos. |
Name |
Class |
School |
Hometown |
OH |
Suraya Chase |
Jr. |
Chowan Univ |
Arouca, Trinidad and Tobago |
OH |
Oakley Attaway |
Fr. |
Wingate |
Belle Isle, Fla. |
MB |
Jocelyn Mills |
Jr. |
Winston-Salem State U |
Clinton, N.C. |
MB |
Alexandra Cullens |
Fr. |
Barton |
Tarpon Springs, Fla. |
RS |
Ashley Tutherow |
Fr. |
Chowan |
Mesa, Ariz. |
S |
Jaden Lynch |
Sr. |
St. Andrews Univ |
Williston, N.D. |
L |
Aleksandra Vrvilo$ |
Jr. |
Brevard |
Beaverton, Ore. |
# - Named to 2014 All-State Team
# - Named to 2013 All-State Team
& - Named to 2012 All-State Team