LEXINGTON, Ky. - Six student-athletes from the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference were named to the 2013 American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) All-Region teams, including a Regional Freshman of the Year, the organization announced on Thursday. An additional four student-athletes were Honorable Mention All-Region selections. All-Region Teams
In addition, Trinity head coach Julie Jenkins was named AVCA South Region Coach of the Year for the seventh time in her career. Region Coaches-of-the-Year
Since 1985, Jenkins has guided her Tigers to 20 NCAA Division III Tournament appearances, including this year when they enter the tournament as host and a No. 2 seed in the San Antonio, Texas Regional. They earned the NCAA berth by winning their 16th SCAC Championship last Saturday over Southwestern. The Tigers currently sit at No. 8 in the nation. This season gives Jenkins an amazing seven AVCA South Region Coach of the Year honors after winning in 1999, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2006 and 2007.
In the South, four SCAC student-athletes were named to the All-Region squad. Conference champion Trinity University was represented on the team by junior middle blocker Erin Cusenbary and junior outside hitter Maggie Emodi. Senior outside hitter Shelby Eaves of Austin College and junior libero Chandleer Lentz of Southwestern University round out the selections. Junior outside hitter Layne Hubbard of Trinity and sophomore outside hitter Katie Foster of Southwestern were named Honorable Mention All-Region.
In the West, Colorado College outside hitter Abby Holtze was named the West Region Freshman of the Year, in addition to her All-Region selection. It is the second consecutive year that a CC player has been named West Region Freshman of the Year as the Tigers' Emily Phillips - an Honorable Mention selection this year - was honored in 2012.
Colorado College's sophomore right side Courtney Birkett was also selected All-West Region and her teammate sophomore libero Sophie Merrifield joined Phillips as an Honorable Mention selection.
