FOUR RAMS NAMED TO ALL-CAA SQUADS; RICH FIRST TEAM
11-21-08
 BOSTON, Mass. - A school-record four Virginia Commonwealth University players were named to All-Colonial Athletic Association teams Friday on the eve of the conference tournament. The selections, announced at the league’s annual awards banquet, were tabulated from votes by the conference’s head coaches.
Junior middle blocker Ivana Rich (Cumberland, Va.) (pictured, right) led the way for VCU, earning All-Conference First Team. Rich, a one-time walk-on, ranks third in the league in blocks per set (1.08), as well as fourth in hitting percentage (.301). Additionally, Rich is averaging 2.01 kills per set. She is the first VCU player to pick up a first team nod since Ludmila Francescatto in 2006.
Also picking up CAA hardware were senior outside hitter Elisa Kuehnel (Dresden, Germany) (above), sophomore middle blocker Jessica Ojukwu (Sao Paulo, Brazil) and freshman Marketa Janeckova (Olomouc, Czech Republic).
Enjoying the finest season of her four-year career, Kuehnel collected a Second Team citation. She leads the team in kills per set (2.59) and points (335.5).
Ojukwu, an All-Rookie pick in 2007, was selected All-CAA Third Team after recording 2.23 kills per set and a .266 hitting percentage.
Janeckova, who has surged of late, earned a spot on the All-Rookie team. She spiked 1.91 kills and 1.55 digs per set.
Those four, as well as the rest of the second-seeded Rams await the winner of third-seeded Delaware and sixth-seeded Towson in a CAA Tournament Semifinal match Sunday at 7 p.m. at Northeastern’s Solomon Court.
2008 ALL-CAA VOLLEYBALL TEAM
(Selected by CAA Volleyball Coaches)
All-CAA First Team
Player, School Cl. Pos. Hometown/Previous School
Stephanie Barry, Delaware* Jr. L Long Beach, Calif./Wilson
Britney Brown, Northeastern So. S Edwards, Colo./Battle Mountain
Lauren DeTurk, Northeastern# Sr. OH Yucaipa, Calif./Yucaipa
Kim Mount, William and Mary# Sr. S Corte Madera, Calif./Redwood Empire
Ivana Rich, VCU Jr. MH Cumberland, Va./Cumberland
Erin Skipper, William and Mary So. OH Yorktown, Va./Tabb
All-CAA Second Team
Player, School Cl. Pos. Hometown/Previous School
Harmonie Calinda, Hofstra Jr. OH Huntington, N.Y./John Glenn
Valerie Chromy, Towson Sr. OPP Crystal Lake, Ill./Crystal Lake South
Katie Dennehy, Delaware So. OH Charlotte, N.C./Providence
Lauren Miles, James Madison^ Sr. S Tampa, Fla./Tampa Preparatory
Elisa Kuehnel, VCU Sr. OH Dresden, Germany/Sportsgymnasium
Rebecca Walter, George Mason# Jr. OH Monbulk, Victoria, Australia/Monbulk
All-CAA Third Team
Player, School Cl. Pos. Hometown/Previous School
Ginny Bray, William and Mary So. MB Cary, N.C./Athens Drive
Lauren Engle, Hofstra# Sr. OH San Diego, Calif./La Jolla
Maddie Haseltine, Towson^ Sr. OH St. Louis, Mo./Nerinx Hall
Ashley Jones, Georgia State So. OH San Diego, Calif./Brookville
Ashley Legerretta, Hofstra Sr. MB Venice Beach, Calif./Venice
Jessica Ojukwu, VCU So. MB Sao Paulo, Brazil/Colegio Dourado
Kim Stewart, Delaware Fr. OH Kentwood, Mich./East Kentwood
2008 CAA Player of the Year: Lauren DeTurk, Northeastern
2008 CAA Setter of the Year: Kim Mount, William & Mary
2008 CAA Defensive Specialist of the Year: Stephanie Barry, Delaware
2008 CAA Rookie of the Year: Kim Stewart, Delaware
2008 CAA Co-Coaches of the Year: Bonnie Kenny, Delaware & Ken Nichols, Northeastern
*First Team All-CAA in 2007
#Second Team All-CAA in 2007
^ Third Team All-CAA in 2007
All-Rookie Team
Player, School Cl. Pos. Hometown/Previous School
Elena DelleDonne, Delaware Fr. MH Wilmington, Del./Ursuline Academy
Noelle Fanella, George Mason Fr. OH Bloomingdale, Ill./Lake Park
Susan Gansor, Towson Fr. MB Franklin, Va./Southhampton Academy
Marketa Janeckova, VCU Fr. OH Olomouc, Czech Republic/Cajkovskeho Olomouc
Kim Stewart, Delaware Fr. OH Kentwood, Mich./East Kentwood
Kelly Turner, James Madison Fr. MB Ontario, N.Y./Wayne Central
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