Nov. 20, 2007

BELLINGHAM, Wash. - Western Washington University libero Courtney Schneider (Sr., Snohomish) was selected for the third straight year to the American Volleyball Coaches Association Pacific Region Volleyball All-Star Team released today.

In all, the Vikings placed three players on the squad. Schneider was joined by outside hitter Jaime Anderson (Sr., SeaTac/Mount Rainier) and middle blocker Tiana Roma (Jr., Edmonds/Edmonds-Woodway).

Schneider has virtually locked up the national digs per game title for the second straight year with a 7.58 average. That would break the national record she set last season.

Schneider, who has broken her own school and Great Northwest Athletic Conference season records with 750 digs, ranks third among NCAA II career leaders in that category with 2,594. Her career digs per game average of 6.94 is nearly one dig per game better than the current national record.

Schneider was the 2007 GNAC Player of the Year, also being a first-team Daktronics all-region and league all-star, each for the third time.

Anderson leads the team in kills with 393 (3.97) and is third in digs (317, 3.20) and fourth in blocks (67, 0.68). She was a second-team choice to both the conference and Daktronics regional all-star squads.

Roma, who was a first-team GNAC all-star, leads the Vikings with a .358 attack percentage, while being second in blocks (93, 0.94) and third in kills (291, 2.94).

Western, ranked No.15 in this week's AVCA Top 25 Poll, is 24-4 overall and riding a 19-match winning streak.

The Vikings won the Pacific Regional title with a sweep of No.3 Cal State San Bernardino in the championship match and are making the school's first trip to the NCAA Division II Elite Eight where they will meet Dowling NY in the quarterfinals on Thursday, Nov. 29 (5 p.m. CT) at Topeka, Kan.

Western captured the GNAC title with a 17-1 record.

2007 AVCA ALL-REGION TEAMS FOR NCAA DIVISION II

Atlantic Region
Kali Antolik	Shippensburg University	MB	So.
Jennifer Blasko	Slippery Rock University	OH	Jr.
Stacey Borgia	Lock Haven University	MB	Jr.
Renata da Silva**	California University of Pennsylvania	S	So.
Vicky Gentile	Clarion University	DS/Lib.	Sr.
Daviana Metti	Lees McRae College	OH	Sr.
Sam Mitchell	Mount Olive College	OH	Sr.
Jenna Newman**	Edinboro University of Pennsylvania	MB	Sr.
Joanna Nist	California University of Pennsylvania	OH	So.
Amber Santavy	California University of Pennsylvania	OH	Sr.
Christina Steiner	Clarion University	OH	Sr.
Katie Wilkins	Edinboro University of Pennsylvania	S	Fr.

Region Freshman of the Year: Katie Wilkins, Edinboro, S

Honorable Mention: Amanda Edwards (Anderson, OH, Jr.), Sarah Fries
(Clarion, RS/Opp., Sr.), Brittany Roche (Shippensburg, OH, So.), Melissa
 Thomas (Limestone, OH, So.), Anastasia Urbanik (Slippery Rock, MB, Jr.),
 Olivia Williams (Edinboro, MB, So.)

Great Lakes Region
Danielle Alexander	Grand Valley State University 	RS/Opp.	Jr.
Melissa Bartlett	Hillsdale College	OH	Sr.
Mallory Clements**	Southern Illinois University Edwardsviile 	S	Jr.
Kristina Eisenmenger	Northern Kentucky University	RS/Opp.	Jr.
Natalie Forbes	Northern Kentucky University	S	Jr.
Mary Kate Glowe***	Ashland University	OH	Sr.
Liz Holmes***	Northern Kentucky University	MB	Sr.
Brittany McGowan	Northern Michigan University	S/H	Sr.
Allyson Riley***	Grand Valley State University	DS/Lib.	Sr.
Lindsay Tye	Ferris State University	OH	Sr.
Erica Vandekopple	Grand Valley State University	MB	Sr.
Lynsey Warren***	Ashland University	S	Sr.

Region Freshman of the Year: Rebeccah Rapin, Grand Valley State, MB

Honorable Mention: Stephanie Booms (Hillsdale, S, Jr.), Tristen Dye
(Northern Kentucky, OH, Sr.), Mallory Fleming (Findlay, OH, Sr.), Rachel
 Fowler (Rockhurst, MB, Sr.), Vanessa Lepore (Wheeling Jesuit, DS/Lib.,
Sr.), Katy Skelley (Charleston, MB, Sr.)

North Central Region
Vicky Braegelmann****	University of Minnesota Duluth	RS/Opp.	Sr.
Carlie Christensen***	University of Nebraska at Omaha	MB	Sr.
Erin Contons****	Southwest Minnesota St. Univ.	OH	Sr.
Katie Gangelhoff***	University of Minnesota Duluth	S	Jr.
Maggie McNamara**	Concordia University-St. Paul	S	So.
Ashley Nachreiner	Minnesota State University, Mankato	OH	Jr.
Emily Palkert	Concordia University-St. Paul	MB	Fr.
Emily Schroeder**	Wayne State College (Neb.)	MB	Sr.
Mary Slinger	Concordia University-St. Paul	DS/Lib.	So.
Maria Steinhagen	Concordia University-St. Paul	MB	Jr.
Kari Wolford**	University of Minnesota Duluth	OH	Sr.
Sarah Wyffels	University of Minnesota Duluth	MB	So.

Region Freshman of the Year: Emily Palkert, Concordia-St. Paul, MB

Honorable Mention: Leah Ashburn (Southwest Minnesota State, MB, So.),
 Danielle Beckstrand (Minnesota Duluth, OH, Sr.), Amanda Beekman
 (Minnesota State, OH, Fr.), Kathleen Hruska (South Dakota, MB, Jr.),
Whitney Meierotto (Concordia-St. Paul, OH, Jr.), Cayla Schroeder
 (Augustana [S.D.], OH, Jr.)

Northeast Region
Ann Casado	Georgian Court University	OH	Jr.
Tiffany Garry***	Bryant University	S/H	Sr.
Likica Grceva	Bryant University	OH	Sr.
Patrycja Klekotka	Dowling College	RS/Opp.	So.
Jessica Lubeski	C.W. Post College	MB	Sr.
Justyna Michon****	Dowling College	OH	Sr.
Rhe-Ann Niles**	University of New Haven	MB	Jr.
Tori Piskulick**	Bentley College	S	Jr.
Erin Przybylowicz	Dowling College	S/H	Fr.
Christina Sadowski**	Bentley College	MB	Sr.
Maria Scherrer	Holy Family University	DS/Lib.	Fr.
Anicia Wood	University of New Haven	MB	Sr.

Region Freshman of the Year: Erin Przybylowicz, Dowling, S/H

Honorable Mention: Charisse Cotton (New Haven, OH, Jr.), Natalie Edward
 (Queens [N.Y.], MB, Jr.), Jesica Gall (Dowling, DS/Lib., Jr.), Alex
Kearney (Bentley, OH, So.), Cassie Kraft (Bentley, DS/Lib., So.), Yael
Rosner (New Haven, S, Jr.)

Pacific Region
Jaime Anderson	Western Washington University	OH	Sr.
Rebecca Bailey	Univ. of California San Diego	OH	Jr.
Cammy Dranginis	Northwest Nazarene University	MB	So.
Sharea Drawn**	Cal. State Univ., San Bernardino	MB	Sr.
Alyssa Given**	Seattle Pacific University	OH	Sr.
Jessica Granados**	Cal. State Univ., San Bernardino	RS/Opp.	Jr.
Sara Hoffman	Cal. State Univ., San Bernardino	S	So.
Lindsay Macias**	Chico State	OH	Jr.
Tiana Roma	Western Washington University	MB	Sr.
Courtney Schneider***	Western Washington University	DS/Lib.	Sr.
Rachael Schurman	Central Washington University	MB	Jr.
Vanessa Williams	Cal Poly Pomona	MB	Jr.

Region Freshman of the Year: Hillary Hurley, Hawai'i at Hilo, OH

Honorable Mention:  Erica Brick (Chico State, S, Jr.), Meghan Haas (Cal
State San Bernardino, DS/Lib, Jr.), Antoinette Kathol (Cal Poly Pomona,
MB, Sr.), Sara Rice (Cal State San Bernardino, MB, Jr.), Kristy Sather
 (Sonoma State, OH, Jr.), Fabiane Seben (Hawai'i at Hilo, MB, So.)

South Region
Erin Clark	University of Tampa	MB	Sr.
Melissa DeLuca	Wingate University	S	Sr.
Katelen Dixon***	University of Tampa	OH	Sr.
Alisha Green**	University of Tampa	MB	So.
Vivian Lacy	Tusculum College	OH	Sr.
Ashley Martin**	Florida Southern College	RS/Opp.	Jr.
Michelle Nogueras	Saint Leo University	S/H	So.
Camilla Pagnan	Barry University	OH	Jr.
Daris Rodriguez	Lynn University	MB	Jr.
Gabriela Saade	University of Tampa	S	Jr.
Margeaux Sinibaldi***	University of Tampa	DS/Lib.	Sr.
Beverly Stasis***	Florida Southern College 	OH	Sr.

Region Freshman of the Year: Kaitlin McKenna, Saint Leo, MB

Honorable Mention: Lydee Benoit (Eckerd, OH, So.), Melinda Gorman (Nova
Southeastern, MB, Jr.), Camila Lins (Lynn, OH, Junior), Kaitlin McKenna
(Saint Leo, MB, Fr.), Valia Petrova (Nova Southeastern, S/H, Jr.),
Melissa Powers (Catawba, MB, Jr.)

South Central Region
Pamela Cartagena**	Pittsburg State University	OH	So.
Allie Cherven**	Truman State University	MB	Jr.
Audrey Jensen	University of Central Missouri	DS/Lib.	Sr.
Tessa Jones***	Washburn University	RS/Opp.	Sr.
Melissa Keck	Truman State University	RS/Opp.	Jr.
Monica Miesner**	Washburn University	OH	Jr.
Edith Musebe	Henderson State University	MB	Sr.
Jillian Ohrman**	University of Central Missouri	MB	Sr.
Danielle Palasak	University of North Alabama	OH	Sr.
Luciana Rapach	University of West Florida	RS/Opp.	Jr.
Arica Shepard	Emporia State University	OH	So.
Sammie Williams	Pittsburg State University	RS/Opp.	Jr.

Region Freshman of the Year: Ting Liu, Emporia State, S

Honorable Mention: Erica Cowhick (Washburn, DS/Lib., Sr.), Isabela
Gualberto (West Florida, MB, Sr.), Jessica Hansen (North Alabama,
DS/Lib., Jr.), Ting Liu (Emporia State, S, Fr.), Andressa Martins (West
Georgia, OH, So.), Manuela Nesheva (Harding, OH, So.)

Southwest Region
Lacie Allen**	University of Central Oklahoma	DS/Lib.	Sr.
Mari Araujo	University of Central Oklahoma	OH	Jr.
Kaity Edmiston	Colorado School of Mines	MB	So.
Julie Green-McFarland**	Metro State College	OH	Sr.
Darcy Jennings	Adams State College	MB	So.
Abbie Lowry**	Abilene Christian University	OH	Sr.
Whitney Maxwell	Midwestern State University	RS/Opp.	Jr.
Bri Ostler	Metro State College	DS/Lib.	Sr.
Alysha Pritt	Midwestern State University	MB	So.
Katie Rickwartz	West Texas A&M University	S	So.
Allison Schreiber	Midwestern State University	S	Jr.
Andrea Tuck	Adams State College	OH	So.

Region Freshman of the Year: Kelsey Ellis, Metro State, OH

Honorable Mention: Kelsey Ellis (Metro State, OH, Fr.), Sesley Graves
 (Midwestern State, MB, So.), Shawna Hines (Abilene Christian, MB,
RS/Fr.), Krissa Johnson (Midwestern State, OH, Sr.), Ijeoma Moronu
(Abilene Christian, S, Fr.), Kandis Schroeder (Texas Woman's, MB, Jr.)

 * Denotes total number of years selected to AVCA All-Region Team