CORPUS CHRISTI, TEX. --- Four members of the Texas
A&M-Corpus
Christi volleyball squad were bestowed some type of Southern
Independent
honors, it was announced Wednesday. Coaches from five Independent
schools
selected the teams.
Lauren Smith (Richmond, Tex.) was a first team selection, while
Erin McClanahan (St. Louis, Mo.) and Laney Bardin (Rockport, Tex.)
were
tabbed second team honorees. In addition, Kaley Rombs (Ingleside,
Tex.)
was selected to the all-freshman team.
"I'm very proud of each of their accomplishments," said head
coach
Frances Kinnison. "I think we were well represented. I really
thought it
was neat to have two members on the all-freshman team. It bodes
well for
our future."
Smith finished her second season with impressive numbers. In 34
matches, the sophomore posted school records in hitting percentage
(.305),
kills (373), kills per game (3.083) and block assists (110).
Smith
collected at least 10 or more kills in 23 of 34 matches, including
a
career-high 22 against UT-Pan American on November 16. Dominant at
the
net, she had two matches of 10 or more blocks - 10 against
Texas
A&M-Kingsville on September 3 and 12 more recently against
UTPA. Smith was
earlier named to the all-tournament team of the UMES Ramada Inn
Classic.
McClanahan, who was also named the Southern Independent Freshman
of
the Year, set single season school records in assists (1202) and
service
aces (57). On November 16, she became the second A&M-CC player
to record a
triple double with a 10-kill, 51- assist, 16-dig afternoon against
UT-Pan
American. In that same match, she also set a school record with 8
aces in
the five-set loss to the Lady Broncs. McClanahan, who represented
A&M-CC
on the all-tournament team at the 2002 Mean Green Classic, also
tallied 146
kills, a team-best 300 digs and 46 blocks.
Bardin finished second on the team in kills (320), kills per
game
(2.712), hitting percentage (.226) and blocks (105). The junior
hammered
down a career-high 23 kills against Southwest Texas State on
October 1,
which was one away from the school record. Earlier this season, she
was
named to the Sam Houston State all-tournament team.
Rombs made immediate impact with her defense and serving. The
freshman ranked second in aces (48) and third in digs (218) in her
34
appearances. Rombs, who had seven matches of three or more aces and
10 or
more digs, saved her best play for archrival UT-Pan American. On
November
8, she led the Islanders to their first-ever win over the Lady
Broncs with
a season-best seven aces. A week later, Rombs collected a
season-high 23
digs in a loss to UTPA.
All-Independent Honors
MVP - Fabiana Souza, IPFW
Offensive Player of the Year - Winker Cruz, UT-Pan American
Defensive Player of the Year - Sarah Leffers, IPFW
Freshman of the Year - Erin McClanahan, Texas A&M-CC
Newcomer of the Year - Cathi Netemeyer, UT-Pan American
Coach of the Year - Jenny Hazelwood, Centenary
First Team
Winker Cruz, UT-Pan American
Fabiana Souza, IPFW
Jackie Muszynski, UT-Pan American
Kelley Heckman, Centenary
Kristin Peck, Lipscomb
Lauren Smith, Texas A&M-CC
Lindi Bankowski, IPFW
Second Team
Erin McClanahan, Texas A&M-CC
Krista Solberg, IPFW
Catey Batte, Centenary
Cathi Netemeyer, UT-Pan American
Brittney Lanius, Lipscomb
Laney Bardin, Texas A&M-CC
Sarah Leffers, IPFW
Freshman Team
Fabiana Souza, IPFW
Erin McClanahan, Texas A&M-CC
Kelley Heckman, Centenary
Stephanie Redd, UT-Pan American
Katie Burke, UT-Pan American
Kelly Houff, Lipscomb
Kaley Rombs, Texas A&M-CC
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