The American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) announced the 28th annual AVCA Division I All-America Teams for women's volleyball and five Big West athletes made the elite list. Big West Player of the Year Brittany Moore (Cal State Fullerton), Kylie Atherstone (Cal Poly), Jaclyn Houston (Cal Poly), Naomi Washington (Long Beach State) and Lauren Kellerman (UC Irvine) were named to the AVCA All-America Honorable Mention Team.
Last week the quintet received AVCA All-West Region honors, while UC Irvine's Kari Pestolesi and Taryn Robertson and Long Beach State's Nicole Vargas received AVCA All-West Region Honorable Mention honors.
Moore, who becomes the first Titan to receive All-America recognition, concluded her senior campaign with a league-leading 4.04 kill average to rank among the top 50 in the nation. Her offensive prowess guided Cal State Fullerton to its first-ever above-.500 conference mark of 9-7. The nine conference victories was also a school record for the Titan volleyball program. While dominating on offense, Moore also showed her defensive skills with a 3.10 dig average to finish second on the Titan squad and 10th in the league. Hailing from Orange, Calif., Moore collected two Big West Player of the Week accolades during the 2008 season. Her first honor back on Oct. 6, was awarded after she posted a pair of double-doubles that included back-to-back 20-plus kill efforts. The outside hitter's more recent nod was on Nov. 17 where she blasted a career-high 31 kills.
A four-time All-Big West first team selection, Atherstone averaged 0.61 services aces per set to rank among the best in the country. She also tallied 3.69 kills per set to place second in the conference. The program's career leader with 193 aces, which ranks fourth all-time in the Big West, Atherstone will depart Cal Poly ranked second all-time in kills and hitting attempts. She also established a new league record this year with her 11th Big West Player of the Week award. This marks the second straight year Atherstone has been recognized on the AVCA All-America list. In 2007 she was a member of the AVCA All-America Third Team.
Houston picks up her second straight All-America Honorable Mention accolade after posting a conference-leading .392 hitting percentage, the second-highest single-season mark in Cal Poly history. The three-time All-Big West first team member sits second among conference players with 1.18 blocks per set. Houston owns 551 career block assists to secure the third spot in the Big West record book, while registering a 1.42 career block average to place seventh all-time.
Washington's efforts during the 2008 season guided Long Beach State to its ninth Big West championship and its 22nd consecutive NCAA appearance. The New Orleans, La., native finished the season hitting. 351, good enough for second place in the conference. Washington led the 49ers in blocks with 115 on the season and recorded 288 kills to finish third on the team. Washington becomes the 21st player to receive All-American honors for Long Beach State and continues a streak where the 49ers have had at least one player honored in the last five years.
Kellerman, a three-time All-Big West first teamer, tallied 349 kills and averaged 3.32 kills per set to rank eighth in the Big West Conference. The outside hitter was third on the Anteater squad with 20 service aces and 259 digs. She earned Big West Player of the Week honors after recording 21 kills and a team-high 13 digs to lead the team to a 3-1 win over Long Beach State. Kellerman logged a season-best 23 kills in the win against Long Beach State and 19 digs in nonconference action against Kansas State. She becomes just the third Anteater to earn All-America honors.