Three Spartans named to all-state volleyball squads

GREENSBORO, NC – On the heels of the program’s best record since 1995, UNC Greensboro volleyball players Theresa Hart, Kaitlyn Nortz and Catherine Hanners were named to the inaugural North Carolina Collegiate Sports Information Association (NCCSIA) University Division All-State Volleyball Team.

Fourteen student-athletes, representing seven institutions, make up the inaugural squad. Charlotte, UNC Greensboro and Campbell each placed three students on the unit, while Appalachian State had two representatives on the 14-member all-state team.

The squad consists of students from NCAA Division I colleges and universities throughout the state. North Carolina sports information professionals submitted nominees and NCCSIA members selected the teams. The all-state unit consists of one setter, two outside hitters, two middle hitters/blockers, one right-side/opposite hitter and one libero/defensive specialist.

Hart, a senior from San Juan Capistrano, CA, was a first-team All-Southern Conference selection, UNCG’s first since joining the SoCon in 1997. She led the team with a school-record 534 kills this season, averaging a school-record 4.2 per game. She was also fourth on the team in aces with 35.

Nortz, a sophomore from Westerville, OH, led the team with 149 blocks this past season, the fifth-highest single-season total in school history. She was second on the team in kills with 443 and second in hitting percentage at .253. She averaged 3.43 kills per game, which was second on the team behind Hart.

Hanners was the lone freshman named to the first team. A native of Richmond, VA, she led the team with a school-record 653 digs this season, averaging 4.91 per game. She also led the team in aces with 49.

UNCG finished the year with a 23-13 mark and earned a trip to the Southern Conference Tournament’s title match, coming out of the No. 7 seed in the bracket to win its first-ever SoCon Tournament match and make its first final appearance.

Founded in 2002, NCCSIA is comprised of sports information professionals from NCAA Division I, II, III, NAIA and independent institutions from the state of North Carolina. The organization seeks to promote collegiate athletics and student-athletes at all schools. Membership is open to anyone affiliated with a college, university or conference located in North Carolina, and whose area of responsibility lies within sports information. NCSSIA selects all-state teams for men's and women's soccer, volleyball, men’s and women’s basketball, softball and baseball on the College (Division II, III, NAIA) and University (Division I) levels. More than 400 student-athletes have been recognized on all-state teams since 2003.

North Carolina Collegiate Sports Information Association -- 2006 University Division All-State Volleyball Team

First Team
Pos. Name Class School Hometown
Setter Eden Ramos Junior Charlotte Tampa, Fla.
Outside Hitter Theresa Hart Senior UNC Greensboro San Juan Capistrano, Calif.
Outside Hitter Cori Dayton Junior Charlotte Mission Viejo, Calif.
Middle Blocker Kaitlyn Nortz Sophomore UNC Greensboro Westerville, Ohio
Middle Blocker Rachel Templin Senior Campbell Andersonville, Tenn.
Right Side Femi Alabi Sophomore Campbell Jos, Nigeria
Libero Catherine Hanners Freshman UNC Greensboro Richmond, Va. 

Second Team
Pos. Name Class School Hometown
Setter Heidi Krug Senior East Carolina Kildeer, Ill.
Outside Hitter Elif Unlu Senior UNC Asheville Izmir, Turkey
Outside Hitter Brittany Zahn Junior Appalachian State Charlotte, N.C.
Middle Blocker Lynae Mulder Senior Charlotte Ripon, Calif.
Middle Blocker Natalie Mullikin Sophomore Wake Forest Lebanon, Ind.
Right Side Dianna Thomas Junior Appalachian State Mobile, Ala.
Libero Melissa Harvey Freshman Campbell Crystal Lake, Ill.

- UNCG -