Three Spartans make All-Southern Conference squad

GREENSBORO, NC – Sophomore Kayren Finney and Junior Branagan Fuller were named to the first team 2008 SoCon Volleyball All-Conference team, while Senior Kaitlyn Nortz was named the second team for the second straight season. 

This marks the first time in school history that the Spartans have had more than one student-athlete named to the all-conference team.  The only other time a Spartan has been named to the SoCon All-Conference team was in 2006 when Theresa Hart was named to the first team and last year when Nortz was honored with a second team nod.

A native of Danville, Va, Finney was a two-time SoCon Player of the Week honoree this season.  She was fifth in the conference this season in hitting percentage and was 10th in the league with 2.87 kills per set.  Finney also was second in the SoCon in blocks per set with 1.24, which is just .02 out of first place.

Fuller, hailing from Murrieta, CA, has also played an integral part in the success of UNCG this year.  The junior outside hitter is averaging 3.10 kills per set this season, which is good enough for seventh in the league.  She is also second on the team in digs and has 21 service aces this season.

Nortz becomes the first player in school history to make the Southern Conference All-Conference team twice in her career.  That is just one of many records Nortz has broken during her illustrious career for the Spartans.  She currently has 560 career blocks, which is 38 more than second place in school history.  Against Chattanooga, Nortz broke a school record for the most block assists in a four-game match with 10.  She also tied a school record for total blocks in a three-game match with 11 against Samford on Senior Day

UNCG kicks off their 2008 Southern Conference Tournament on Friday evening at 7 p.m. in Fleming Gymnasium.  The Spartans will be looking to make the championship game for the third straight season.

AGATE 

All-Conference
1st Team:
Cole Dawley – College of Charleston
Kayren Finney – UNC Greensboro
Branagan Fuller – UNC Greensboro
Ashley Adams – Samford
Hillary Fountain – Samford
Lara Newberry – Chattanooga 

2nd Team:
Emily Sawin – College of Charleston
Elyse Chubb – College of Charleston
Alison West – Furman
Nicole Palazzo – Furman
Kaitlyn Nortz – UNC Greensboro
Kirstein Sosnowski – Samford

All-Freshman Team:
Elyse Chubb – College of Charleston
Emily Shelton – College of Charleston
Caroline Lemke – Elon
Traci Stewart – Elon
Bethany Sanford – Georgia Southern
Rachel Gadberry – Samford

Player of the Year:
Ashley Adams – Samford

Coach of the Year:
Jason Kepner – College of Charleston

Freshman of the Year:
Elyse Chubb – College of Charleston

Libero of the Year:
Lara Newberry - Chattanooga

- UNCG -