TOPEKA, Kan. – ACU junior middle blocker Shawna Hines was voted first team NCAA Division II all-South Central Region by the region's sports information directors and honorable mention all-region by the American Volleyball Coaches' Association.
Both teams were announced Tuesday. The Daktronics team is voted on by SIDs from the Lone Star Conference, Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association and the Heartland Conference. Each first team selection will be added to the Daktronics all-America ballot. The AVCA team is voted on by selected coaches from each region.
Hines was one of four players from the LSC to earn first team Daktronics all-region honors, joining West Texas A&M's Katie Rickwartz (setter), Laura Prinsen (outside hitter) and Melissa Harper (middle blocker), as well as Texas A&M-Commerce libero Lauren Flynn on the first team. The other two first team all-region selections were Emporia State (Kan.) outside hitter Arica Shepard and Pittsburg State outside hitter Pamela Caragena, who was chosen the region's Player of the Year.
Hines led the nation in total blocks (190) and blocks per set (1.58) while leading the Wildcats to a 29-6 record in 2009. ACU – which finished 12-1 in the LSC – reached the LSC Post-Season Tournament championship match for the second straight season, but for the second straight season more than 25 wins weren't enough to earn the Wildcats an at-large bid to the regional tournament.
Hines finished third on the team in kills with 298 (2.48 per set), but her .312 attack percentage led the Wildcats.
DAKTRONICS ALL-SOUTH CENTRAL REGION
Player of the Year
Pamela Cartagena, Pittsburg St. - Outside Hitter
First Team
Setter - Katie Rickwartz, West Texas A&M
Libero/Defensive Specialist - Lauren Flynn, Texas A&M-Commerce
Outside Hitter - Arica Shepard, Emporia St.
Outside Hitter - Pamela Cartagena, Pittsburg St.
Outside Hitter - Laura Prinsen, West Texas A&M
Middle Hitter - Melissa Harper, West Texas A&M
Middle Hitter - Shawna Hines, Abilene Christian
Second Team
Setter - Ting Liu, Emporia St.
Libero/Defensive Specialist - Rachel Fister, Central Missouri
Outside Hitter - Natalie Johnson, West Texas A&M
Outside Hitter - Zuela Adom, Central Oklahoma
Outside Hitter - Allie Huffman, Central Missouri
Middle Hitter - Paula Harris, Central Missouri
Middle Hitter - Ellen Thommes, Nebraska-Omaha
