 Charlotte, N.C. – Seven student-athletes from four institutions, including three players from a UNC Asheville squad that finished with a 25-10 overall record, make up the 2009 North Carolina Collegiate Sports Information Association (NCCSIA) University Division All-State women’s volleyball team, released Monday.
UNC Asheville libero Raquel Miotto and outside hitter Kelsey Benorden both make their second straight appearance on the all-state team while Bulldogs middle hitter Lauren Ficker (pictured) is one of five first-time honorees. UNCA was one of two schools to have multiple players recognized as Elon middle hitter Caroline Lemke and right side hitter Traci Stewart were both recognized. Campbell outside hitter Emily Werner and UNC-Chapel Hill setter Cora Harms round out the squad.
The team consists of NCAA Division I student-athletes from North Carolina colleges and universities. Nominees were submitted by North Carolina sports information professionals while NCCSIA members voted for the all-state teams. The 2009 All-State volleyball team includes one setter, two outside hitters, two middle hitters/blockers, one right side hitter and one defensive specialist.
Founded in 2002, NCCSIA is comprised of sports information professionals from North Carolina’s NCAA Division I, II, III, NAIA and independent institutions for the purpose of promoting college athletics in the state. Membership is open to anyone affiliated with a college, university or conference located in North Carolina whose responsibilities include sports information.
NCCSIA selects all-state teams in the university (NCAA Division I) and college (Division II, III, NAIA, NCCAA) divisions for women’s volleyball, men’s and women’s basketball, men’s and women’s soccer, softball and baseball. More than 650 student-athletes have been recognized on all-state teams since 2003.
NCCSIA’s all-state soccer teams were released last week. The organization will release its sixth annual all-state men’s and women’s basketball squads in March.
Position Name Class School Hometown
S Cora Harms Freshman UNC - Chapel Hill Placerville, Calif.
OH Kelsey Benorden Junior UNC Asheville Knoxville, Tenn.
OH Emily Werner Junior Campbell Sarasota, Fla.
MH/MB Lauren Ficker Senior UNC Asheville Hendersonville, N.C.
MH/MB Caroline Lemke Sophomore Elon Carmel, Ind.
RS Traci Stewart Sophomore Elon Summerfield, N.C.
L Raquel Miotto Senior UNC Asheville Sao Paulo, Brazil
UNC-Chapel Hill freshman setter Cora Harms is the only rookie on the all-state team after an inaugural campaign that saw her guide the Tar Heels to a 15-16 overall record. Harms played in 29 of 31 matches for UNC-CH and earned the starting nod in 22 of those contests. She dished out 8.43 assists per set for the season and increased that total to 10.10 assists per set during Atlantic Coast Conference play as 709 of 810 assists came during league action.
UNC Asheville junior outside hitter Kelsey Benorden makes her second straight appearance on the squad after leading the Bulldogs to a 25-10 overall record, a 13-3 ledger in Big South play and the team’s first regular-season title since 2002. Benorden earned First-Team All-Big South honors for the second year in a row as she posted a conference-best 19 double-doubles in 25 matches. She finished the season second in the Big South in kills per set 3.86 and ninth in the league in digs at 3.43 per set. The CVU.com National Player-of-the-Week on Nov. 10, Benorden will enter her senior season ranked seventh in career kills and sixth in career attacks at UNC Asheville. This season, Benorden became just the 10th player in UNC Asheville history to record 1,000 career kills and 1,000 career digs.
Campbell junior outside hitter Emily Werner garnered her first All-State selection as she played a key role in leading the Camels to their most wins since the 2001 season with a 17-15 overall record and a school-record 10 victories in Atlantic Sun play. Werner recorded double-digit points on 22 occasions as she finished 10th in the Atlantic Sun in points per set (3.41). She also recorded double-figure kills in 18 of 32 matches and led Campbell in kills on 18 occasions as she paced the Camels in kills (326), total attacks (984) and total points (385.0). Werner notched a career-high 22 digs against Jacksonville to go along with 16 kills. She also posted a career-high seven blocks versus North Florida to go along with 10 kills and seven digs.
UNC Asheville senior middle blocker Lauren Ficker garnered NCCSIA All-State accolades for the first time her career after helping the Bulldogs post a 25-10 overall record, a 13-3 ledger in Big South play and capture their first Big South regular-season title since 2002. Ficker was a First-Team All-Big South honoree as she led UNCA in attack percentage (.350), kills (403), and total blocks (95). Her .350 attack percentage this season was the second highest single-season attack percentage in UNC Asheville history. Ficker ranked third in the Big South in attack percentage and ninth in the league in kills while earning Big South Conference Player of the Week honors twice. She Passed the 1,000 career kills total this season, giving the Bulldogs teammates with 1,000 career digs for the first time since 2005.
Elon sophomore middle blocker Caroline Lemke is one of two Phoenix student-athletes to be recognized as she led Elon to a 23-8 overall record and a 9-7 record in Southern Conference play. Lemke was a Second-Team All-Southern Conference honoree as she started all 31 matches and led the team in blocking with 111 total blocks, highlighted by a team-best 22 solo blocks and 89 block assists. She also paced the Phoenix with 270 kills.
Elon sophomore right side hitter Traci Stewart joins her teammate Lemke on the All-State squad as she helped guide the Phoenix to a 23-8 overall record and a 9-7 record in Southern Conference play. Lemke was a Second-Team Southern-Conference selection as she played in all 31 matches and recorded 258 kills to rank second on the team in that category. She also ranked third on the team with 80 total blocks.
UNC Asheville senior libero Raquel Miotto earns her second straight All-State selection after leading the Bulldogs to a 25-10 overall record, a 13-3 mark in Big South action the program’s first regular-season title since 2002 during her final season with the program. A three-time First-Team All-Big South performer, Miotto was an All-Big South selection all four years with the UNCA program as she was a Second-Team pick as a sophomore. She led the Big South and UNCA in both digs per set (5.32) and aces per set (0.48) as she ranked among the top 16 in the nation in both categories. She set a new single-season school record with 65 service aces this season and posted the third-highest single season total for digs in program history with 718. Miotto finished her career as the all-time leader in digs both at UNCA and in the Big South Conference as she ended her career in fourth place on the NCAA’s career digs listing with 2,688 career digs. A five-time Big South Defensive Player-of-the-Week, Miotto earned Big South All-Tournament Team honors after leading the Bulldogs to the tournament semifinals.
|
