Tusculum's Caitlyn Dean named Daktronics First Team Volleyball All-American

HILLSDALE, Mich. --- Tusculum College freshman Caitlyn Dean has been named to the 2010 Daktronics NCAA Division II All-America Volleyball Team, as selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).

Dean becomes the first Division II First Team All-American in school history and third All-American in the overall history of the program (Carla Loyd – 1992 NAIA All-American; Vivian Lacy – 2007 AVCA/Division II All-American).

Dean, a freshman from Fort Wayne, Ind., has posted one of the best defensive performances in NCAA II history.  She currently leads the nation averaging 7.10 digs per set, which is a new school and South Atlantic Conference record and is on pace to be the third-best average in DII history.  Her 845 digs this season are a new NCAA Division II record.   The 2010 All-SAC First Team honoree has accounted for an amazing 13 matches with 30-plus digs.  She has also been named to the SAC All-Freshman Team, SAC All-Tournament Team and was named SAC Specialist of the Week on two occasions.  She was also named to the Daktronics and American Volleyball Coaches Association All-Southeast Region Teams.

Dean becomes only the second South Atlantic Conference volleyball player to earn First Team All-America accolades (Wingate’s Stormi Gale – 2009 Daktronics All-America 1st Team).

The 2010 Pioneers recorded one of the most superb seasons in school history and the best since becoming a NCAA Division II member.  Tusculum posted a 25-7 overall record, including 16-2 in SAC play to finish second in the conference.  The 16 league wins are the most in school history as a South Atlantic Conference member (since 1999) as Tusculum advanced to the SAC Tournament Championship match for the first time in school history.  TC also earned the program its second straight NCAA Tournament at-large berth.

- TC -

2010 Daktronics NCAA Division II All-America Volleyball Team
First Team
S - Amanda Konetchy, Concordia-St. Paul
L - Caitlyn Dean, Tusculum
MH - Samantha Middleborn, Cal State-San Bernardino
MH - Emily Palkert, Concordia-St. Paul
OH - Julia Teixeria, Barry
OH - Rheann Fall, Cal State-Monteray Bay
OH - Patrycja Klekotka, Dowling

Second Team
S - Maja Potpara, Dowling
L - Kyra Pelayo, Hawaii-Pacific
MH - Stormi Gale, Wingate
MH - Devin Diedrich, Southwest Minnesota State
OH - Brittney Miller, Emporia State
OH - Megan Carlson, Concordia-St. Paul
OH - Jane Chafeh, Cal State-San Bernardino

Third Team
S - Meghan Sherman, Tampa
L - Kaitlyn Heiserman, Nebraska-Kearney
MH - Shawna Hines, Abilene Christian
MH - Monika Kasperek-Szulc, Dowling
OH - Ashlee Crowder. Hillsdale
OH - Sarah Mendoza, Rollins
OH - Kayla Koenecke, Concordia-St. Paul

Honorable Mention: Rachel Fister, Central Missouri; Camile Smith, Cal State-San Bernardino; Rebeccah Rapin, Grand Valley State; Agatha Baliddawa-Mukisa, Bridgeport; Melissa Vanderhall, Tampa; Roxanne Brunsting, Cal State-San Diego; Terry Masava, Bridgeport; Sara Malmov, New Haven; Xuan Gao, Lock Haven.