Posted by Scott Cummings - Sat, Nov 15, 2008 - [ Volleyball ] - Viewed 1088 times
Luana Branco is a four-year All-Conference performer
Luana Branco is a four-year All-Conference performer
(LEBANON, Ill., Nov. 15)-The American Midwest Conference has released its list of honorees for the 2008 AMC Volleyball All-Conference squad. The honors were selected by a vote of the AMC's nine head volleyball coaches.

For the second consecutive year, Luana Branco of Columbia College has been named the AMC Player and Setter of the Year. Branco, a senior setter from Sao Paulo, Brazil, recorded 1,466 during the 2008 regular season, averaging better than 11 assists per set. She also had 217 kills, 45 service aces, 348 digs and 103 blocks (28 solos) during regular-season play. Branco was a big factor in the Cougars' perfect 16-0 run through the AMC schedule. In addition to claiming back-to-back AMC Player of the Year honors, Branco has won three straight AMC Setter of the Year accolades and is a four-time AMC All-Conference selection.

The 2008 AMC Libero of the Year is Tally Mattos of Columbia College. Mattos, a sophomore from Osasco, Brazil, handled 789 digs for the Cougars. She also contributed 942 receptions and 49 service aces on the year. Mattos is the first Columbia player to receive AMC Libero of the Year honors.

Flavia Lino continues the string of award winners for Columbia as she was named the 2008 AMC Newcomer of the Year. Lino, a junior outside hitter from Sao Paulo, Brazil, notched 607 kills for the Cougars along with 54 blocks (16 solos) as the conference's top transfer player. She also contributed 48 service aces and 243 digs for the AMC regular-season champions.

Taking home the 2008 AMC Freshman of the Year award is Lindsay Vlassos from Missouri Baptist University. Vlassos, an outside hitter from St. Charles, Mo., collected 398 kills during the regular season. She also had 329 digs, 42 blocks and 22 service aces during her rookie season of college volleyball. Vlassos is the first Spartans' player to earn AMC Freshman of the Year honors since Renata Pedreira won the award in 2003.

The 2008 AMC Volleyball Coach of the Year is Melinda Wrye-Washington from Columbia College. Now in her ninth year as the Cougars' head coach, Wrye-Washington led her team to a regular-season record of 36-3 and a top-five ranking in the NAIA. Columbia went undefeated in AMC play in 2008, posting a 16-0 mark in the league. This is the sixth time that Wrye-Washington has been named the AMC Coach of the Year.

Listed below is the complete list of 2008 AMC volleyball award winners. For a PDF copy of the All-Conference team and award recipients, click here.

2008 AMC Volleyball All-Conference Team
2008 AMC Player of the Year - Luana Branco, Columbia College (Sr., S, Sao Paulo, Brazil)
2008 AMC Setter of the Year - Luana Branco, Columbia College (Sr., S, Sao Paulo, Brazil)
2008 AMC Libero of the Year - Tally Mattos, Columbia College (So., L, Osasco, Brazil)
2008 AMC Newcomer of the Year - Flavia Lino, Columbia College (Jr., OH, Sao Paulo, Brazil)
2008 AMC Freshman of the Year - Lindsay Vlassos, Missouri Baptist University (OH, St. Charles, Mo.)
2008 AMC Coach of the Year - Melinda Wrye-Washington, Columbia College (9th season at Columbia)

First-Team All-Conference
Luana Branco, Columbia College (Sr., S, Sao Paulo, Brazil)
Flavia Lino, Columbia College (Jr., OH, Sao Paulo, Brazil)
Tally Mattos, Columbia College (So., L, Osasco, Brazil)
Maria Omondi, Columbia College (Jr., MH, Nairobi, Kenya)
Sarah Cooper, University of Illinois at Springfield (Jr., RH, Rolling Meadows, Ill.)
Tori McColez, University of Illinois at Springfield (Sr., S, Quincy, Ill.)
Katelyn Kombrink, McKendree University (Sr., MH, O'Fallon, Ill.)
Brittany Lukasek, Missouri Baptist University (Sr., MB, St. Louis, Mo.)
Lindsay Vlassos, Missouri Baptist University (Fr., OH, St. Charles, Mo.)
Jessica Deetz, William Woods University (So., RH, Nixa, Mo.)
Lacey Olin, William Woods University (Jr., OH, Colorado Springs, Colo.)

Stephanie Hart, Williams Baptist College (Jr., MB, Morrillton, Ark.)

Honorable Mention All-Conference
Shannalei Seau-Gibson, Hannibal-LaGrange College (So., OH, San Marcos, Calif.)
Lindsay Nagl, Harris-Stowe State University (Sr., OH, St. Louis, Mo.)
Ali Janezic, University of Illinois at Springfield (Sr., L, Lake Barrington, Ill.)
Lindsay Amerson, McKendree University (Sr., RH, Chatham, Ill.)
Mandi Wolf, Missouri Baptist University (Jr., L, O'Fallon, Mo.)
Megan Moore, Missouri Baptist University (Jr., MB, St. Louis, Mo.)
Tinisha Donegan, William Woods University (So., MB, St. Louis, Mo.)
Laura Jardeen, Williams Baptist College (Sr., L, Piggott, Ark.)

Academic All-Conference (minimum 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale, newcomers are ineligible for award)
Columbia College
Maria Omondi

Hannibal-LaGrange College
Sileiny Arauz, Jessica Curry, Natalie Kelly, Cara McQuality, Meagan Mifflin, Jenna Nichols, Katie Osmak, Danielle Sturgeon

Harris-Stowe State University
Lindsay Nagl, Lindsey Dirkers, Nicole Bokelman

University of Illinois at Springfield
Kimberly Bartosiak, Sarah Cooper, Ali Janezic, Tori McColez, Rachel Pfundstein, Danielle Simler

McKendree University
Lindsay Amerson, Jenna Baker, Dani Collins, Jessica Ellsworth, Lindsay Gray, Katelyn Kombrink, Dana Maedge, Lauren Sarver

Missouri Baptist University
Kaila Bequette, Danielle Deno, Alex Fox, Brittany Lukasek, Christine Stitch

Stephens College
Brianne Arvin, Courtney Haffenstein, Jamie Link, Meg Manderschied, Jo Marquez, Caitlin Trowbridge

William Woods University
Jessica Deetz, Molly Dougherty, Lindsay Giampietri, Katy Haulotte, Tina Perry, Brianna Rodriguez, Skye Wade

Williams Baptist College
Katie Gramlich, Stephanie Hart, Casey Jo Schatzley, Jodi Stepp, Megan Tompkins