Record Number of Spartans Named All-Americans
LEXINGTON, Ky. - A total of four University of Tampa volleyball players have been named to the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) All-America team. Among the four, Tampa had a record three named to the first team as the other was a third-team selection. UT also had an honorable mention choice.
Erin Clark, Katelen Dixon and Margeaux Sinibaldi were each honored as first-team All-Americans as Clark was named for the first time of her career. Dixon was also a first team honoree in 2006 while Sinibaldi was on the second team last year.
Alisha Green was selected to the third team after being named honorable mention as a freshman last season. Gabriela Saade was an honorable mention All-American.
Tampa has now been honored with a Division II record 37 All-Americans as the four players this season also represent a new school record.
Clark, a 5-11 middle blocker and senior from Tampa, was the Sunshine State Conference (SSC) Player of the Year. She leads the nation in attack percentage at .468, and is among the nation's leaders in kills, going into this week's national quarterfinals. Clark is a first time AVCA All-American.
Dixon, a 5-10 outside hitter and senior from Clearwater, was also, named all-SSC first-team. She is averaging over three kills and three digs per game, while leading the defending champion Spartans back to the national quarterfinals this week. Dixon is a two-time AVCA First-Team All-American, having also earned the honor in 2006.
Sinibaldi, a 5-6 defensive specialist/libero and senior from Venice, Fla, is among the nation's leaders in digs per game, and set the school and SSC career record for digs. Sinibaldi is a two-time AVCA All-American, garnering second-team honors in 2006.
Green, a 6-2 middle blocker and sophomore from Country Club Hills, Ill., is a first-team all-SSC selection who ranks seventh in the nation in hitting percentage (.396). She was instrumental in helping the Spartans to a 31-2 record and a SSC title along with the NCAA Division II South region championship in 2007. Green is a first-time AVCA All-American.