NEW HAVEN, CT--Ann Casado of Georgian Court University has been named the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) Volleyball Player of the Year for the third consecutive season, as the All-CACC team was released today. Freshman outside hitter Katie Hornback of Holy Family University picked up Rookie of the Year accolades, while Caldwell College head coach Megan Hrbek was tabbed Coach of the Year. Nyack College was given the annual Team Sportsmanship Award for the fifth straight season. The conference's 13 head coaches conducted the voting.
Casado, a senior outside hitter who hails from Brick, NJ, has led Georgian Court to back-to-back 18-0 conference records and two straight South Division regular-season titles. The Lions are currently ranked fourth in the East Region with a 28-4 overall record. The Lions are also the top seed for this week's CACC Tournament and they will host the semi-finals and championship on Friday and Saturday, Nov. 14 and 15. Casado finished the regular season ranked second in the CACC in kills per-set (3.20), tied for second in service aces (0.61) and fourth in hitting percentage (.274). Casado was named to the All-CACC first team four times in her career, and picked up Rookie of the Year honors in 2004.
Hornback, who is from Indianapolis, IN, was named CACC Rookie of the Week five times this season in leading the Tigers to the No. 2 seed in the South Division for the CACC Tournament. She ranks third in the conference with 2.73 kills per-set and also averages 0.31 service aces, 0.52 blocks and 1.49 digs per-set.
Hrbek led Caldwell to the biggest turnaround in the CACC, as the Cougars won the North Division regular-season title with a 13-4 record after finishing in last place in 2007 with a 4-13 mark. Hrbek has been at the helm of the Cougars since the program was re-established in 2006 after being discontinued in 1991. Her first team consisted of walk-on student athletes and did not win a match. The Cougars are the top seed in the North Division in this week's CACC Tournament.
In addition to Casado, USP libero Claire Tauschek became a four-time All-CACC performer with her first team selection this season. Tauschek and Casado are two of six players who earned All-CACC honors for the second season in a row. Bloomfield senior Sonia Perez was a first team pick after being named second team in 2007, while Philadelphia junior Nicole Berkstresser, Bloomfield senior Celeste Lindsay and Post senior Kerry Smith were all repeat second team selections.
The CACC postseason award-winners are listed below.
2008 All-CACC Volleyball Team
FIRST TEAM
OH Ann Casado Georgian Court Sr. Brick, NJ
MH Caitlin Hess Wilmington So. Newark, DE
RS Katie Hornback Holy Family Fr. Indianapolis, IN
RS Amber Mosher Caldwell Fr. Flanders, NJ
MH Stephanie Rivera Georgian Court Jr. Toa Alta, Puerto Rico
L Claire Tauschek USP Sr. Verona, WI
S Sonia Perez Bloomfield Sr. San Jose, Costa Rica
SECOND TEAM
RS Nicole Berkstresser Philadelphia Jr. Bridgewater, NJ
L Ana Cruz Georgian Court Jr. Bayamon, Puerto Rico
S Lisamary Figueroa Georgian Court Jr. Toa Alta, Puerto Rico
MB Celeste Lindsey Bloomfield Sr. Cincinnati, OH
OH Janelle Murdock Georgian Court Jr. Manahawkin, NJ
OH Celena Rendon Philadelphia Jr. San Antonio, TX
S Lauren Roth Caldwell Fr. Findlay, OH
OH Kerry Smith Post Sr. Lynbrook, NY
Honorable Mention: Titilola Alao, Fr., MB, Caldwell; Ashley Carberry, Sr., MH, Wilmington; Aimee Drabyn, So., S, Holy Family; Mallory Lennon, So., MB, Holy Family; Molly Malone, Jr., MH, Philadelphia;
Player of the Year: Ann Casado, Sr., OH, Georgian Court
Rookie of the Year: Katie Hornback, Fr., RS, Holy Family
Coach of the Year: Megan Hrbek, Caldwell
Team Sportsmanship Award: Nyack College