Hokie ClubGREENSBORO, N.C. - Virginia Tech freshman Felicia Willoughby has been named the Atlantic Coast Conference Freshman of the Year, as voted on by the league's 12 head coaches and announced Tuesday by the conference office. Willoughby becomes the first Tech volleyball player to garner ACC Freshman of the Year honors, and was also named to the All-ACC Freshman Team.
Willoughby is just the second Hokie to be selected to the conference's all-freshman team, as current sophomore Taylor Parrish was the first Tech player to be named to the all-rookie team last year.
The Pleasanton, Calif., native has easily become one of the program's top blockers, as she tallied a team-high 1.51 blocks per game to lead the league this season, and is ranked 11th among all NCAA players this year. In collecting 172 total blocks this season, she broke Julie Neely's record of 167, set in 1986. Willoughby also holds the top spot on Tech's freshman list for total blocks, in addition to the freshman and single-season record for block assists, at 143.
In her first collegiate match, Willoughby blocked a personal-best 11 of William & Mary's attacks, tying her for the fifth most in Tech's individual match records. Throughout her opening weekend, she led the Hokies to a 3-0 sweep of the Hawthorn Suites Hokie Invitational, and was named to the all-tournament team for her efforts. She also garnered all-tournament honors at the Panther Invitational later in the season.
Willoughby led the team throughout 13 matches in blocking and led this years' squad in breaking Tech's season team record for block assists and total blocks, set last year. She also leads the team in hitting percentage, with her .274 clip ranking second in Tech's freshman records, and her 303 kills lands her fifth among all Hokie freshmen.
The Hokies finished their 2007 campaign tied for eighth in the ACC with a 14-17 record and 8-14 mark in conference action.
2007 Player of the Year
Carrie DeMange, Duke
2007 Freshman of the Year
Felicia Willoughby, Virginia Tech
2007 Coach of the Year
Jolene Jordan Hoover, Clemson
2007 All-ACC First Team
Carrie DeMange, Duke
Mira Djuric, Florida State
Didem Ege, Clemson
Ali Hausfeld, Duke
Danielle Hepburn, Clemson
Talisa Kellogg, Georgia Tech
Sarah Kirkwood, Virginia
Natalie Mullikin, Wake Forest
Kelsey Murphy, Clemson
2007 All-ACC Second Team
Jeannette Abbott, Clemson
Jade Brown, Maryland
Brianna Eskola, North Carolina
Kelsey Johnson, Boston College
Leslie Mansfield, Clemson
Rachael Moss, Duke
Ulrike Stegemann, Georgia Tech
Meghan Steiner, Clemson
Makini Thompson, Florida State
2007 All-ACC Freshman Team
Audrey Eichler, Boston College
Katie Gallagher, Miami
Kelsey Jones, Wake Forest
Michelle Kenning, Maryland
Kendahl Voelker, Virginia
Felicia Willoughby, Virginia Tech