Hokie ClubCOLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - Virginia Tech freshman Felicia Willoughby has been named the 2007 American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) East Region Freshman of the Year, as announced Wednesday. In addition, Willoughby was also selected as one of six honorable mention candidates on the East Region team, while 12 players were named first-team all-region.
The ACC Freshman of the Year, Willoughby is one of two freshmen to earn All-East Region accolades this season, and one of only eight freshmen in the nation to garner all-region honors from the AVCA. She is just the second Tech freshman to garner the accolade, as Katie Esbrook was named honorable mention in 2003, and the honor brings Tech's total number of honorees to six in the program's history.
The rookie was also the first Hokie to be named the ACC Freshman of the Year, and also earned a place on the All-ACC Freshman Team. Willoughby became 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 following last season.
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 20th 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 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 AVCA East Region Freshman of the Year
Felicia Willoughby - Virginia Tech
2007 AVCA All-East Region Team
Stephanie Barry - University of Delaware - So. - DS/LIB
Jade Brown - University of Maryland - Sr. - OH
Carrie DeMange*** - Duke University - Sr. MB
Didem Ege - Clemson University - So. - DS/LIB
Ali Hausfeld**** - Duke University - Sr. - S
Danielle Hepburn** - Clemson University - Jr. - MB
Talisa Kellogg - Georgia Tech - Jr. - OH
Sarah Kirkwood** - University of Virginia - Sr. - OH
Rachael Moss - Duke University - So. - OH
Kelsey Murphy - Clemson University - So. - S
Ulrike Stegemann** - Georgia Tech - Sr. - RS
Meghan Steiner - Clemson University - Sr. - MB
2007 AVCA Honorable Mention
Jeannette Abbott (Clemson, Jr., OH), Leslie Mansfield (Clemson, Sr., RS), Nicki Scripko (Liberty, Fr., RS), Jenny Shull (Duke, Sr., LIB), Colleen Walsh (Delaware, Sr., OH), Felicia Willoughby (Virginia Tech, Fr., MB)