December 17, 2003
Texas A&M's Melissa Munsch has been named to the 2003 American Volleyball Coaches Association All-America second team, the AVCA announced today. The junior middle blocker/outside hitter will receive her award at the AVCA All-America/Player of the Year Banquet in Dallas on Friday in conjunction with the NCAA Division I Women's Volleyball Championship.
Munsch, a Columbus, Texas, native, becomes only the fifth Aggie to receive All-America distinction from the AVCA since the first All-America team was named in 1981. In addition, it is the seventh All-American certificate received by an A&M player since 1981, including the fifth award in the last eight years.
A&M's top all-around player this past season, Munsch directed the Aggies to a 23-10 mark and to the NCAA regional semifinals. She earned numerous honors throughout the season, including AVCA All-Central Region Team honors, as well as all-Big 12 first team laurels for the second consecutive year. Munsch also garnered Big 12 Player of the Week honors (Nov. 17) and was named to the all-tournament teams at the season-opening Duke Invitational and at the Michigan Pepsi Challenge.
Munsch led the Aggies in points (4.65) and aces (0.38) per game and was second among the starters with a .291 hitting percentage, 3.69 kills, 2.98 digs and 1.06 blocks per game for the full season.
The three-year starter recorded the first two triple-doubles of her career and A&M's only two of the season, posting double figures in kills, digs and blocks against both Southwest Missouri State and Texas Tech. She also recorded a team-leading 17 double-double performances and led the squad in points in a team-high 16 matches.
Munsch is one of three players representing the Big 12 on the 2003 All-America teams. Kansas State's Lauren Goehring is on the 12-member first team, and Melissa Elmer of Nebraska joins Munsch on the 12-member second team.
The All-America selections were made by the AVCA Division I All-America Committee: Janice Kruger (chair), Maryland; Pi'I Aiu, Colorado; John Dunning, Stanford; Burt Fuller, Utah State; Judy Green, Alabama; Jill Hirschinger, New Hampshire; Nancy Mueller, South Florida; and Pete Waite, Wisconsin.
The following is the complete 2003 AVCA Division I All-America Teams:
2003 AVCA DIVISION I ALL-AMERICA FIRST-TEAM
Player Institution Pos. Yr. Ht. Hometown
Emily Adams ^ University of Southern California MB Jr. 6-6 Phoenix, Arizona
Cassie Busse # University of Minnesota RS/Opp Sr. 6-2 Prior Lake, Minnesota
Bibiana Candelas University of Southern California MB So. 6-5 Torreon, Mexico
Aury Cruz ^* University of Florida OH Sr. 5-11 Levittown, Puerto Rico
Kele Eveland Georgia Institute of Technology S Sr. 5-11 Grand Rapids, Michigan
Lauren Goehring Kansas State University MB Sr. 6-0 Fort Worth, Texas
Jennifer Joines #$& University of the Pacific MB Sr. 6-3 Milpitas, California
Ogonna Nnamani #$ Stanford University OH Jr. 6-1 Normal, Illinois
April Ross ^& University of Southern California OH Sr. 6-2 Newport Beach, California
Cara Smith # Penn State University MB Sr. 6-1 Lafayette, Indiana
Katie Wilkins #$ Pepperdine University OH Sr. 6-4 Lakeside, California
Kim Willoughby ^* University of Hawai'i OH Sr. 6-0 Napoleonville, Louisiana
2003 AVCA DIVISION I ALL-AMERICA SECOND-TEAM
Player Institution Pos. Yr. Ht. Hometown
Keao Burdine University of Southern California OH Jr. 6-1 Pico Rivera, California
Melissa Elmer University of Nebraska MB So. 6-2 Fort Wayne, Indiana
Paula Gentil @ University of Minnesota Lib So. 5-9 Forteleaza Ceara, Brazil
Stacey Gordon ^$ The Ohio State University OH Jr. 5-11 Oshawa, Ontario, Canada
Jennifer Harvey Stanford University MB Sr. 6-5 Denver, Colorado
Benavia Jenkins @$ University of Florida MB Sr. 6-0 Ft. Pierce, Florida
Mia Jerkov @ University of California OH Jr. 6-3 Split, Croatia
Lily Kahumoku ^% University of Hawai'i OH Sr. 6-2 Lubbock, Texas
Melissa Munsch Texas A&M University MB Jr. 6-2 Columbus, Texas
Sanja Tomasevic University of Washington OH Jr. 6-1 Uzice, Yugoslavia
Sam Tortorello Penn State University S So. 5-11 Shorewood, Illinois
Sherri Williams University of Florida MB Jr. 6-2 Orlando, Florida
2003 AVCA DIVISION I ALL-AMERICA THIRD-TEAM
Player Institution Pos. Yr. Ht. Hometown
Lisa Argabright University of Illinois MB Sr. 6-5 Louisville Kentucky
Julie DuPont University of Cincinnati OH Jr. 6-0 Muskego Wisconsin
Jennifer Fopma Cal State Northridge MB Sr. 6-3 Bellflower California
Kim Glass # University of Arizona OH So. 6-3 Lancaster Pennsylvania
Wendy Hatlestad University of Pittsburgh OH Sr. 6-3 Roseville Minnesota
Kanoe Kamana'o University of Hawai'i S Fr. 5-8 Honolulu Hawai'i
Erin Moore University of Michigan MB Sr. 6-0 Tiffin Ohio
Lynnette Moster # Georgia Institute of Technology OH Jr. 5-10 Liberty Indiana
Becky Potter # Santa Clara University MB Sr. 6-0 Clovis California
Kim Turner University of Utah MB Sr. 6-2 Chandler Arizona
Linette White Southwest Missouri State MB Sr. 5-10 Oklahoma City Oklahoma
Kelly Wing University of Californa Irvine OH Jr. 5-11 Murrieta California
^ indicates 2002 AVCA First-Team All-America selection
* indicates 2001 AVCA First-Team All-America selection
% indicates 2000 AVCA First-Team All-America selection
# indicates 2002 AVCA Second-Team All-America selection
$ indicates 2001 AVCA Second-Team All-America selection
& indicates 2000 AVCA Second-Team All-America selection
@ indicates 2002 AVCA Third-Team All-America selection
2003 AVCA Division I Freshman of the Year: Kanoe Kamana'o (University of Hawai'i, Setter)
2003 AVCA Division I Player of the Year: Announced at AVCA All-America/Player of the Year Banquet on Dec. 19, 2003
History of Texas A&M All-Americans
(5 players/7 certificates)
Sherri Brinkman (2nd-1985, 2nd-1984)
Jenna Moscovic (1st-2001)
Melissa Munsch (2nd-2003)
Stacy Sykora (2nd-1998, 2nd-1997)
Amber Woolsey (1st-1999)