December 14, 2005
Senior outside hitter Laura Jones of Texas A&M has been selected to the 12- member All-America First Team by the American Volleyball Coaches Association, the organization announced today.
It marks the second consecutive year the Arlington, Texas, native has received All-America distinction, having been named to the second team in 2004. With the honor, Jones becomes A&M?â„¢s fourth two-time All-American, joining Sherri Brinkman (1984, 1985) and Stacy Sykora (1997, 1998), who were two-time members of the All-America second team, and Melissa Munsch, who earned second-team honors in 2003 and third-team distinction in 2004.
In addition, Jones becomes only the third player in A&M history to receive first-team honors, joining middle blocker Amber Woolsey and setter Jenna Moscovic, who earned first-team laurels in 1999 and 2001, respectively.
Jones, who broke 33 A&M records during her stellar four-year career, led the nation with a school-record 6.09 kills per game this season while directing the Aggies to a 16-14 mark and their 13th consecutive NCAA appearance. She also set A&M and Big 12 season records with 700 total kills and 6.73 points per game in her final season.
?Her production determined so much for us, more than any other player I have ever had,? A&M coach Laurie Corbelli said. ?Opponents studied her and studied her because they knew they needed to slow her down, and for her to still be able to make such an amazing impact puts a huge stamp on how valuable she is not only to Texas A&M volleyball, but to collegiate volleyball. She is definitely one of the best.?
Jones led the Aggies in kills in 29 of 30 matches and is the only player in the Big 12 to tally 30 or more kills in a match this season. She accomplished the feat eight times, including a school-record 38 kills in the regular-season finale at No. 10 Missouri.
Jones, who played in every match during her career, shattered the A&M all-time career kill record with 2,064, breaking the previous record of 1,777 set by Kristie Smedsrud (1994-97). Her 700 kills this season obliterated the previous mark of 577 set by Sheila Morgan in 1993 and also broke the Big 12 record of 622 set by Dawn Cady of Kansas State in 1999.
Jones twice earned Big 12 Volleyball Player of the Week honors this year and was named Most Valuable Player at the Texas A&M/McDonald?â„¢s Invitational. She also earned all-tournament honors at the UTSA Dome Rally in San Antonio. In addition, Jones was named to the Academic All-Big 12 First Team this season after taking home second-team honors in 2004.
Each of the three AVCA All-America Teams is comprised of 12 athletes, and they will receive their awards Friday at the AVCA All-America/Players of the Year Banquet at the San Antonio Marriott Rivercenter Hotel.
The following is the complete 2005 AVCA Division I All-America First Team:
Player Institution Pos. Yr. Ht. Hometown
Jane Collymore @ University of Florida OH Sr. 6-0 Englewood, Colorado
Melissa Elmer ^$ University of Nebraska MB Sr. 6-2 Fort Wayne, Indiana
Kim Glass !& University of Arizona OH Sr. 6-4 Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Christina Houghtelling University of Nebraska RS/Opp Jr. 6-2 Cambridge, Nebraska
Lindsey Hunter # University of Missouri S Sr. 5-10 Papillion, Nebraska
Laura Jones # Texas A&M University OH Sr. 6-2 Arlington, Texas
Sarah Pavan ^ University of Nebraska RS/Opp So. 6-5 Kitchener, Ontario, Canada
Cassie Perret Santa Clara University RS/Opp Sr. 6-1 Menlo Park, California
Kristin Richards Stanford University OH Jr. 6-0 Orem, Utah
Courtney Thompson ^ University of Washington S Jr. 5-7 Kent, Washington
Sanja Tomasevic $ University of Washington OH Sr. 6-1 Uzice, Serbia & Montenegro
Sam Tortorello ^$ Penn State University S Sr. 5-11 Shorewood, Illinois