LEXINGTON, Ky. - Five student-athletes from the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference were named to the 2012 American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) All-Region teams, including a Regional Freshman of the Year, the organization announced on Thursday.
In the South Region, four student-athletes were named to the squad. Southwestern University senior outside hitter Rachel Thibodeau and the Trinity University trio of senior libero Meredith Erwin, sophomore outside hitter Layne Hubbard and junior setter Maryn Swierc.
Colorado College outside hitter Emily Phillips was named the West Region Freshman of the Year and was also an honorable mention All-Region selection.
Thibodeau led the SCAC by averaging 3.35 kills per set this season, 3.02 digs per set and hit .204 while being named the 2012 SCAC Player-of-the-Year by the league's head coaches. She was also a First-Team All-SCAC honoree and was named to the 2012 SCAC Championship All-Tournament team.
Erwin was the 2012 SCAC Backrow Player-of-the-Year, a First-Team All-SCAC selection while averaging 3.93 digs per set (491 total). She also added 70 assits during the season.
Hubbard earned All-SCAC First-Team laurels after she ranked fifth in the SCAC with 2.91 kills per set. She also averaged 3.46 digs per set (450 tota).
Swierc was named to the All-SCAC Second-Team. She hit .241 during the season while tallying 275 total digs (2.93 per set) and racked up 695 assists (7.35 per set).
Phillips was the 2012 SCAC Newcomer-of-the-Year. Phillips earned the honor while averaging 2.72 kills per set (eighth in SCAC), hit .221 and totaled 307 digs (2.69 per set). She is the second conseutive SCAC student-athlete recognized as an AVCA Regional Freshman of the Year. Last year, Trinity's Maggie Emodi was named the South Region Freshman of the Year.
For the complete 2012 AVCA All-Region Teams, click here.