Dec. 6, 2007

PARK RIDGE, Ill. - Eleven Big Ten volleyball players were named to the 2007 AVCA All-Mideast Region Team, the American Volleyball Coaches Association announced on Wednesday. Penn State's Russ Rose was named the Mideast Coach of the Year, while Michigan's Lexi Zimmerman was named Freshman of the Year and four other student-athletes received honorable mention accolades.

Seven different Big Ten schools were represented on the All-Region ballot, led by Penn State who placed four players on the All-Mideast squad. Junior Nicole Fawcett, sophomore Alisha Glass, junior Christa Harmotto and sophomore Megan Hodge were all named to the first team, while the Nittany Lions' coach received his fifth career regional coaching award. The awards mark the third for Fawcett and Harmotto, the second for Hodge and Glass' first.

Michigan placed two on the All-Region first team in two-time selection Katie Bruzdzinski and Zimmerman, the AVCA's Mideast Freshman of the Year. Senior Lyndsay Miller was named to the honorable mention squad.

Wisconsin sophomore Brittney Dolgner and senior Jackie Simpson each earned their second All-Mideast honors, while senior Taylor Reineke earned her first and senior Jocelyn Wack was named honorable mention.

Also on the All-Mideast Region first team, Purdue senior Stephanie Lynch earned her second career honor and Michigan State senior Ashley Schatzle took home her first.

Minnesota's Brook Dieter and Northwestern's Chelsy Hyser were also named to the honorable mention squad.