Photo by: Alex Mowrey/Pitt Athletics
Fisher Named AVCA East Coast Region Coach of the Year
12/5/2017 4:23:00 PM | Volleyball, Panther Club
Freshman Kayla Lund Tabbed Freshman of the Year
AVCA RELEASE
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Pitt volleyball head coach Dan Fisher was named the 2017 AVCA East Coast Region Coach of the Year, as announced by the American Volleyball Coaches Association Tuesday. In addition, freshman Kayla Lund was tabbed Freshman of the Year, while sophomore Nika Markovic, junior Kamalani Akeo, redshirt sophomore Stephanie Williams were all named to the All-East Coast Region Team.
Lund becomes one of just two rookies in Pitt program history to earn AVCA All-Region Freshman of the Year, joining former standout outside hitter Diana Andreyko who earned the accolade in 2004 while the Panthers were a part of the Northeast Region. Williams and Akeo earn All-Region honors for the second time in their careers, while Markovic earns her first.
AVCA East Coast Region Coach of the Year
In his five years at Pitt, Fisher has guided a historically successful program back to its winning ways. The 2017 ACC Coach of the Year led the Panthers to their first ACC Championship this season and back-to-back NCAA postseason appearances since 2003-2004.
In this year's playoff run, the Panthers were victorious in their first matchup against VCU, 3-1, but fell at the hands of No. 1 Penn State in four sets.
Pitt posted its fourth-straight season of finishing in the top 50 RPI and third-consecutive year winning 20-plus matches after finishing the season 26-7 overall and 18-2 in conference play. Fisher owns a 118-45 (.724) all-time record with the Panthers.
AVCA East Coast Region Freshman of the Year
A four-time ACC Freshman of the Week selection, the most for any rookie in the conference, Lund had a tremendous season for the panthers in 2017. She tallied 230 kills on the season, 147 which came during ACC play and recorded 2.58 kills per set against conference opponents.
Defensively, Lund has been one of the Panthers' top back-row players. She dug up 190 balls, good for 2.09 per set on the season. Lund was an active contributor during both of Pitt's NCAA Tournament matches, landing double digits in kills and digs against both VCU and Penn State.
AVCA All-East Coast Region Team
Markovic, Pitt's top hitter on the right side, was outstanding this season for the Panthers, dominating in every aspect of the game. She led Pitt in kills (426), kills per set (3.94) and attempts (919), while tying with Williams in service aces (34).
The sophomore ranked second in the ACC in points per set (4.71), third in kills per set (3.94) and sixth in aces per set (0.31). Markovic has recorded 26 matches where she's tallied double-digit kills and has posted seven double-doubles. She earned ACC Player of the Week twice.
Akeo, a Preseason All-ACC pick, was the key to the Pitt's dominant offensive efforts this season, which led the conference in hitting percentage (.271) and kills per set (14.50). The setter ranked first in assists per set (10.75) and second in the ACC in assists (1,258), while her team sat in the top spot in the ACC in assists per set (13.54).
Williams, who was also a Preseason All-ACC honoree, finished with another impressive regular season for the Panthers, tallying 26 matches with double-digit kills and a team-leading eight double-doubles. On the season she recorded 377 kills, 3.28 kills per set, 42 aces and 259 digs, good for second-best on the team.
Eight different schools are represented on the All-East Coast Region Team, led by Pitt and Notre Dame who boast three selections each.
Coach of the Year: Dan Fisher, Pittsburgh
Player of the Year: Olga Strantzali, Miami, OH
Freshman of the Year: Kayla Lund, Pittsburgh, OH
All-East Coast Region Team
Kamalani Akeo**, Pittsburgh, S, Jr.
Allie Barber, Marquette, OH , So.
Ryan DeJarld, Notre Dame, L, Jr.
Sam Fry, Notre Dame, MB, Sr.
Nika Markovic, Pittsburgh, RS, So.
Krissy Mummey, College of Charleston, MB, Sr.
Beth Nordhorn, North Carolina, MB, Sr.
Jenna Rosenthal**, Marquette, MB, RS-Jr.
Symone Speech, Georgetown, MB, Jr.
Gabriela Stavnetchei, Georgia Tech, OH Sr.
Olga Strantzali**, Miami, OH, Sr.
Haley Templeton, Miami, S, Sr.
Stephanie Williams**, Pittsburgh, OH, RS-So.
Jemma Yeadon, Notre Dame, OH, So.
Honorable Mention
Taylor Austin, James Madison, L, Sr.
Allison Beckman, College of Charleston, S, Jr.
Erica Di Maulo, St. John's, S, So.
Taylor Leath ,North Carolina, OH, RS-Jr.
Alexandra Loitz, Villanova, OH, Sr.
Lauren Speckman, Marquette, S, So.
* Denotes total number of years selected to AVCA Division I All-Region Team
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LEXINGTON, Ky. – Pitt volleyball head coach Dan Fisher was named the 2017 AVCA East Coast Region Coach of the Year, as announced by the American Volleyball Coaches Association Tuesday. In addition, freshman Kayla Lund was tabbed Freshman of the Year, while sophomore Nika Markovic, junior Kamalani Akeo, redshirt sophomore Stephanie Williams were all named to the All-East Coast Region Team.
Lund becomes one of just two rookies in Pitt program history to earn AVCA All-Region Freshman of the Year, joining former standout outside hitter Diana Andreyko who earned the accolade in 2004 while the Panthers were a part of the Northeast Region. Williams and Akeo earn All-Region honors for the second time in their careers, while Markovic earns her first.
AVCA East Coast Region Coach of the Year
In his five years at Pitt, Fisher has guided a historically successful program back to its winning ways. The 2017 ACC Coach of the Year led the Panthers to their first ACC Championship this season and back-to-back NCAA postseason appearances since 2003-2004.
In this year's playoff run, the Panthers were victorious in their first matchup against VCU, 3-1, but fell at the hands of No. 1 Penn State in four sets.
Pitt posted its fourth-straight season of finishing in the top 50 RPI and third-consecutive year winning 20-plus matches after finishing the season 26-7 overall and 18-2 in conference play. Fisher owns a 118-45 (.724) all-time record with the Panthers.
AVCA East Coast Region Freshman of the Year
A four-time ACC Freshman of the Week selection, the most for any rookie in the conference, Lund had a tremendous season for the panthers in 2017. She tallied 230 kills on the season, 147 which came during ACC play and recorded 2.58 kills per set against conference opponents.
Defensively, Lund has been one of the Panthers' top back-row players. She dug up 190 balls, good for 2.09 per set on the season. Lund was an active contributor during both of Pitt's NCAA Tournament matches, landing double digits in kills and digs against both VCU and Penn State.
AVCA All-East Coast Region Team
Markovic, Pitt's top hitter on the right side, was outstanding this season for the Panthers, dominating in every aspect of the game. She led Pitt in kills (426), kills per set (3.94) and attempts (919), while tying with Williams in service aces (34).
The sophomore ranked second in the ACC in points per set (4.71), third in kills per set (3.94) and sixth in aces per set (0.31). Markovic has recorded 26 matches where she's tallied double-digit kills and has posted seven double-doubles. She earned ACC Player of the Week twice.
Akeo, a Preseason All-ACC pick, was the key to the Pitt's dominant offensive efforts this season, which led the conference in hitting percentage (.271) and kills per set (14.50). The setter ranked first in assists per set (10.75) and second in the ACC in assists (1,258), while her team sat in the top spot in the ACC in assists per set (13.54).
Williams, who was also a Preseason All-ACC honoree, finished with another impressive regular season for the Panthers, tallying 26 matches with double-digit kills and a team-leading eight double-doubles. On the season she recorded 377 kills, 3.28 kills per set, 42 aces and 259 digs, good for second-best on the team.
Eight different schools are represented on the All-East Coast Region Team, led by Pitt and Notre Dame who boast three selections each.
Coach of the Year: Dan Fisher, Pittsburgh
Player of the Year: Olga Strantzali, Miami, OH
Freshman of the Year: Kayla Lund, Pittsburgh, OH
All-East Coast Region Team
Kamalani Akeo**, Pittsburgh, S, Jr.
Allie Barber, Marquette, OH , So.
Ryan DeJarld, Notre Dame, L, Jr.
Sam Fry, Notre Dame, MB, Sr.
Nika Markovic, Pittsburgh, RS, So.
Krissy Mummey, College of Charleston, MB, Sr.
Beth Nordhorn, North Carolina, MB, Sr.
Jenna Rosenthal**, Marquette, MB, RS-Jr.
Symone Speech, Georgetown, MB, Jr.
Gabriela Stavnetchei, Georgia Tech, OH Sr.
Olga Strantzali**, Miami, OH, Sr.
Haley Templeton, Miami, S, Sr.
Stephanie Williams**, Pittsburgh, OH, RS-So.
Jemma Yeadon, Notre Dame, OH, So.
Honorable Mention
Taylor Austin, James Madison, L, Sr.
Allison Beckman, College of Charleston, S, Jr.
Erica Di Maulo, St. John's, S, So.
Taylor Leath ,North Carolina, OH, RS-Jr.
Alexandra Loitz, Villanova, OH, Sr.
Lauren Speckman, Marquette, S, So.
* Denotes total number of years selected to AVCA Division I All-Region Team
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Players Mentioned
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