University of Pittsburgh Athletics
Photo by: Alex Mowrey/Pitt Athletics
Fisher Named 2017 ACC Volleyball Coach of the Year
11/27/2017 3:55:00 PM | Volleyball
Five Panthers Awarded All-Conference Honors
ACC RELEASE
GREENSBORO, N.C. – Pitt head volleyball coach Dan Fisher was named the 2017 ACC Coach of the Year, as announced by conference officials Monday afternoon. In addition, five Panthers, including sophomore Nika Markovic, junior Kamalani Akeo, redshirt sophomore Stephanie Williams, freshman Kayla Lund and freshman Chinaza Ndee, were awarded all-conference honors.
Markovic, Akeo and Williams, who are earning all-conference accolades for the second time in their careers, earned All-ACC First Team honors, while Lund and Ndee were tabbed to the ACC All-Freshman Team.
Fourteen different schools are represented on the All-ACC Team, led by Louisville with six selections. Five student-athletes were recognized from NC State and Pitt, followed by three from Duke and Notre Dame, two from Florida State, Miami, North Carolina, Syracuse and Virginia Tech, and one each from Clemson, Georgia Tech, Virginia and Wake Forest.
An ACC-record six teams earned berths in the 2017 NCAA Division I Volleyball Championship: Florida State, Louisville, Miami, NC State, Notre Dame and Pitt. The first round of play is set for Nov. 30 and Dec. 1. The Panthers are set to face VCU in the opening round at Penn State's Rec Hall in State College, Pa., Friday, Dec. 1 at 5 p.m.
COACH OF THE YEAR
In his five years at Pitt, Fisher has guided a historically successful program back to its winning ways. He led the Panthers to their first ACC Championship this season and back-to-back NCAA postseason appearances since 2003-2004.
Pitt posted its fourth-straight season of finishing in the top 50 RPI and third-consecutive year winning 20-plus matches after finishing the regular season 25-6 overall and 18-2 in conference play. Fisher owns a 117-44 (.727) all-time record with the Panthers.
FIRST TEAM ALL-ACC
Markovic, a right side hitter, has been outstanding this season for the Panthers, dominating in every aspect of the game. She leads Pitt in kills (393), kills per set (3.93), attempts (844) and aces (24), while ranking second in the ACC in points per set (4.75), third in kills per set and fourth in aces per set. Markovic has recorded 24 matches where she's tallied double-digit kills and has posted double-doubles five times. She has earned ACC Player of the Week twice.
Akeo, a Preseason All-ACC pick, is the key to the Pitt's potent offense which leads the conference in hitting percentage (.273) and kills per set (14.42). The setter ranks third in the ACC in assists (10.65), while her team sits in the top spot in the ACC in assists (13.43).
Williams, who was also a Preseason All-ACC pick, has posted another great season for the Panthers, tallying 24 matches with double-digit kills and a team-leading six double-doubles. On the season she has recorded 353 kills, 3.30 kills per set, 31 aces and 239 digs, good for second-best on the team.
ACC ALL-FRESHMAN TEAM
A four-time ACC Freshman of the Week selection, the most for any rookie in the conference, Lund has been outstanding for Pitt during conference play. She has tallied 207 kills on the season, 147 which have come during ACC play, and has recorded 2.58 kills per set against conference opponents. Defensively, Lund has been one of the Panthers' top passers. She has dug up 166 balls for 2.00 per set on the season.
Ndee, a two-time ACC Freshman of the Week honoree, was solid for Pitt both offensively and defensively. She ranked second on the team in blocks with 93 on the season, while posting 175 kills on the season with a .272 hitting percentage.
All-ACC First Team
Olga Strantzali#, Sr., OH, Miami
Nika Markovic!, So., RS, Pittsburgh
Julia Brown!, Sr., OH, NC State
Wilma Rivera, Jr., S, Louisville
Santita Ebangwese!, Jr., MB, Syracuse
Melanie McHenry, So, OH, Louisville
Milica Kubura@, Sr., RS, Florida State
Gabriela Stavnetchei, Sr., OH, Georgia Tech
Haley Templeton#, Sr., S, Miami
Kamalani Akeo!, Jr., S, Pittsburgh
Stephanie Williams!, So., OH, Pittsburgh
Kylie Pickrell, Jr., S, NC State
Beth Nordhorn, Sr., MH, North Carolina
Ryann DeJarld!, Jr., L, Notre Dame
All-ACC Second Team
Samantha Fry@, Sr., MH, Notre Dame
Taylor Leath, Jr., OH, North Carolina
Jemma Yeadon!, So., OH, Notre Dame
Molly Sauer#, Jr., L, Louisville
Taryn Knuth, Fr., MB, Florida State
Cadie Bates, Sr., OH, Duke
Jaila Tolbert!, Jr., OPP, Virginia Tech
Kylie Long!, Sr., OH, Wake Forest
Kaitlyn Kearney!, Sr., MB, NC State
Tess Clark@, Sr., OH, Louisville
Bree Bailey, Gr., OH, NC State
Maggie DeJong!, Sr., MB, Louisville
Jasmine Bennett, Jr., MB, Louisville
Kaylin Korte, So, OH, Clemson
ACC All-Freshmen Team
Taryn Knuth, MB, Florida State
Kayla Lund, OH, Pittsburgh
Chinaza Ndee, MH, Pittsburgh
Payton Schwantz, OH, Duke
Ella Saada, OH, Syracuse
Kaity Smith, OH, Virginia Tech
Melissa Evans, OPP, NC State
Summer Brown, MB, Duke
Sarah Billiard, OH, Virginia
Player of the Year: Olga Strantzali, Sr., OH, Miami
Defensive Player of the Year: Molly Sauer, Jr., L, Louisville
Setter of the Year: Wilma Rivera, Jr., S, Louisville
Freshman of the Year: Taryn Knuth, MB, Florida State
Coach of the Year: Dan Fisher, Pittsburgh
@ – Four-time selection
# – Three-time selection
! – Two-time selection
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GREENSBORO, N.C. – Pitt head volleyball coach Dan Fisher was named the 2017 ACC Coach of the Year, as announced by conference officials Monday afternoon. In addition, five Panthers, including sophomore Nika Markovic, junior Kamalani Akeo, redshirt sophomore Stephanie Williams, freshman Kayla Lund and freshman Chinaza Ndee, were awarded all-conference honors.
Markovic, Akeo and Williams, who are earning all-conference accolades for the second time in their careers, earned All-ACC First Team honors, while Lund and Ndee were tabbed to the ACC All-Freshman Team.
Fourteen different schools are represented on the All-ACC Team, led by Louisville with six selections. Five student-athletes were recognized from NC State and Pitt, followed by three from Duke and Notre Dame, two from Florida State, Miami, North Carolina, Syracuse and Virginia Tech, and one each from Clemson, Georgia Tech, Virginia and Wake Forest.
An ACC-record six teams earned berths in the 2017 NCAA Division I Volleyball Championship: Florida State, Louisville, Miami, NC State, Notre Dame and Pitt. The first round of play is set for Nov. 30 and Dec. 1. The Panthers are set to face VCU in the opening round at Penn State's Rec Hall in State College, Pa., Friday, Dec. 1 at 5 p.m.
COACH OF THE YEAR
In his five years at Pitt, Fisher has guided a historically successful program back to its winning ways. He led the Panthers to their first ACC Championship this season and back-to-back NCAA postseason appearances since 2003-2004.
Pitt posted its fourth-straight season of finishing in the top 50 RPI and third-consecutive year winning 20-plus matches after finishing the regular season 25-6 overall and 18-2 in conference play. Fisher owns a 117-44 (.727) all-time record with the Panthers.
FIRST TEAM ALL-ACC
Markovic, a right side hitter, has been outstanding this season for the Panthers, dominating in every aspect of the game. She leads Pitt in kills (393), kills per set (3.93), attempts (844) and aces (24), while ranking second in the ACC in points per set (4.75), third in kills per set and fourth in aces per set. Markovic has recorded 24 matches where she's tallied double-digit kills and has posted double-doubles five times. She has earned ACC Player of the Week twice.
Akeo, a Preseason All-ACC pick, is the key to the Pitt's potent offense which leads the conference in hitting percentage (.273) and kills per set (14.42). The setter ranks third in the ACC in assists (10.65), while her team sits in the top spot in the ACC in assists (13.43).
Williams, who was also a Preseason All-ACC pick, has posted another great season for the Panthers, tallying 24 matches with double-digit kills and a team-leading six double-doubles. On the season she has recorded 353 kills, 3.30 kills per set, 31 aces and 239 digs, good for second-best on the team.
ACC ALL-FRESHMAN TEAM
A four-time ACC Freshman of the Week selection, the most for any rookie in the conference, Lund has been outstanding for Pitt during conference play. She has tallied 207 kills on the season, 147 which have come during ACC play, and has recorded 2.58 kills per set against conference opponents. Defensively, Lund has been one of the Panthers' top passers. She has dug up 166 balls for 2.00 per set on the season.
Ndee, a two-time ACC Freshman of the Week honoree, was solid for Pitt both offensively and defensively. She ranked second on the team in blocks with 93 on the season, while posting 175 kills on the season with a .272 hitting percentage.
All-ACC First Team
Olga Strantzali#, Sr., OH, Miami
Nika Markovic!, So., RS, Pittsburgh
Julia Brown!, Sr., OH, NC State
Wilma Rivera, Jr., S, Louisville
Santita Ebangwese!, Jr., MB, Syracuse
Melanie McHenry, So, OH, Louisville
Milica Kubura@, Sr., RS, Florida State
Gabriela Stavnetchei, Sr., OH, Georgia Tech
Haley Templeton#, Sr., S, Miami
Kamalani Akeo!, Jr., S, Pittsburgh
Stephanie Williams!, So., OH, Pittsburgh
Kylie Pickrell, Jr., S, NC State
Beth Nordhorn, Sr., MH, North Carolina
Ryann DeJarld!, Jr., L, Notre Dame
All-ACC Second Team
Samantha Fry@, Sr., MH, Notre Dame
Taylor Leath, Jr., OH, North Carolina
Jemma Yeadon!, So., OH, Notre Dame
Molly Sauer#, Jr., L, Louisville
Taryn Knuth, Fr., MB, Florida State
Cadie Bates, Sr., OH, Duke
Jaila Tolbert!, Jr., OPP, Virginia Tech
Kylie Long!, Sr., OH, Wake Forest
Kaitlyn Kearney!, Sr., MB, NC State
Tess Clark@, Sr., OH, Louisville
Bree Bailey, Gr., OH, NC State
Maggie DeJong!, Sr., MB, Louisville
Jasmine Bennett, Jr., MB, Louisville
Kaylin Korte, So, OH, Clemson
ACC All-Freshmen Team
Taryn Knuth, MB, Florida State
Kayla Lund, OH, Pittsburgh
Chinaza Ndee, MH, Pittsburgh
Payton Schwantz, OH, Duke
Ella Saada, OH, Syracuse
Kaity Smith, OH, Virginia Tech
Melissa Evans, OPP, NC State
Summer Brown, MB, Duke
Sarah Billiard, OH, Virginia
Player of the Year: Olga Strantzali, Sr., OH, Miami
Defensive Player of the Year: Molly Sauer, Jr., L, Louisville
Setter of the Year: Wilma Rivera, Jr., S, Louisville
Freshman of the Year: Taryn Knuth, MB, Florida State
Coach of the Year: Dan Fisher, Pittsburgh
@ – Four-time selection
# – Three-time selection
! – Two-time selection
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Players Mentioned
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