University of Pittsburgh Athletics
Fisher Named 2018 AVCA East Coast Region Coach of the Year
12/4/2018 12:24:00 PM | Volleyball
Four Panthers Earn AVCA East Coast Region Team Honors
LEXINGTON, Ky. – For the second consecutive season, Pitt's Dan Fisher was named the American Volleyball Coaches Association [AVCA] East Coast Region Coach of the Year, as announced Tuesday.
Additionally, four Panthers were named to the AVCA East Coast Region Team, including sophomore outside Kayla Lund, junior right side Nika Markovic, junior middle hitter Layne Van Buskirk and redshirt junior outside Stephanie Williams.
"These honors are really significant for our student-athletes, as they're the first step to being named an All-American," Fisher said. "I'm glad that my fellow coaches have recognized their outstanding performances this season."
Each of the four Panthers are members of the 2018 All-ACC First Team, as announced Nov. 26.
The honors are the first for Lund and Van Buskirk, while Markovic earns her second nod (2017) and Williams earns her third (2016, 2017).
In six seasons at the helm, Fisher has guided the Panthers to back-to-back ACC Championships (2017, 2018) as well as three consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances (2016, 2017, 2018). Pitt has completed the last five years ranked in the NCAA Volleyball RPI Top 50, and has earned five consecutive 20-win seasons. Over six seasons, Fisher owns a 148-47 (.759) overall record with the Panthers. He was named ACC Coach of the Year for the second consecutive season, as announced Nov. 26.
This year, the Panthers earned their highest single season winning percentage in program history (.938, 30-2) in addition to their highest ACC season winning percentage (.944, 17-1). Their 30 wins are the most since 1990 (32-6).
Lund posted well-rounded statistics all season, ranking second on the team with 3.58 kills and 2.64 digs per set. She led the Panthers with 38 service aces, ranking third in the ACC. She was fourth in the league with 4.09 points per set and was named Player of the Week three times.
Markovic led the way for Pitt with 3.60 kills per set from the right side, ranking fifth in the ACC. She added 0.86 blocks and 1.92 digs per frame. She paced Pitt in scoring in 13 matches, including the final five of the regular season, ranking third in the ACC with 4.33 points per set.
One of the most accurate attackers in the NCAA, Van Buskirk ranked second in the ACC with a .403 hitting percentage. In addition to her deadly attack, the Windsor, Ontario, native ranked third in the league with 1.42 blocks per set.
A six-rotation player, Williams played key roles all over the court for the Panthers. She posted averages of 2.56 kills, 2.08 digs, 0.62 blocks and 0.25 service aces per set. She has earned All-East Coast Region Honors a team-leading three times.
EAST COAST REGION
Allie Barber** (Marquette, OH, Jr.)
Martha Konovodoff (Marquette, L, So.)
Kayla Lund (Pittsburgh, OH, So.)
Kennedy Madison (College of Charleston, RS, Sr.)
Nika Markovic** (Pittsburgh, RS, Jr.)
Leah Meyer** (Duke, MB, RS-Jr.)
Devon Rachel (College of Charleston, OH, Sr.)
Jenna Rosenthal*** (Marquette, MB, RS-Sr.)
Amanda Sanabia (St. John's, L, Jr.)
Andie Shelton (Duke, S/H, Gr.)
Haley Templeton** (Miami, S, RS-Sr.)
Layne Van Buskirk (Pittsburgh, MB, Jr.)
Stephanie Williams*** (Pittsburgh, OH, RS-Jr.)
M'Kaela White (James Madison, MB, Jr.)
HONORABLE MENTION
Efrosini Alexakou (St. John's, OH, Fr.)
Claire Archibald (Iona, OH, Sr.)
Ryann DeJarld (Notre Dame, L, Sr.)
Erica Di Maulo (St. John's, S, Jr.)
Anna HaaK (Marquette, OH, Sr.)
Charley Niego (Notre Dame, OH, Fr.)
Player of the Year: Allie Barber, Marquette, OH
Freshman of the Year: Efrosini Alexakou, St. John's, OH
Coach of the Year: Dan Fisher, Pittsburgh
* Denotes total number of years selected to AVCA Division I All-Region Team
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Additionally, four Panthers were named to the AVCA East Coast Region Team, including sophomore outside Kayla Lund, junior right side Nika Markovic, junior middle hitter Layne Van Buskirk and redshirt junior outside Stephanie Williams.
"These honors are really significant for our student-athletes, as they're the first step to being named an All-American," Fisher said. "I'm glad that my fellow coaches have recognized their outstanding performances this season."
Each of the four Panthers are members of the 2018 All-ACC First Team, as announced Nov. 26.
The honors are the first for Lund and Van Buskirk, while Markovic earns her second nod (2017) and Williams earns her third (2016, 2017).
In six seasons at the helm, Fisher has guided the Panthers to back-to-back ACC Championships (2017, 2018) as well as three consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances (2016, 2017, 2018). Pitt has completed the last five years ranked in the NCAA Volleyball RPI Top 50, and has earned five consecutive 20-win seasons. Over six seasons, Fisher owns a 148-47 (.759) overall record with the Panthers. He was named ACC Coach of the Year for the second consecutive season, as announced Nov. 26.
This year, the Panthers earned their highest single season winning percentage in program history (.938, 30-2) in addition to their highest ACC season winning percentage (.944, 17-1). Their 30 wins are the most since 1990 (32-6).
Lund posted well-rounded statistics all season, ranking second on the team with 3.58 kills and 2.64 digs per set. She led the Panthers with 38 service aces, ranking third in the ACC. She was fourth in the league with 4.09 points per set and was named Player of the Week three times.
Markovic led the way for Pitt with 3.60 kills per set from the right side, ranking fifth in the ACC. She added 0.86 blocks and 1.92 digs per frame. She paced Pitt in scoring in 13 matches, including the final five of the regular season, ranking third in the ACC with 4.33 points per set.
One of the most accurate attackers in the NCAA, Van Buskirk ranked second in the ACC with a .403 hitting percentage. In addition to her deadly attack, the Windsor, Ontario, native ranked third in the league with 1.42 blocks per set.
A six-rotation player, Williams played key roles all over the court for the Panthers. She posted averages of 2.56 kills, 2.08 digs, 0.62 blocks and 0.25 service aces per set. She has earned All-East Coast Region Honors a team-leading three times.
EAST COAST REGION
Allie Barber** (Marquette, OH, Jr.)
Martha Konovodoff (Marquette, L, So.)
Kayla Lund (Pittsburgh, OH, So.)
Kennedy Madison (College of Charleston, RS, Sr.)
Nika Markovic** (Pittsburgh, RS, Jr.)
Leah Meyer** (Duke, MB, RS-Jr.)
Devon Rachel (College of Charleston, OH, Sr.)
Jenna Rosenthal*** (Marquette, MB, RS-Sr.)
Amanda Sanabia (St. John's, L, Jr.)
Andie Shelton (Duke, S/H, Gr.)
Haley Templeton** (Miami, S, RS-Sr.)
Layne Van Buskirk (Pittsburgh, MB, Jr.)
Stephanie Williams*** (Pittsburgh, OH, RS-Jr.)
M'Kaela White (James Madison, MB, Jr.)
HONORABLE MENTION
Efrosini Alexakou (St. John's, OH, Fr.)
Claire Archibald (Iona, OH, Sr.)
Ryann DeJarld (Notre Dame, L, Sr.)
Erica Di Maulo (St. John's, S, Jr.)
Anna HaaK (Marquette, OH, Sr.)
Charley Niego (Notre Dame, OH, Fr.)
Player of the Year: Allie Barber, Marquette, OH
Freshman of the Year: Efrosini Alexakou, St. John's, OH
Coach of the Year: Dan Fisher, Pittsburgh
* Denotes total number of years selected to AVCA Division I All-Region Team
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Players Mentioned
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