DURHAM, N.C. - Duke seniors Kellie Catanach, Amanda Robertson and Sophia Dunworth join junior Christiana Gray and sophomore Ali McCurdy on the All-ACC Academic Volleyball Team as announced by the Atlantic Coast Conference Wednesday, February 22.
Duke led the conference with five honorees on the 33-member All-ACC Academic Volleyball squad, followed by Wake Forest, NC State, Miami and Georgia Tech with four selections each. The Blue Devils have now placed at least four players on the team every year since the award's inception in 2006.
A three-time All-ACC and two-time All-America selection, 6-2 setter Catanach picked up her second All-ACC Academic Team honor in 2011. The Tampa, Fla., native completed her career with the second-highest assist total in school history. Her 5,364 career assists also ranks ninth on the ACC's all-time list, and she is only the third player in school history to post seasons of 1,000 assists.
With her All-ACC Academic Team selection this season, Dunworth, a 6-1 outside hitter, joins Rachel Moss as the only two Duke student-athletes to earn the recognition in each of their four seasons in Durham. A native of Pleasanton, Calif., Dunworth led the team with 341 kills in 2011 and finished her four-year career with 1,291 kills to rank seventh in school history.
Gray, a 6-5 middle blocker from Carmel, Ind., received her third All-ACC Academic Team commendation after leading the ACC in hitting percentage for the second consecutive season. She put down a career-high 315 kills as a junior while committing only 68 attack errors. In addition to leading the team with 115 blocks, Gray hit .500 or better 10 times this season and over .300 21 times.
The 2011 ACC Defensive Player of the Year, McCurdy is making her second appearance on the conference academic squad. A libero from Tampa, Fla., she led the league and ranked 12th nationally with 5.73 digs per set. McCurdy had nearly 100 more digs than the next closest ACC libero and was a key component of a Duke defense that held opponents to a .196 hitting percentage.
Robertson, a 6-3 middle blocker from Roxboro, N.C., earned her third consecutive All-ACC Academic Team distinction. Robertson, who garnered All-America, All-East Region and All-ACC honors in her career with the Blue Devils, led the team in service aces this past season while ranking second on the squad with 72 blocks and third with 293 kills.
To be eligible for consideration, a student-athlete must have earned a 3.00 grade point average for both the previous semester and maintain a 3.00 cumulative average during her academic career.
2011 All-ACC Academic Volleyball Team
Kellie Barnum |
Boston College |
Tsvetelina Dureva |
Boston College |
Sandra Adeleye |
Clemson |
Alexa Rand |
Clemson |
Natalie Patzin |
Clemson |
Duke |
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Duke |
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Duke |
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Duke |
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Duke |
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Monique Mead |
Georgia Tech |
Kaleigh Colson |
Georgia Tech |
Susan Carlson |
Georgia Tech |
Nicole Meyer |
Georgia Tech |
Mary Cushman |
Maryland |
Lane Carico |
Miami |
Ali Becker |
Miami |
Emani Sims |
Miami |
Alexandria Johnson |
Miami |
Margaret Salata |
NC State |
Kelly Wood |
NC State |
Megan Cyr |
NC State |
Brieanna Merriwether |
NC State |
Emily McGee |
North Carolina |
Tia Gaffen |
North Carolina |
Simone Asque |
Virginia |
Elizabeth Wildermuth |
Virginia |
Cara Baarendse |
Virginia Tech |
Jennifer Wiker |
Virginia Tech |
Andrea Beck |
Wake Forest |
Danae Rosendall |
Wake Forest |
Carlin Salmon |
Wake Forest |
Danielle Thompson |
Wake Forest |
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