EDMOND (Nov. 29) -- Lacie Allen's season full of honors was capped by the biggest one Thursday when the Central Oklahoma star was named a first-team selection on the 2007 Daktronics NCAA Division II All-America Volleyball Team.
Allen, who earlier in the week earned honorable mention All-America recognition by the American Volleyball Coaches Association, becomes the first UCO volleyball player to earn first-team All-America honors.
The Daktronics All-America Volleyball Team is voted on by sports information directors from around the country. Allen and junior teammate Mari Araujo both made the Daktronics All-Southwest Region Team, with Allen named to the elite seven-player first-team All-America squad at libero.
"This year has been unbelievable and the honors I've received have been such a blessing to me," Allen said. "Being an All-American is a goal I set for myself when I came to UCO and to actually obtain that is overwhelming."
Allen enjoyed one of the best defensive seasons in NCAA Division II history this fall, setting a single-season Division II record with 996 digs. The Edmond Memorial High School product had 10 matches with 30-plus digs and was a six-time Lone Star Conference Defensive Player of the Week winner.
Allen was named LSC Libero of the Year, ranks first (996) and second (790) on the conference's single-season digs list and and finished her stellar career third in all-time Division II digs with 2,765.
The Bronchos put together one of the finest seasons in school history this year, finishing 32-7 and making it to the semifinals of the NCAA Division II Southwest Regional. UCO tied a school-record for wins and won their first national tournament match since 1994 before being eliminated by Nebraska-Kearney.
Daktronics, with headquarters in Brookings, S.D., is an acknowledged world leader in scoring, timing and programming display systems for virtually every sport at ever level of competition.
Daktronics All-America First Team
Setter - Maggie McNamara, Concordia-St. Paul
Outside Hitter - Melissa Bartlett, Hills-dale
Outside Hitter - Manuela Native, Harding
Middle Blocker - Liz Holmes, Northern Kentucky
Middle Blocker - Edith Musebe, Henderson State
Right-side Hitter - Vicky Braegelman, Minnesota-Duluth
Libero/Defensive Specialist - Lacie Allen, Central Oklahoma
Daktronics All-America Second Team
Setter - Kate Hampson, Washburn
Outside Hitter - Erin Contons, Southwest Minnesota
Outside Hitter - Justyna Michon, Dowling
Middle Blocker - Erin Clark, Tampa
Middle Blocker - Emily Schroeder, Wayne State
Right-side Hitter - Tessa Jones, Washburn
Libero/Defensive Specialist - Courtney Schneider, Western Washington
Daktronics All-America Third Team
Setter - Beth Robbins, Indianapolis
Outside Hitter - Joanna Nist, California-PA
Outside Hitter - Camilla Pagnan, Barry
Middle Blocker - Jenna Newman, Edinboro
Middle Blocker - Nicole Schwab, Fort Lewis
Right-side Hitter - Jessica Granados, Cal State-San Bernardino
Libero/Defensive Specialist - Margeaux Sinibaldi, Tampa
