2012 Volleyball All-AAC Team, Awards Announced

KINGSPORT, Tenn. - The 2012 Volleyball All-Appalachian Athletic Conference Team was announced Wednesday at the league tournament at the MeadowView Marriott Resort & Convention Center.

Bryan received their trophy for winning the 2012 AAC regular-season championship with 16-2 conference mark. Lady Lion head coach Dave Shumaker was named the Coach of the Year.

Virginia Intermont received the Champions of Character Award.

Virginia Intermont senior Brandi Blessing is the Player of the Year. The outside hitter from Wytheville, Va., leads the conference in kills per set (3.9). On the year, Blessing has 370 kills, a .271 hitting percentage, 377 digs and 37 total blocks. She posted a season-high 23 kills against Hollins on Sept. 8 and recorded a season-high 24 digs versus St. Andrews on Sept. 21.

Taylor Fink of Bryan and Chelsea Spivey of Milligan were named Co-Setters of the Year. Fink and Spivey ranked second and third, respectively, in the league for assists per set. Fink averages 9.2 per set with Spivey averaging 8.6. Fink leads the conference in total assists with 1,159.

Corrie Walker of Bryan earned Libero of the Year honors. Walker has a conference-best 682 digs on the year and averages 5.3 per set.

Ashleigh Manke of Virginia Intermont is the Freshman of the Year. The outside hitter is fourth in the leage in kills per set at 3.1 run and second in service aces per set at 0.5. Manke has 245 kills, a .221 hitting percentage, 37 aces, 122 digs and 18 total blocks.

Joining Blessing on the All-AAC First Team are: Fink, Spivey Walker,Chelsea Breaden of Bryan, Caitlin Brickley of Columbia, Holly English of Milligan, Kylie Whaley of Milligan, Hannah Bostic of Montreat, Alyssa Kaufman of Montreat, Hannah Scholz of Montreat, Caity Merritt of Union, Paige Moore of Union, and Tiffany Vu of Virginia Intermont.

Manke headlines the All-AAC Second Team with Carolyn Evans of Bryan, Jacqui Anderson of Columbia, Taylor Sellers of Columbia, Amelia Moore of Reinhardt, and Hayli Raines of Tennessee Wesleyan joining her.

The All-Freshmen Team consists of Manke, Chandler Gray of Union, Meagan Lowry of Bryan, Autumn McManus of Columbia, Emilee Linkous of MIlligan, and Sara Roth of Montreat.

There were 34 total Academic All-Conference Team members with Milligan and Montreat leading the way with six members each.

For a complete look at all of the awards, click here.

The 2012 AAC Volleyball Tournament began play Wednesday and runs through Friday. For more information on the event, visit the tournament page.