Colorado State University Athletics
Mekana Barnes earns All-America honors
12/12/2007 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Dec. 12, 2007
FORT COLLINS, Colo. - Mekana Barnes capped an impressive season with the ultimate collegiate volleyball honor as she was named an AVCA third-team All-American the American Volleyball Coaches Association announced Wednesday. Barnes was named the Mountain West Conference Player of the Year and is the only player in the NCAA to be in the Top 10 in both hitting percentage and blocks per game.
Barnes becomes the eighth CSU player to earn the honor and only the third junior to earn the honors. Knopf, who also played middle blocker for the Rams, and outside hitter Sherri Danielson are the only other CSU players to earn the honor as a junior.
"It is an honor after a great season," said Head Coach Tom Hilbert. "An award like this doesn't come from just one year. Mekana redshirted and has really developed from an athletic player to the great player she is today. She is the real deal. We have her for another year which is exciting."
Barnes finished the season hitting the ninth-best percentage in the NCAA and the fifth-best single-season attack percentage in CSU history at .401. She had 17 matches hitting .400 or better during the season. Barnes led the team in hitting percentage (.401), service aces (28) and blocks (177). She earned Mountain West Player of the Week honors a record four times and was the National Player of the Week once during the season.
The Rams finished the season 23-8 earning their 13th consecutive NCAA Tournament bid. CSU completed its 19th season with at least 20 wins and won the Mountain West Conference regular-season title before being eliminated in the second round of the NCAA Tournament by Michigan.
The awards will be presented Dec. 14, at the AVCA All-America/Players of the Year Banquet at the Sacramento Convention Center. Each of the three AVCA All-America teams is comprised of 12 athletes. The Division I AVCA National Player of the Year will also be announced on Dec. 14 at the AVCA All-America/Players of the Year Banquet.
The selections were made by the AVCA Division I All-America Committee: chair - Pi'i Aiu, Colorado; Andy Banachowski, UCLA; Laura Farina, Auburn; Barry Goldberg, American; Debbie Kirch, Wisconsin-Green Bay; Jolene Nagel, Duke; Mark Rosen, Michigan; and Pat Stangle, Wyoming. The AVCA Awards Chair is New Hampshire head volleyball coach Jill Hirschinger.