Colorado State University Athletics
CSU's Foss named AVCA All-American
12/17/2014 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Dec. 17, 2014
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LEXINGTON, Ky. – Colorado State setter Deedra Foss capped her stellar volleyball career with the sport’s pinnacle individual honor. The setter was named an AVCA All-American on Wednesday, becoming the 12th player in program history to earn the accolade. Also receiving recognition was teammate Adrianna Culbert, who was named AVCA All-America Honorable Mention. Foss was named to the list’s third team, ranking among the nation’s top 42 athletes.
Twelve Rams have earned 14 total All-America honors, including four selections in the past four seasons. Just 17 programs across the country have produced as many All-Americans as CSU has.
“I’m really excited,” Foss said. “It’s an honor and a blessing to be named All-American, especially my senior season. I went into this year with the goal of being the best teammate I could be, and along the way I earned some awards, which shows how great of a team we have.”
Foss is the program’s first setter to be recognized. She joins Sherri Danielson (1984 second team, 1985 second team), Diane Saba (1987 first team), Angela Knox (1987 second team), Catie Vagneur (1999 second team), Courtney Cox (2000 second team), Angela Knopf (2000 first team, 2001 first team), Soraya Santos (2001 second team), Mekana Barnes (2007 third team), Megan Plourde (2011 third team), Katelyn Steffan (2011 third team) and Dana Cranston (2012 third team) as CSU's all-time recipients.
Including Culbert, CSU has also earned 21 AVCA All-America Honorable Mention selections, in addition to four Volleyball Magazine All-America honors, plus four honorable mention nods.
“You don’t get these types of awards without people outside the program taking notice,” Head Coach Tom Hilbert said. “We’re well respected for recruiting good players and making them better while they’re here. It speaks to our success over time.”
Foss will be presented a trophy Friday in Oklahoma City, Okla., at the AVCA All-America/Players of the Year Banquet, in conjunction with the AVCA Convention/NCAA national championship.
“It makes me really proud,” Hilbert said. “It’s a great moment when you’re at the banquet and get to be with your player as she’s recognized for her hard work.”
FOSS – SENIOR – SETTER – McKENNA, WASH.
The 2014 Mountain West Player of the Year ranks seventh in the NCAA for assists (11.65) and leads a CSU offense which ranks seventh for hitting efficiency (.280). She is one of just two setters nationally to rank in the top 10 for both categories. In addition to her high assists total, she leads all 5-1 Pacific North Region setters with 0.73 blocks per set. For her career, Foss’ 4,833 assists rank fifth in CSU and MW history, including the top mark during the 25-point scoring era. Her career assists average of 11.21 per set ranks second among active senior setters in the NCAA. Foss was twice named the MW Player of the Week this fall, and was the Sports Imports/AVCA National Player of the Week on Nov. 25.
In addition to being named the league’s top player in 2014, Foss was an All-MW selection in 2012 and 2013 – including the designated setter as a junior – and in 2011 was the conference’s newcomer of the year. As a junior, she was tabbed AVCA All-America Honorable Mention.
“We’ve had a lot of success in the past four years, and Deedra has been one of the primary reasons,” Hilbert said. “She’s gotten better every year and makes the players around her better. I’ve had a lot of good setters here. They all have different reasons why they’re great, and hers is how competitive and creative she is. She’s also strong in every phase of the game. Deedra is very deserving of this high honor.”
CULBERT – JUNIOR – OPPOSITE HITTER – DELTON, MICH.
As one of the most versatile players in the country, Culbert averaged 2.45 kills, 3.26 digs and 0.61 blocks per set, while hitting at a .312 clip. Among Pacific North Region pin hitters (left and right side), she ranks second for hitting and fourth for digs – including second and first, respectively, among right-side attackers. She had nine double-doubles on the season and was named the espnW National Player of the Week on Oct. 15. The All-Mountain West selection was the only player in the conference to rank in the top 10 for hitting and digs, also ranking 17th for kills.
“She is a great player who has developed herself physically in the past year,” Hilbert said. “The last two years have almost been an era for CSU volleyball, and Dri has been the solid base. She does so many things for us, and I’m looking forward to having her back next season, because she’s a key part to our success.”
CSU, ranked No. 9 in the latest AVCA Division I Coaches Top 25 Poll, concluded its season with a record of 31-3. The 31 victories were the second-most in program history, and the .912 winning percentage was also second-best all-time. After defeating Denver and Colorado at Moby Arena, CSU advanced to the NCAA Regional Semifinals for the first time since 2009, falling to No. 2 seed Texas. The Longhorns will face BYU – a team CSU defeated in four sets on a neutral court in September – Thursday, with the winner advancing to the national title game.
The Rams won their sixth-consecutive Mountain West championship this fall. No other team in the nation has won its conference each of the past six seasons. After beginning the year ranked No. 18, CSU climbed the polls, reaching as high as No. 6. The team graduates Foss and its two other seniors, but returns Culbert and two other starters, in addition to its libero.
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Colorado State setter Deedra Foss capped her stellar volleyball career with the sport’s pinnacle individual honor. The setter was named an AVCA All-American on Wednesday, becoming the 12th player in program history to earn the accolade. Also receiving recognition was teammate Adrianna Culbert, who was named AVCA All-America Honorable Mention. Foss was named to the list’s third team, ranking among the nation’s top 42 athletes.
Twelve Rams have earned 14 total All-America honors, including four selections in the past four seasons. Just 17 programs across the country have produced as many All-Americans as CSU has.
“I’m really excited,” Foss said. “It’s an honor and a blessing to be named All-American, especially my senior season. I went into this year with the goal of being the best teammate I could be, and along the way I earned some awards, which shows how great of a team we have.”
Foss is the program’s first setter to be recognized. She joins Sherri Danielson (1984 second team, 1985 second team), Diane Saba (1987 first team), Angela Knox (1987 second team), Catie Vagneur (1999 second team), Courtney Cox (2000 second team), Angela Knopf (2000 first team, 2001 first team), Soraya Santos (2001 second team), Mekana Barnes (2007 third team), Megan Plourde (2011 third team), Katelyn Steffan (2011 third team) and Dana Cranston (2012 third team) as CSU's all-time recipients.
Including Culbert, CSU has also earned 21 AVCA All-America Honorable Mention selections, in addition to four Volleyball Magazine All-America honors, plus four honorable mention nods.
“You don’t get these types of awards without people outside the program taking notice,” Head Coach Tom Hilbert said. “We’re well respected for recruiting good players and making them better while they’re here. It speaks to our success over time.”
Foss will be presented a trophy Friday in Oklahoma City, Okla., at the AVCA All-America/Players of the Year Banquet, in conjunction with the AVCA Convention/NCAA national championship.
“It makes me really proud,” Hilbert said. “It’s a great moment when you’re at the banquet and get to be with your player as she’s recognized for her hard work.”
FOSS – SENIOR – SETTER – McKENNA, WASH.
The 2014 Mountain West Player of the Year ranks seventh in the NCAA for assists (11.65) and leads a CSU offense which ranks seventh for hitting efficiency (.280). She is one of just two setters nationally to rank in the top 10 for both categories. In addition to her high assists total, she leads all 5-1 Pacific North Region setters with 0.73 blocks per set. For her career, Foss’ 4,833 assists rank fifth in CSU and MW history, including the top mark during the 25-point scoring era. Her career assists average of 11.21 per set ranks second among active senior setters in the NCAA. Foss was twice named the MW Player of the Week this fall, and was the Sports Imports/AVCA National Player of the Week on Nov. 25.
In addition to being named the league’s top player in 2014, Foss was an All-MW selection in 2012 and 2013 – including the designated setter as a junior – and in 2011 was the conference’s newcomer of the year. As a junior, she was tabbed AVCA All-America Honorable Mention.
“We’ve had a lot of success in the past four years, and Deedra has been one of the primary reasons,” Hilbert said. “She’s gotten better every year and makes the players around her better. I’ve had a lot of good setters here. They all have different reasons why they’re great, and hers is how competitive and creative she is. She’s also strong in every phase of the game. Deedra is very deserving of this high honor.”
CULBERT – JUNIOR – OPPOSITE HITTER – DELTON, MICH.
As one of the most versatile players in the country, Culbert averaged 2.45 kills, 3.26 digs and 0.61 blocks per set, while hitting at a .312 clip. Among Pacific North Region pin hitters (left and right side), she ranks second for hitting and fourth for digs – including second and first, respectively, among right-side attackers. She had nine double-doubles on the season and was named the espnW National Player of the Week on Oct. 15. The All-Mountain West selection was the only player in the conference to rank in the top 10 for hitting and digs, also ranking 17th for kills.
“She is a great player who has developed herself physically in the past year,” Hilbert said. “The last two years have almost been an era for CSU volleyball, and Dri has been the solid base. She does so many things for us, and I’m looking forward to having her back next season, because she’s a key part to our success.”
CSU, ranked No. 9 in the latest AVCA Division I Coaches Top 25 Poll, concluded its season with a record of 31-3. The 31 victories were the second-most in program history, and the .912 winning percentage was also second-best all-time. After defeating Denver and Colorado at Moby Arena, CSU advanced to the NCAA Regional Semifinals for the first time since 2009, falling to No. 2 seed Texas. The Longhorns will face BYU – a team CSU defeated in four sets on a neutral court in September – Thursday, with the winner advancing to the national title game.
The Rams won their sixth-consecutive Mountain West championship this fall. No other team in the nation has won its conference each of the past six seasons. After beginning the year ranked No. 18, CSU climbed the polls, reaching as high as No. 6. The team graduates Foss and its two other seniors, but returns Culbert and two other starters, in addition to its libero.
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