MONICA MIESNER
The AVCA Division II All-American teams were announced yesterday and — no surprise here — the MIAA cleaned up.
Washburn outside hitter Monica Miesner, Emporia State setter Ting Liu and Pitt State middle blocker Linda Igbinigie were all first-team picks, with Miesner’s selection making her a three-time pick, just the second time a Lady Blue volleyball player has been a three-time All-American and the second time a first-teamer has come out of Washburn. Miesner was a second-team pick in 2005 and 2007.
As far as Liu … what more can you say about her? MIAA MVP. First-team All-American. Sophomore. And to think, both Liu and Arica Shepard — a third-team pick at outside hitter — are both back next year for the Hornets. Bing Xu might have something to work with.
For Igbinigie … I was a little surprised she made first team, but congratulations. When you heard about Pittsburg State this season it was usually third-team pick Pamela Cartagena that grabbed the majority of the ink. I know a 6-foot-4 middle blocker is a luxury, but I do have to ask how she’s a first-team pick when she didn’t even lead the MIAA in blocks?
For the rest of the MIAA: Truman State, which plays Cal State-San Bernadino in the Final Four on Saturday in St. Paul, Minn., put MB Allie Cherven on the second team, OH Eli Medina on the third-team and Melissa Keck was an honorable mention right side. Sammie Williams of Pittsburg State was a third-team right side.
I’ll try to put together a signings list in the near future … otherwise this might be the last new volleyball news for awhile.
Out.
-TA