WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Senior setter Val Nichol and junior outside hitter Annie Drews took the first step toward All-America honors, earning honorable mention All-Northeast Region accolades from the American Volleyball Coaches Association on Tuesday.
Nichol, a 2013 third team All-America selection, earns her second straight all-region honor, following first team accolades a year ago. The honorable mention recognition is the first for Drews. The pair also was selected to the All-Big Ten team last week.
Nichol, a two-time All-Big Ten selection, posted 10.08 assists per set, 1.24 kills, 2.29 digs and 0.67 blocks per set, while also serving up 25 aces. The Preseason All-Big Ten selection and Sept. 1 Big Ten Setter of the Week posted two triple-doubles (at Iowa and vs. Rutgers) and 10 doubles-doubles. She led the Boilers to a .250 or better hitting effort 17 times, including 12 .300-plus efforts and two .400-plus efforts. Nichol ranked fifth in the Big Ten in assists per set and seventh during conference play. The Normal, Ill., native put down double-digit kills twice, double-digit digs 12 times and five or more blocks four times. The senior led the Boilermakers in kills three times, blocks five times and digs four times. Individually, she hit at a .250 or better clip 20 times, including .400 or better 11 times and .500 or better five times.
Drews earns her first all-region honor after being named to the All-Big Ten team last week and to the All-Big Ten Freshman Team in 2012. The junior averaged 3.92 kills and 4.30 points per set, ranking second and fourth respectively among Big Ten players, while also adding 0.52 blocks per set and 11 aces. In Big Ten play, Drews registered 3.78 kills per set, while hitting .242and adding 55 digs and 36 blocks. She posted 22 double-digit kill efforts, including 20 or more six times. The Elkhart, Ind., native put down 33 kills against Western Kentucky to become the first Purdue players with 30 kills since 2000. The outside hitter led the Boilers in kills 21 times, while hitting at a .250 or better clip 16 times. She managed a .300 or better effort in 13 matches, .400-plus eight times and one .500-plus performance. Drews put up five or more blocks twice in 2014. As a Boilermaker, she has tallied double-digit kills in 39 matches and posted five or more blocks five times, while totaling 855 kills, averaging 2.65 per set, 176 blocks and 162 digs.
This year's all-region teams were selected by position with five outside/opposite hitters, three middle blockers, two setters, one libero and three at-large selections making up the first team. Six additional players earned honorable mention acclaim.
The Northeast Region is composed of seven Big Ten teams (Penn State, Purdue, Ohio State, Wisconsin, Indiana, Illinois and Rutgers) as well as six Mid-American Conference schools, four Horizon League schools, four Ivy League schools, four Patriot League schools, five Metro-Atlantic Conference schools and four Northeast Conference schools.
The other half of the Big Ten Conference is in the North Region.
All-America honors will be announced December 17. First, second and third teams of 14 student-athletes each along with honorable mention selections will be picked.
Northeast Region
Honorable Mention
Name School Pos. YearKelly Lamberti Ohio OH Sr.Annie Drews Purdue RS Jr.Kendall Peterkin Princeton OH/RS Jr.Emily Campbell Valparaiso OH/RS So.Taylor Sherwin Ohio State S Sr.Val Nichol Purdue S/RS Sr.
Freshman of the Year: Ali Frantti, Penn State, OH
Coach of the Year: Kelly Sheffield, Wisconsin