Carlson and Stankus Earn AVCA All-Midwest Region Honors

For Immediate Release: Thursday, November 8, 2007

La Crosse, Wis. – University of Wisconsin-La Crosse senior outside hitter Katelyn Carlson of Rochester, Minn. (Mayo) and sophomore rightside hitter Brianne Stankus of Burlington (H.S.) have been selected to the 2007 American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) All-Midwest Region it was announced today by the AVCA. It is the first career all-region honors for Carlson and Stankus.

Both players were named to the 2007 All-Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) First Team in a vote by the league coaches November 6.

Carlson leads UW-L with 464 kills this season, an average of 3.77 per game. Her 464 kills is fifth in single-season school history while her 1,430 attempts is third. Carlson has recorded double-digit kills in 26 of 33 matches this season, including a career-high 27 in a 3-2 UW-L win over number one ranked Juniata College (Pa.) October 12. She also had 22 digs against Juniata and 22 in a 3-2 victory over Loras College (Iowa) September 29. Carlson had 25 kills and a career-high 37 digs in UW-L’s 3-2 win over UW-Eau Claire in the WIAC Tournament Third-Place Match November 3.

Carlson ranks third in the WIAC in kills per game and fourth in points per game (4.20). Points are awarded for kills, service aces, block solos and block assists. Carlson was named to the Simpson College (Iowa) All-Tournament Team earlier this season and was named the WIAC Athlete of the Week September 30. She ranks fifth in school history in career kills (1,059) and fourth in career attempts (3,293).

Stankus is second on the team with 408 kills this year, averaging 3.29 per game. The 408 kills ranks 12th in single-season school history. She ranks fifth in the conference in hitting percentage (.282) this year while being 10th in kills per game and points (3.91). Stankus, who was named to the UW-L Invite I and II as well as the Simpson College All-Tournament Team this season, is 14th in the league in aces per game (0.33).

A 2006 All-WIAC Honorable Mention selection, Stankus has 24 matches this year with double-digit kills, including a season-high 20 versus UW-River Falls. She has 23 matches with at least 10 digs, including a career-high 24 against the University of St. Thomas (Minn.). Stankus had a career-high 8.0 blocks at UW-Superior. She has set career-highs in kills (408), attempts (1,097), digs (374) and aces (41) this year.

UW-L, 24-9 on the season, will play Calvin College (Mich.) in the NCAA Division III Tournament Regional Quarterfinal Thursday, November 8 at Carthage College in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Match time is 6 p.m. as the Eagles are making their 11th appearance in the NCAA III Tournament.