Ball State University Athletics
McCormick and Refenes Earn AVCA All-America Honorable Mention Accolades
December 15, 2005 | Women's Volleyball
Muncie, Ind. - - Junior libero Amanda McCormick (Muncie, Ind./Burris H.S.) and senior middle attacker Rachel Refenes (Milwaukee, Wis./Milwaukee Lutheran H.S.) have been named to the 2005 American Volleyball Coaches Association All-America Honorable Mention Team. The selections make the pair the first women's volleyball players in school history to earn All-America honors.
"I am so proud of Amanda and Rachel for their achievements," said Ball State head coach Randy Litchfield. "I also appreciate the effort they showed both on and off the court this season. While we ended the year disappointed about not making the NCAA Tournament, getting the first two All-America selections in school history is something to be proud of."
The selections to the 2005 AVCA All-America teams were made by the AVCA Division I All-America Committee: chair –Pi'i Aiu (Colorado); John Dunning (Stanford); Laura Farina (Auburn); Burt Fuller (Utah State); Barry Goldberg (American); Nancy Mueller (Illinois-Chicago); Jolene Nagel (Duke); and Mark Rosen (Michigan). The AVCA Awards Chair is New Hampshire Head Coach Jill Hirschinger.
McCormick earns recognition as an All-America Honorable Mention after ranking first in the MAC and fourth in the nation with a 6.32 digs-per-game average. The average is also a Ball State and MAC single-season record. McCormick, an AVCA All-Mideast Region Team selection, is just the second player in league history to record over 700 digs in a single season, tallying 727 in her first year with the Cardinals after transferring from the University of Nebraska.
McCormick earned national recognition on Nov. 8, when she became the first women's volleyball player in school history to earn CVU.com National Player of the Week accolades. She earned the honor after collecting a then-career-high 37 digs in BSU's three-game win at Toledo (Nov. 5). The 37 digs are the most in a three-game set in the nation this season and tie as the third-most in a three-game match in NCAA history. McCormick was also named MAC West Division Player of the Week after the accomplishment.
A member of the 2005 All-MAC Second Team, McCormick was named to the 2005 MAC All-Tournament Team after helping guide the Cardinals to the championship match. In BSU's five-game semifinal win over Eastern Michigan, the 5-8 libero posted a career-best 43 digs. She ended the season with 33 in the five-game win over Alabama to push her season total over the 700 mark. She was also named to the Michigan State Invitational and Georgetown Hoya Classic All-Tournament Team during the season.
Refenes was named an All-America Honorable Mention after tying for first in the league and 26th in the nation with a 1.47 blocks-per-game average. Refenes, an AVCA All-Mideast Region Team selection, also ranked second in the MAC in points per game (5.56), third in kills per game (4.40) and fifth in attack percentage (.327). In two seasons with the Cardinals, the transfer from Mississippi collected 325 total blocks, which ranks 11th in school annals.
Refenes' play during the 2005 season also earned her recognition on the All-MAC First Team, marking the 13th-straight season a Cardinal has been placed on the first team. During league play, Refenes paced all MAC players with a 5.84 points-per-game average. She recorded a season-high 24 kills twice vs. Northern Illinois and once vs. Eastern Michigan (Oct. 22). She also tallied a season-best .611 attack percentage vs. the Huskies (Oct. 28). Of her 141 blocks on the year, 86 came in conference play. In addition, Refenes recorded at least one block in 26 of the 27 matches she played in throughout the year.
A two-time Mid-American Conference West Division Player of the Week, Refenes helped guide the Cardinals to the championship match of the 2005 MAC Tournament with 14 kills and five blocks in the quarterfinals vs. Miami and 17 kills and three blocks in the semifinals vs. Eastern Michigan. She ended the season with 14 kills and six blocks in BSU's season finale vs. Alabama. Refenes was also named the Most Valuable Player of the Georgetown Hoya Classic.
