Ball State University Athletics
McCormick and Refenes Earn AVCA All-Mideast Region Accolades
December 07, 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-Mideast Region Team. McCormick is a first-time all-region selection, while Refenes was named to the honorable mention team last season.
"Clearly the play of Amanda and Rachel was extraordinary throughout the season," said head coach Randy Litchfield. "It is a great honor for these two to be recognized on the all-district team in what might be the toughest region in the country. Both of them also deserve the consideration they will receive for the AVCA All-American Team."
The 2005 AVCA All-Mideast Region Team is comprised of 12 members voted on by a panel of five head coaches from within the region. Teams from the Mid-American Conference, Big Ten Conference, Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference and Northeast Conference, as well as IPFW and Savannah State who are independents, make up the region.
McCormick earns recognition on the all-district team 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 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 to the all-district team after tying for first in the league and 26th in the nation with a 1.47 blocks-per-game average. Refenes 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. 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.
