Bowling Green, Ky. Three WKU volleyball athletes were honored for their performances this season by being named to the 2008 All-Sun Belt Conference teams, the league office announced today at the annual volleyball tournament banquet. Seniors Megan Argabright and Julia Noe and junior Brittany Bowen picked up the honors after leading the team to a 23-9 regular season finish.
Argabright, who was named to the All-Sun Belt first-team for the fourth consecutive season, will go down in the record books as one of the most storied athletes in WKU history. After breaking the school record in kills against Florida Atlantic this season, the Louisville, Ky. native followed up that performance by breaking the school record in block assists and total blocks. The three-time All-American has accumulated 1,955 kills during her career while also posting 451 total blocks and is currently ranked 22nd in the nation in hitting percentage at .385. Argabright has notched 23 matches with double-digit kills and has posted double-digit kills in eight consecutive matches.
Noe, a second-team selection, has been a crucial part of the Lady Topper offense and defense this season. With 200 kills, Noe is also second on the team in digs with 245. Currently in the Sun Belt, she is ranked sixth in assists per set and eighth in hitting percentage. This season Noe has posted two triple-doubles and now has six in her career, the most in WKU history. With the honor, Noe has been named to the All-Sun Belt Second Team twice in her Lady Topper career and to the First Team once.
Bowen, also a second team honoree, has become an integral part of the WKU offense this season. Second on the team in kills with 259, Bowen is hitting .363 overall this year and has posted double-digit kills in 13 matches this season. Additionally, the Ada, Mich. native has hit over .350 16 times this season and in WKU's past two matches has posted hitting percentages of .600 and .688. She is also second on the team in blocks with 91 and is first in solo blocks with 23. Earlier in the year, Bowen became just the ninth Lady Topper in WKU volleyball history to be named to ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District IV Third Team.
The No. 6 seed Lady Toppers will begin play in the Sun Belt Conference Championship tomorrow when they face off against the No. 3 seed, Denver, at 7:30 p.m. CST.
ALL-SUN BELT CONFERENCE VOLLEYBALL TEAM
FIRST TEAM
Amila Barakovic, UALR
Emmy Davidsmeyer, Denver
Yarimar Rosa, FIU
Ashley Asberry, Middle Tennessee
Leslie Clark, Middle Tennessee
Dobrilla Kovacevic, New Orleans
Lindsey Loyd, New Orleans
Megan Argabright, WKU
SECOND TEAM
Anita Bucur, UALR
Cayla Fielder, Arkansas State
Holly Benson, Denver
Natalia Valentin, FIU
Isadora Rangel, FIU
Izabela Kozon, Middle Tennessee
Brittany Bowen, WKU
Julia Noe, WKU
NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR - Isadora Rangel, FIU
FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR - Cayla Fielder, Arkansas State
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR - Amy Hafner, UALR
PLAYER OF THE YEAR - Yarimar Rosa, FIU
COACH OF THE YEAR - Danielja Tomic, FIU
- WKU -
