Thomas and Sollenberger named Landmark Player, Specialist of the Year
(Posted November 10, 2008)
HUNTINGDON, Pa. -- Juniata College senior Amber Thomas (Ephrata, Pa./Conestoga Valley) was named Player of the Year while Megan Sollenberger (Mechanicsburg, Pa./Cumberland Valley) earned Specialist of the Year honors, when the Landmark Conference post-season honors and all-conference teams were announced on Monday.
Both Thomas and Sollenberger are receiving those awards for the second consecutive year. In addition, both players earned First team, All-Landmark Conference honors.
Thomas heads into NCAA Regional play with 324 kills (3.81/set) and a .309 attack percentage, along with 184 digs (2.16/set) and 36 total blocks (0.42/set). Sollenberger recorded team-highs of 571 digs (4.80/set) and 40 service aces (0.34/set) this season for Juniata.
Two other Eagles received First team All-Landmark Conference accolades: senior middle hitter Cassie Dickmann (Kennett Square, Pa./Unionville) and senior setter Beth Kozak (Huntingdon, Pa./Huntingdon Area). Dickmann was second on the team in kills with 193 (2.61/set), was tied for the team lead in attack percentage (.406), and recorded 33 blocks (0.45/set). Kozak logged 573 set assists (5.07/set) this season for Juniata, and her 224 digs (1.98/set) was second most on the team.
Senior middle hitter Erin Albert (Philipsburg, Pa./Philipsburg-Osceola) and junior opposite Paige Johnston (Lancaster, Pa./Hempfield), were named Second team All-Landmark Conference. Albert was third on the team with 167 kills (2.42/set), and had a team-high 51 total blocks (0.74/set) despite missing five games due to a sprained ankle. She also contributed defensively, turning up 47 digs (0.68/set) during the season. Johnston logged 125 kills (1.60/set) with 27 blocks (0.35/set) this season, while recording 48 digs.
Moravian's Katie Moquete was named Rookie of the Year, while the staff of Susquehanna University was named Coaching Staff of the Year.
Rounding out the First team All-Landmark selections were: OH Lindsey Jankiewicz (Susquehanna), OH Jacqueline Pisano (Scranton), and MH Jaclyn Bromley (Scranton). Second team All-Landmark honorees were: OH Abby Barrett (Scranton), OH Megan Smith (Goucher), MH Jess LaValley (USMMA), S Jenn McKeighan (Scranton), and L/DS Deanna Every (Scranton).
Juniata (31-4) won its 28th consecutive conference championship on Saturday, defeating Susquehanna University 3-0 to win the 2008 Landmark Conference Championship. The Eagles begin NCAA tournament play on Thursday, Nov. 13, when they face D'Youville College.
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Contact April Feagley at feaglea@juniata.edu or (814) 641-3131 for more information.