Volleyball Spotlight: Tauschek Named to AVCA All-Region Team Earns Honorable Mention Selection Tuesday, November 14, 2006 By Bob Heller USIP Sports Information Director PHILADELPHIA, PA – University of the Sciences in Philadelphia libero Claire Tauschek (Middleton High School/Verona, Wis.) was named to the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) All Region Team for the Northeast Region as an Honorable Mention Selection as announced today by the AVCA. Tauschek, a two-time Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference First Team All-Conference selection was the only CACC volleyball player to be named to the AVCA All-Region Team. Claire was also the only libero named amongst the 18 honorees from the Northeast Region. Tauschek led the Devils (8-18) in digs (509) and aces (42) during the 2006 season. Her 6.06 digs per game average ranked third amongst the conference leaders and ranked 13th nationally amongst all NCAA Division II volleyball players, earning her second consecutive First Team All-CACC selection earlier this year. Claire’s 6.06 digs/game season average is also a new school record. Tauschek recorded 30 or more digs in four matches this season and led the Devils in 22 of their 26 matches, reaching 20 or more digs ten times. The former Middleton High School athlete reached the 500-dig mark in her final match of the season against Concordia College, becoming the first USP player to record back-to-back 500-plus dig seasons. Claire is also one of three players in school history to reach 1,000 digs for their career, reaching the mark against Georgian Court on October 23, 2006. With 1,066 career digs, Tauschek ranks second on the Devils all-time list behind Emily Roth (1,880). Tauschek also ranks fourth on the Devils’ all-time service ace list with 126 for her career. Tauschek, a physical therapy major, recently completed her second season of play for the Devils. In 2005 Claire earned First Team All-CACC honors and was named the conference’s Newcomer of the Year. 2006 AVCA Northeast Region Team Irina Belozerova** Dowling College MB Jr. Stephanie Brink** The College of Saint Rose OH Jr. Lindsey Buss New York Inst. of Technology S Sr. Jessica Cegarra Bryant University MB Sr. Tiffany Garry** Bryant University S Jr. Alex Kearney Bentley College OH Fr. Justyna Michon*** Dowling College OH Jr. Rhe-Ann Niles University of New Haven MB Jr. Tori Piskulick Bentley College S So. Christina Sadowski Bentley College MB Jr. Karin Sauer Queens College (NY) OH Sr. Marta Slodnik Dowling College OH Sr. Region Freshman of the Year: Alex Kearney, Bentley, OH Honorable Mention: Nikki Armstrong (Dowling, MB, Sr.), Jessica Bornack (Bridgeport, RS/Opp, Sr.), Shannon Campbell (Saint Rose, S, Sr.), Shelby Klein (NYIT, OH, Fr.), Carolina Ribeiro (New Haven, S, Fr.), Claire Tauschek (Univ. of Sciences, Pa, DS/Lib, So.)