Zimmerman, Karpiak Receive AVCA All-Region Awards
12/11/2008 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- University of Michigan sophomore setter Lexi Zimmerman(Barrington, Ill./Barrington) was named to the American Volleyball Coaches Association All-Mideast Region first team for the second straight season, while senior middle blocker Beth Karpiak(LaGrange, Ill./Lyons Township) earned All-Mideast Region honorable mention, the AVCA announced Thursday (Dec. 11).
With their selections, Zimmerman and Karpiak are now eligible for the AVCA All-America team, which will be announced Dec. 17. Erin Moore (2000-03) is the only All-American in program history, earning All-America third team honors in 2003.
Zimmerman led the Big Ten Conference in assists the entire season, setting the Wolverine attack to one of the top five hitting percentages in the conference for most of the season. She earned first team All-Big Ten honors and climbed to fourth place on the school's career assists list with 1,386 entering play this weekend. The 2007 Region Freshman of the Year, she is just the second U-M player to earn repeat selection to the All-Region first team, joining 2006 and 2007 honoree Katie Bruzdinski (2004-07). Zimmerman is the fourth Wolverine to earn All-Region first team honors, joining Bruzdzinski, Moore and fellow setter Linnea Mendoza (1994-97).
Karpiak earned her first AVCA honor after one of her most successful seasons with the Maize and Blue. Karpiak will cap her career with the top hitting percentage in U-M history (.320), shattering the previous best of .296 by Lisa Gamalski (2000-04). A starter in every match since her sophomore season, Karpiak has tallied 375 kills and a .357 attack percentage in her final season and is one block shy of her third straight season with 100 or more.
The No. 19 Wolverines (26-8) are among the final 16 teams competing in the NCAA Tournament and will take on No. 4 Nebraska in the regional semifinals on Friday (Dec. 12) at 6 p.m. PST in Seattle, Wash.
ALL-MIDEAST REGION
Blair Brown, Penn State
Laura DeBruler, Illinois
Brook Dieter, Minnesota
Nicole Fawcett, Penn State
Lauren Gibbemeyer, Minnesota
Alisha Glass, Penn State
Christa Harmotto, Penn State
Ellen Herman, Ohio University
Megan Hodge, Penn State
Stephanie Lynch, Purdue
Erica Short, Indiana
Christine Tan, Minnesota
Arielle Wilson, Penn State
Lexi Zimmerman, Michigan
HONORABLE MENTION
Kristen Arthurs, Purdue
Johannah Bangert, Illinois
Michelle Bartsch, Illinois
Ashley Benson, Indiana
Katie Dull, Ohio State
Beth Karpiak, Michigan
Kelli Miller, Purdue
Jillian Mitchell, Western Michigan
Region Freshman of the Year: Michelle Bartsch, Illinois
Region Coach of the Year: Russ Rose, Penn State
Contact: Matt Fancett (734) 763-4423
