Zimmerman, Paz Named to AVCA All-America Teams
12/16/2009 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Dec. 16, 2009
TAMPA, Fla. -- University of Michigan junior setter Lexi Zimmerman (Barrington, Ill./Barrington) and senior outside hitter Juliana Paz (Porto Alegre, Brazil/Iowa Western CC) were honored by the American Volleyball Coaches Association with All-America honors as the organization released its 29th annual Division I All-America Teams Wednesday (Dec. 16). Zimmerman was tabbed as a first-team selection, becoming the first Wolverine in program history to reach the highest level of honor. Paz garnered her first All-America award at Michigan as a third-team honoree.
Zimmerman's selection marks the third straight season she has been honored by the AVCA. She was an honorable mention selection as a freshman in 2007 and garnered second-team honors last season. She led the Big Ten setters in total assists (1,516) and ranked third in the conference with 11.04 assists per set.
"It is a great honor to be recognized again by the AVCA with this award," said Zimmerman. "To become the first player from Michigan to be selected as a first-team honoree is a great feeling. It is very humbling considering the amount of talented players we have had in our program. I wouldn't be in a position to be recognized, however, without great teammates and coaches surrounding me. Without them, individual honors like this would not be possible."
Nationally ranked in aces (52), kills (504) and points per set (4.3), this is Paz's first AVCA All-America nod at U-M after being named the AVCA Two-Year College Player of the Year while at Iowa Western Community College in 2006. She also was a Two-Year College first team All-American in 2007. Paz capped her two-year Michigan career starting every match and becoming just the fifth Wolverine to eclipse 500 kills in a season.
"I am extremely excited and honored to be recognized," said Paz. "I never tried to think about any individual honors during the season. We have so many great players on this team, any one of them deserve to be recognized. I am proud to represent Michigan volleyball with this award."
"It is such a great honor for both of them to be selected," said head coach Mark Rosen. "For us to have two players honored in the same season is a great statement about this team. Lexi landing on the first team is a great milestone moment for her and our program. For Juliana to cap her career with this honor is fitting. Both of them had such great seasons and proved to be among the best players in the country. We are very proud of them. They are both very worthy selections."
The Wolverines finished the 2009 campaign 27-10 overall and 12-8 in Big Ten play, and concluded their record-setting season with the program's third straight NCAA Sweet 16 appearance and first-ever trip to the NCAA Regional Finals after placing fifth in the Big Ten standings. The team's 27 wins are the second most in program history and the most under Rosen.
Contact: Matt Fancett (734) 763-4423
