University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Volleyball Holds Annual Awards Banquet
2/1/2011 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Feb. 1, 2011
HATTIESBURG, Miss. -- Southern Miss Head Volleyball Coach Abbey Sutherland and staff handed out several awards to players at the annual awards banquet on Sunday afternoon in the Touchdown Club in the South Endzone.
Junior Kelsea Seymour came away with the top honor, the Sharon Montgomery Award, awarded to the team's most valuable player. Seymour was named the Conference USA Setter of the Week three times during the season. She finished the season with 1,272 assists for a 10.79 per set average, 17 aces and 286 digs.
Two players were recognized for earning All-Conference USA honors - Ashley Mell and Seymour - earned first team honors. Mell ranked second in C-USA and 13th nationally in points and kills. She tallied 512 kills for a 4.41 per set average and had 584 points (5.03 pps). She was named C-USA Offensive Player of the Week once.
Mell and Seymour earned AVCA All-Midwest Region first team honors and concluded the year with honorable mention AVCA All-America honors.
Sophomore Elizabeth Rinaudo received the "Most Improved Player" Award. Rinaudo played in 31 matches and drew 23 starts as a defensive specialist. She recorded seven aces and 238 digs.
Lauren Sears and Seymour were recognized for their academic success as they were named to the Conference USA All-Academic team. Sears was voted to the ESPN The Magazine All-District VI first team for the second straight year with a 4.0 GPA.
The team also received an award for Academic Excellence for carrying a team GPA of 3.303. This is the second consecutive year the volleyball program has received this award.
Junior Lisa Knecht received The Hustle Award. Knecht played libero for the Golden Eagles and led the team in digs with 561 for a 4.84 per set average to rank fourth in the league.
