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Nov. 28, 2006
GREENSBORO, N.C. – Four University of Virginia volleyball players have been named to three 2006 All-ACC teams. Fourth-year setter Emily Kirkwood (Tampa, Fla./Plant) has been selected to the nine-player All-ACC first team, while third-year outside hitter Sarah Kirkwood (Tampa, Fla./Plant) and third-year middle Katie Oakes (Lorton, Va./Evangel Christian School) are second-team selections. First-year outside hitter Lauren Dickson (Austin, Texas/Westlake) has been named to the six-player ACC All-Freshman Team.
“We are honored that the other ACC coaches placed four of our players on All-ACC teams,” said head coach Melissa Aldrich Shelton. “Our team had a fantastic year and it’s taken an extraordinary amount of dedication from each of the 13 players on our team to achieve what we did. Having four of them recognized for their efforts is a great honor.”
Emily Kirkwood captures All-ACC First Team honors for the first time in her career. She was second in the conference with 13.08 assists per game (1,347 assists in 103 games). She started the 29 matches she played in and was third on the team with 39 services aces. The 5-9 Kirkwood concludes her career as Virginia’s all-time service aces leader with 167 (two ahead of her younger sister, Sarah). She ranks second all-time at UVa and seventh in ACC history in assists with 5,424.
“Emi was our leader all year and the main reason for our success,” said Shelton. “Her desire to win as well as her setting skills carried us through many a match. Having her named to the first team is an appropriate reward for her dedication to this program.”
Sarah Kirkwood is one of nine players named to the All-ACC Second Team. Kirkwood, 6-0, was a first-team All-ACC pick in 2005 and a second-team selection as a freshman in 2004. She is just the second Cavaliers to earn All-ACC honors three times as Beth Brockell was a three-time first-team All-ACC selection (1987, 1988, 1989). Kirkwood totaled 334 kill (3.80 per game) and 262 digs (2.98 per game) in 2006. She led all ACC players with 56 service aces (0.64 per game) despite missing the first six matches of conference play with an illness. Kirkwood started 25 matches on the season and played in 88 games.
“Sarah being named All-ACC this fall is a testament to her desire to be successful,” said Shelton. “Most players would not have been able to rebound from missing six ACC matches due to illness and still make the all-conference team. Sarah is a tremendous player and she had a terrific season.”
Oakes also garners All-ACC honors for the first time with her second-team selection. The 6-1 Oakes is currently ninth in the nation in blocks per game with an average of 1.61. She totaled a career-best 163 blocks, the fifth highest single season total in school history. Her 135 block assists is the third-highest total in school history, just eight shy of the school record. Oakes also tallied a career-best 339 kills (3.36 per game) and led UVa with 443.5 total points.
“Katie emerged as one of the most dominating blockers in the ACC and she came through in the clutch quite a few times this fall,” said Shelton. “Her energy on the court keeps our team moving and I’m happy the other ACC coaches see her as a great player too.”
Dickson had an outstanding freshman season and was rewarded with a spot on the ACC All-Freshman Team. It marks the seventh consecutive season a Cavalier has been named to the ACC All-Freshman Team. The 6-1 Dickson led UVa with 372 kills (3.44 per game) while posting a .251 hitting percentage, which was second-best on the team. She was among the team leaders with 34 service aces (0.31 per game) and also added 170 digs (1.57 per game) and 37 blocks (0.34 per game). Dickson played in 108 games during all 31 matches and made 25 starts.
“Lauren had a tremendous first season,” said Shelton. “When Sarah got sick she really stepped up and carried a lot of our offensive load. Her hitting stats were some of the best in the conference and she is very deserving of her honor.”
Duke’s Ali Hausfeld was named the ACC Player of the Year, while Blue Devil rookie Rachael Moss was selected as the ACC Freshman of Year. Duke’s Jolene Nagel was named the ACC Coach of the Year.
Virginia finished the season with a 23-8 overall record and placed second in the ACC with a 16-6 mark. UVa set a school record with its 16 conference victories.