Nov. 20, 2009
WASHINGTON - Junior middle blocker Vanessa Dorismond (Cary, N.C./Cardinal Gibbons) was named to the BIG EAST Volleyball second team, when honors were announced during the BIG EAST Championship banquet on Thursday evening in Louisville, Ky. Dorismond led the Hoyas in kills with 346, while hitting .286 in 30 matches this season. She was among the conference leaders in both of those categories.
Dorismond becomes the first Georgetown volleyball player to earn BIG EAST post-season honors since Sara Albert was named to the BIG EAST Volleyball second team in November 2004.
"I'm very proud of Vanessa for all the hard work that went in to earning this honor," Georgetown Volleyball Head Coach Arlisa Williams said. "Vanessa is the first player we've had earn conference honors in five years and it speaks volumes as to where our program is going."
Dorismond made a strong impression from the beginning of the season, earning All Tournament honors at the DC Challenge in the Hoyas first action of the year. She followed it up with All Tournament selections at the Georgetown Classic and the UNC-Greensboro Tournament.
She saved some of her best performances for Georgetown's best competition. Dorismond led the Hoyas past American for the first time during the Arlisa Williams era with 11 kills, a .375 hitting percentage and four total blocks. Against Maryland, Dorismond finished with 16 kills. In conference play, Dorismond play strong against the top finishers in the BIG EAST. In the Hoyas victory over Cincinnati, she hit .429 with nine kills and seven blocks. She had a game-high 18 kills and hit .464 against Louisville. Dorismond also had 10 kills and four total blocks against Notre Dame during the season's last weekend.
"I prepare hard for every match, but sometimes you just have something extra for the best teams on your schedule," Dorismond said. "It makes me happy that all of my hard work has been recognized, but I could not have earned this honor without my teammates."
2009 BIG EAST Volleyball Awards BIG EAST Player of the Year Meagan Dooley, Pittsburgh, Sr., MH
BIG EAST Libero of the Year Michelle Rossi, Pittsburgh, Sr., L
BIG EAST Freshman of the Year Lola Arslanbekova, Louisville, Fr., OH
BIG EAST Coach of the Year Debbie Brown, Notre Dame
All-BIG EAST First Team Alli Arbogast, USF, Sr., MB Lola Arslanbekova, Louisville, Fr., OH Lecia Brown, Louisville, Sr., MB *Meagan Dooley, Pittsburgh, Sr., MH Annie Fesl, Cincinnati, Jr., S *Marcela Gurgel, USF, Sr., OH Christina Kaelin, Notre Dame, Sr., OH Sarah Morton, Syracuse, Sr., MB Jamel Nicholas, Notre Dame, Sr., S *Stephanie Niemer, Cincinnati, Jr., OH Serinity Philips, Notre Dame, Sr., OH Michelle Rossi, Pittsburgh, Sr., L
All-BIG EAST Second Team Ashley Beyer, Marquette, So., OH Allie Boaz, USF, Jr., RS Vanessa Dorismond, Georgetown, Jr., MB Lauren Evans, West Virginia, Jr., MB Missy Harpenau, Cincinnati, So., OH Nikki Klingsporn, Marquette, Jr., S Kim Maroon, Villanova, So., L Allie Matters, Seton Hall, Jr., OH Maggie Mergen, Villanova, So., MB Rebecca Murray, Connecticut, Jr., MH Kellie Sciacca, Notre Dame, Jr., MB Amy Town, Pittsburgh, Jr., OH
* - unanimous selection
