December 5, 2007
Lynchburg, Va.
Liberty right-side hitter Nicki Scripko was one of nine freshmen
in the nation to receive all-region recognition, the American
Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) announced today. Scripko
was an honorable mention All-East Region selection.
Scripko (Fayetteville, N.C.), the only Big South Conference
player to be honored by the AVCA, becomes the third Liberty
player ever to garner an AVCA award at the NCAA Division I
level. Theresa Bream was named to the All-South Region second
team in 1990 and Anthonia Akpama was a first-team All-District 3
honoree in 1999. Both Bream and Akpama were seniors when they
were recognized.
The right-side hitter was one of two East Region freshmen
honored by the AVCA. Joining Scripko on the honorable mention
list was Virginia Tech middle blocker Felicia Willoughby, the
ACC Rookie of the Year. Willoughby earned the nod over Scripko
for AVCA East Region Freshman of the Year.
Scripko was previously named Big South Freshman of the Year, one
of a number of times she was recognized by the conference this
past season. The North Carolina native was a first-team All-Big
South honoree and was selected to the all-tournament team, as
the Lady Flames captured their first Big South Championship
since 2001.
A member of the Big South All-Freshman team, Scripko won
four-straight Big South Freshman of the Week awards during
October, a month which saw the Lady Flames fashion
10-consecutive 3-0 sweeps. Scripko came into her own during the
heart of Liberty’s Big South Conference schedule, and ranked
second in the conference in both attack percentage (.343) and
kills per game (4.26) in conference-only matches.
For the season, Scripko finished second on the Lady Flames’
roster in attack percentage (.302), kills (393) and assists
(83). Her attack percentage was the fourth-highest in program
history under the rally-scoring format and her kill total was
the most by a Liberty rookie since assistant coach Jennifer
(Belk) Vaden put down 444 kills in 2001.
Scripko paced the Lady Flames with 18 kills in their 3-1,
season-ending setback versus No. 10 national seed California in
the opening round of the NCAA Division I Volleyball Tournament.
The match marked the first time Liberty has taken a game in a
NCAA Tournament tilt and closed out the Lady Flames’ campaign at
27-9. The 27 victories set a new program record at the NCAA
Division I level.
2007 AVCA All-East Region Team
Stephanie Barry, Delaware, DS/Libero, So.
Jade Brown, Maryland, OH, Sr.
Carrie DeMange, Duke, MB, Sr.
Didem Ege, Clemson, DS/Libero, So.
Ali Hausfeld, Duke, S, Sr.
Danielle Hepburn, Clemson, MB, Jr.
Talisa Kellogg, Georgia Tech, OH, Jr.
Sarah Kirkwood, Virginia, OH, Sr.
Rachael Moss, Duke, OH, So.
Kelsey Murphy, Clemson, S, So.
Ulrike Stegemann, Georgia Tech, RS/Opp., Sr.
Meghan Steiner, Clemson, MB, Sr.
Region Freshman of the Year: Felicia
Willoughby, Virginia Tech, MB
Honorable Mention
Jeannette Abbott, Clemson, OH, Jr.
Leslie Mansfield, Clemson, RS/Opp., Sr.
Nicki Scripko, Liberty, RS/Opp., Fr.
Jenny Shull, Duke, DS/Lib., Sr.
Colleen Walsh, Delaware, OH, Sr.
Felicia Willoughby, Virginia Tech, MB, Fr.
