St. John's University Athletics
Three St. John's Volleyball Players Earn AVCA Honors
12/10/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Dec. 10, 2008
QUEENS, N.Y. - Three members of the St. John's volleyball team were named to the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) All-Northeast Region Team, as announced by the organization on Wednesday. Seniors Valeria Kovaleva, Wioleta Leszczynska and Lena Yee represented the Red Storm on the 14-player team. Leszczynska earned her third all-region accolade, while Yee landed a spot on the team for the second-consecutive year. This is the first AVCA honor for Kovaleva.
Kovaleva led St. John's with 18 double-doubles in kills and digs in 2008 and her 3.35 kills per set ranked eighth in the BIG EAST. She also checked in at sixth in the conference with 0.38 service aces per set. The Moscow, Russia, native was recognized by the BIG EAST by earning a spot on this year's All-Conference First Team after her breakthrough performance for the Red Storm.
Leszczynska was named the 2008 BIG EAST Player of the Year as she led the conference and ranked 11th in the nation with 11.56 assists per set. She also earned a spot on the conference championship all-tournament team, as well as the All-BIG EAST First Team. Leszczynska was named the conference player of the week on Nov. 10, while earning a weekly honor roll spot on two occasions. The Bielsko-Biala, Poland, native leaves St. John's ranked third in the all-time record book with 4,371 assists.
Yee earned her third-straight BIG EAST Libero of the Year honor this season after recording 4.10 digs per set, a mark that ranked third in the conference. She became the Red Storm's all-time career leader in digs this season and leaves the team with 2,079 digs over four seasons. The Honolulu, Hawaii, native was also named to the All-BIG EAST First Team for the first time in her career.
The Red Storm volleyball team finished the 2008 season with a 22-9 overall record and took home its third-straight BIG EAST regular season crown with a 12-2 mark in conference play.
AVCA All-Northeast Region Team
Whitney Behrens - Saint Louis University, DS/Lib., Jr.
Lindsay Fletemeir - University of Dayton, MB, Jr.
Bridget Fonke - Saint Louis University, OH, Jr.
Marcela Gurgel ** - University of South Florida, OH, Jr.
Christina Kaelin - University of Notre Dame, RS/Opp., Jr.
Valeria Kovaleva - St. John's University, OH, Sr.
Justine Landi - University of Louisville, RS/Opp., Jr.
Wioleta Leszczynska *** - St. John's University, S, Sr.
Jana Matiasovska - University of Louisville, OH, Sr.
Sammi McCloud - Saint Louis University, RS/Opp., Jr.
Jessie Nevitt *** - University of Cincinnati, MB, Sr.
Rubena Sukaj *** - American University, OH, Sr.
Whitney Roth - Saint Louis University, S, Jr.
Lena Yee * - St. John's University, DS/Lib., Sr.
* denotes previous All-Region Team selections
