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November 9, 2011
2011 All-Little East Volleyball Teams Released
NORTH DARTMOUTH, Mass. – The University
of Massachusetts Boston earned two of the five volleyball major
awards this afternoon when the 2011 All-Little East teams were
announced. Junior Shannon Thompson (Moorpark, Calif.) was named the
Offensive Player of the Year for the second-straight season, while
freshman middle hitter Kirsten Morrison (North Reading, Mass.) was
selected as the Rookie of the Year. Western Connecticut State
University senior libero Kelley Collins (Massapequa, N.Y.) was
honored as the Defensive Player of the Year for the third
consecutive season, and Plymouth State boss Chris Kilmer was tabbed
as the Coach of the Year. The University of Southern Maine earned
the Team Sportsmanship Award for the second-straight season.
In addition to the major awards program, the Little East office
honored a seven-member first and second team, respectively.
Thompson became just the third student-athlete to repeat as the
top offensive player in the conference circuit. The junior outside
hitter from Moorpark, Calif. is also making her third appearance on
the All-Little East first-team. In almost three seasons on the
court, Thompson has become the Beacon career leader in kills
(1,327)—putting an additional 136 between the previous
standard. She currently ranks among the national leaders in points
per set (ninth, 5.13) and kills per set (11th, 4.26). Thompson
leads the conference in points (5.13), while ranking second in
kills (413) and third in hitting percentage (.335). She has matched
the UMass Boston single-season record for block assists (62), while
moving into fourth in hitting percentage and sixth in kills.
Thompson became the first Beacon to be selected as the American
Volleyball Coaches Association Division III Player of the Week for
her performance on the court for the week ending Oct. 16. A starter
in all 30 matches, Thompson has reached double figures in kills 25
times, including producing at least 20 winners twice. She smashed a
season-high 27 kills against Salve Regina on Sept. 10. Thompson has
recorded at least 10 digs in nine matches, including a season-best
16 at Tufts University on Sept. 27. She was named the Little East
Offensive Player of the Week in five of the nine times the award
was presented.
Collins is the first student-athlete in volleyball to win the
prestigious top defensive player in three consecutive seasons. The
Massapequa, N.Y. product is also making her second-straight
appearance on the All-Little East, second-team. Collins sits atop
the conference standings in digs (697), while ranking 19th
nationally in digs per set (5.96). She recorded her third highest
single-season total for digs this fall, which is also third on the
Colonials all-time single-season list. In 31 matches, Collins
reached double figures in digs 30 times, including 20 contests with
at least 20. She posted a season-high of 33 digs against Wesleyan
University (Conn.) on Oct. 22. A Western Connecticut
student-athlete has earned the Little East Defensive Player of the
Year award six times since 2002.
Morrison is the fourth consecutive UMass Boston player and sixth
overall to be honored as the top rookie in the conference circuit.
The freshman from North Reading, Mass. is also making her debut on
the All-Little East, second-team. Morrison is currently ranked
among the Little East leaders in hitting percentage (fourth, .322).
She appeared in 29 matches for the Beacons this season, registering
174 kills, 27 digs, and 10 assists. Morrison reached double digits
in kills three times on the campaign, including recording 13
winners against MIT on Oct. 15. She also logged her highest hitting
percentage (.765) against the Engineers, when she registered a
winner on 13 of her 17 swings. Morrison was a force at the net,
registering 67 total blocks. She was second on the squad in block
solos (18) and third in block assists (49). She was named the
Little East Rookie of the Week twice on the season.
Kilmer is just the second Panther to be selected as the Little
East Coach of the Year, joining his predecessor Moira Long who
earned the award in 2002. Under his guidance, Plymouth State
boasted an overall record of 23-10, marking the 11th time in the
past 14 years the Panthers have reached the 20-win plateau. In just
his first season at the helm, Kilmer led Plymouth State to a share
of the program's third regular-season title with a 6-1 mark. The
Panthers closed strong down the stretch, winning 10 of their final
11 regular-season matches. Plymouth State earned the top seed and
right to host the semifinal and championship rounds of the Little
East Championship Tournament for the first time in program history.
The Panthers advanced to the championship round before bowing out
to second-seeded UMass Boston. Kilmer will lead Plymouth State into
the 2011 Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Division III
New England Tournament this weekend.
Formed in 1986, the Little East serves as New England's premier
athletic conference for public institutions in NCAA Division III.
Featuring 19 championship sports, the Little East sponsors quality
competition in every season for our student athletes. Our eight
state colleges and universities dedicate themselves to an ongoing
fulfillment of the Division III mission of passion, responsibility,
sportsmanship, and citizenship.
| 2011
All-Little East Volleyball Teams |
| First
Team |
| Name |
Class |
Position |
Institution |
| Ellyse Davis |
Senior |
Middle Blocker |
Keene State College |
| Cassy Hanneman |
Senior |
Setter |
University of Massachusetts Boston |
| Bridget O'Bryant |
Senior |
Outside Hitter |
Keene State College |
| Molly Rattigan |
Senior |
Outside Hitter |
University of Massachusetts Boston |
| Casey Stoodley |
Junior |
Outside Hitter |
Plymouth State University |
| Shannon Thompson |
Junior |
Outside Hitter |
University of Massachusetts Boston |
| Paxton Thornton |
Junior |
Outside Hitter |
Western Connecticut State University |
| Second
Team |
| Sarah Cady |
Senior |
Setter |
Plymouth State University |
| Kelley Collins |
Senior |
Libero |
Western Connecticut State University |
| Jennifer Hogan |
Freshman |
Setter |
Western Connecticut State University |
| Allie Jones |
Sophomore |
Outside Hitter |
Plymouth State University |
| Corrine Porter |
Sophomore |
Outside Hitter |
University of Massachusetts Boston |
| Kirsten Morrison |
Freshman |
Middle Hitter |
University of Massachusetts Boston |
| Laurie Whalen |
Senior |
Setter |
Keene State College |
| Offensive Player
of the Year |
| Shannon Thompson,
University of Massachusetts Boston |
| Defensive Player
of the Year |
| Kelley Collins, Western
Connecticut State University |
| Rookie of the
Year |
| Kirsten Morrison,
University of Massachusetts Boston |
| Coach of the
Year |
| Chris Kilmer, Plymouth
State University |
| Team Sportsmanship
Award |
| University of Southern
Maine |
