Women's Volleyball Announces Team Awards
March 14, 2005
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – University of Miami women’s volleyball head coach Nicole Lantagne Welch announced the team honors that were awarded for the 2004 season. Among the honors that were handed out were the Academic Award, the Most Improved Award, the Most Inspirational Award, the Unsung Hero Award, the 100% Award and the team’s Most Valuable Player.
Senior outside hitter Elizabeth Tyson was awarded the Academic Award for the second straight season. The award goes to the player with the highest GPA over the course of two semesters during the season. Tyson was named to the 2004 COSIDA (College Sports Information Directors of America) Academic All-District 3 Third Team on Nov. 11th. This season, the Jacksonville, Fla. native became only the second player in Miami history to reach the 1,000 career kills mark. Tyson closed out her UM career second on the all-time career kills list with 1,002 kills.
Redshirt freshman Ciara Michel garnered Most Improved Player honors after leading the Hurricanes with 132 total blocks. The award, selected by teammates and coaches, is given to the player who has made the biggest improvement throughout the course of the season. Michel, a 6-4 middle blocker from Miami, Fla., was third in the ACC and 35th in the NCAA with 1.45 blocks per game. In only her first season in competition, Michel set a school season record in blocks per game (1.45) and tied the season record, with teammate Karla Johnson, for solo blocks in a season (23). She also set a school match record for assist blocks with 11 against Virginia Tech Sep. 26th.
Senior libero Jamie Grass received the Most Inspirational award for the second time in her career. The award, selected by teammates, is given to the player who inspires teammates to be the best players and people they can be. Grass, a 2004 co-captain, closed her career at Miami as the all-time leader in digs with 1,621. The Manhattan Beach, Calif. native averaged 3.95 digs per game in her career and is also the all-time leader in matches and games played with 114 matches and 410 games played in the span of four seasons.
Sophomore setter Jill Robinson earned the Unsung Hero award, voted on by teammates and coaches. The award is given to the player who demonstrated a hard work ethic but went more unnoticed in terms of recognition on the team. Robinson ran the Hurricanes’ offense this season posting a team-high 13.38 assists per game, which ranked her second in the ACC and 16th in the NCAA. In only her second season with the Hurricanes, the Merced, Calif. native set school records in career assists with 2, 208 and career assists per game with an 11.62 average.
Junior outside hitter/middle blocker Karla Johnson was given the 100% Award. The award, voted on by teammates and coaches, is given to the player who exemplifies a dedication of 100% day in and day out. Johnson improved in all statistical categories from the 2003 season, posting a 365 total kills for a 3.76 kills per game average. The Houston, Tex. native and Miami all-time leader in solo blocks (48), finished the 2004 season with 57 total blocks.
Senior rightside hitter Valeria Tipiana garnered Most Valuable Player honors after she became the first-ever Miami player to earn First Team All-ACC honors. She also became the first UM player to surpass the 1,000 career kills mark, finishing the 2004 season with a record 1,411 career kills. The Lima, Peru native also become the Hurricanes’ all-time leader in hitting percentage, with a .315 average; service aces with 131; block assists with 276 and total blocks with 299. Tipiana ranks second with 968 career digs and is third with a 2.54 career digs per game average.
2004 Team Honors
Academic Award: Biz Tyson
Most Improved Award: Ciara Michel
Most Inspirational Award: Jamie Grass
Unsung Hero Award: Jill Robinson
100% Award: Karla Johnson
MVP: Valeria Tipiana
