Dec. 6, 2006

SANTA CLARA, Calif. - Following a record-breaking 2006 campaign in which she established herself as one of the most dominant hitters in the nation, Santa Clara's junior middle blocker Anna Cmaylo was named to the AVCA All-Pacific Region team for the second consecutive season.

The Napa native, coming off of a 2005 season in which she was named to the AVCA All-America Third Team, completed a 2006 season that saw her become the first Bronco volleyball player to ever record a hitting percentage over .400, setting the new single-season program mark with a .405 clip. That total also paced all attackers in the West Coast Conference, as Cmaylo also placed seventh in the conference with 3.89 kills a game and eighth with 1.12 blocks a game.

"I'm really happy for Anna, that she could be honored for the second year in a row," said Santa Clara head coach Jon Wallace. "She worked so hard in preparation for this season and all year long and it is very nice to see her be rewarded for her efforts."

Making Cmaylo's stat line all the more impressive is that fact that she played nine matches in the middle of the season with a new setter, as freshman Lindsy Evans stepped in and admirably filled the role in place of 2005 All-America setter Crystal Matich. Even with the sudden change, Cmaylo quickly adjusted and continued her dominant play in helping the Broncos to a 20-8 mark, the team's fourth 20-win season in the last five years, and to the program's ninth consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance.

"To have the kind of year that she had, especially considering that she had to adjust to a new setter halfway through the season, just shows how hard-working and adaptive a player that Anna is," Wallace added.

The AVCA will announce its All-America teams next Wednesday, Dec. 13.

AVCA All-Pacific Region First Team

Foluke Akinradewo**, Stanford University, MB, So.
Cynthia Barboza, Stanford University, OH, So.
Kristen Carlson, University of San Diego, OH, Sr.
Anna Cmaylo**, Santa Clara University, MB, Jr.
Asia Kaczor, Univ. of Southern California, RS/Opp, Jr.
Bryn Kehoe, Stanford University, S, Jr.
Nana Meriwether**, UCLA, MB, Sr.
Christal Morrison***, University of Washington, OH, Jr.
Angie Pressey, University of California, OH, Jr.
Debora Seilhamer, Univ. of Southern California, DS/Lib, Sr.
Nellie Spicer, UCLA, S, So.
Courtney Thompson***, University of Washington, S, Sr.

(*) - Player has earned All-Region honors in prior season(s)

Region Freshman of the Year: Taylor Carico, Southern California, S

Honorable Mention: Katie Carter (UCLA, OH, Sr.), Alesha Deesing (Washington, MB, Jr.), Kristin Lutes (Sacramento State, DS/Lib, Sr.), Sophia Milo (Pepperdine, MB, Sr.), Kristin Richards (Stanford, OH, Sr.), Jessica Swarbrick (Washington, MB, So.)