Teams: Volleyball: Press Releases

Tuesday, November 30, 2004
Written by Lee Kellogg

HARRISON IS VOLLEYBALL HONORABLE MENTION ALL-AMERICAN

MEDFORD -- Coming off an outstanding season in which she led her team to a 28-6 overall record, sophomore Kelli Harrison (Blue Jay, CA/Rim of the World) has been given honorable mention recognition on the 2004 American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Division III All-America Team.

The selection comes as no surprise after the dominating numbers Harrison put up all season. On offense, she led the Jumbos with 396 kills for an average of 3.38 a game. Defensively, she recorded 415 digs, averaging 3.55 a game. Only one Jumbo had more digs than Harrison. She also blocked 66 balls on the season, the third highest total on the team. At the end of the season, she was in the top ten among New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) players in both kills per game and hitting percentage (.309).

Harrison averaged an amazing six kills per game with 24 in a 3-1 victory over MIT on October 2 in the Tufts Invitational. Her five-game high for kills was 25 in a 3-2 victory at Amherst on October 16. Five times she topped 20 digs in a match, including 23 in a four-game win over MIT on September 15 at the MIT Invitational. She equaled that total in the win over Amherst on Oct. 16.

Harrison was also named to the 2004 NESCAC All-Conference First Team, to the New England Women's Volleyball Association (NEWVA) First Team, and to the AVCA All-New England team. She was the NESCAC player of the week back in early October.

Only a sophomore, Harrison will be a player to watch over the next couple years. Although it will be tough, she and her fellow Jumbos will look to improve upon this year's second-place NESCAC finish with a 9-1 in-conference record. The team has improved each year since coach Cora Thompson's arrival, in no small part due to Harrison's contributions.

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