Teams: Volleyball: Press Releases

Monday, November 13, 2006

HARRISON AN HONORABLE MENTION ALL-AMERICAN IN VOLLEYBALL

MEDFORD – Senior co-captain Kelli Harrison (Blue Jay, CA/Rim of the World) of the Tufts University volleyball team has capped her outstanding four-year career by being tabbed as an honorable mention All-American by the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA).

The 2006 All-American selections were made by the AVCA All-American Committee, an eight-member group consisting of coaches across the country. Three teams and an honorable mention list were selected. Harrison receives this honor for the second time in her career, including her sophomore season in 2004. This is the fourth straight year that head coach Cora Thompson's team has been represented on the honorable mention list of the AVCA.

Harrison was a leader offensively and defensively this year for the Jumbos, who were among New England's top teams all season and finished with a 23-8 record. She opened the season in tremendous fashion, recording a season-high 29 kills in the first match against Penn State-Altoona. She topped 20 kills five times overall, including 20 even in a conference victory over Colby College on October 14. Additionally, her four service aces versus Endicott early in the season tied for the team high all year.

She was also a key contributor with her defense. Harrison's 21 digs against Vassar on September 23 during the MIT Tournament were the best three-game total on the team this year. She also had 23 digs in a five-game New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) loss to Amherst.

In 99 games overall, Harrison led the Jumbos with 428 kills (4.32 per game) and had a .254 hitting percentage. Her 359 total digs (3.63 per game) was second-best on the team, as was her 32 service aces.

Harrison was named to the All-NESCAC First Team and to the AVCA All-New England squad this fall. Her senior season concluded a career during which she was three times an All-NESCAC First Team selection, twice named to the AVCA All-New England team, and twice an honorable mention All-American. Her injury-plagued junior season was the only in which she was not recognized with a post-season honor.

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