Dec. 9, 2009

By Danny Mattie
Athletic Media Relations

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Three Rams, including Mountain West Conference Player of the Year Danielle Minch, were selected Wednesday afternoon to the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) all-West region team.  The AVCA made the announcement.

Minch, a junior outside hitter, was joined on the team by senior libero Katelin Batten, and redshirt freshman middle blocker Megan Plourde.  

Minch, who garnered the MWC’s top honor and earned her first-career all-conference nod, led the league in kills per set and points per set.  She has recorded more than 400 kills on the season, and has helped lead the Rams to the regional semifinals of the NCAA tournament.  Minch earned all-tournament honors at both the Hilton Classic and Carolina Classic (MVP).  

Batten was selected as the Mountain West’s Libero of the Year, and ranks as the Rams’ all-time leader in total digs and digs per set.  She averaged a career-best 4.31 digs per set for the Rams in 2009, posting team-highs in 27 of 30 matches, including tying a CSU single-match record with 24 digs in a three-set victory over Utah on Oct. 17.  She also earned all-tourney honors at the Carolina Classic in September.

Plourde earned all-conference honors for the Rams as a first-year player in 2009.  She ranks second in the MWC and 27th nationally in hitting percentage, and has tallied 225 kills, second behind Minch (409) and outside hitter Jacque Davisson (280).  She ranks second on the team in total blocks with 107, just behind senior middle blocker, and MWC preseason Player of the Year, Tessa Nelson. Plourde is one of only four freshman named to the eight, 14-player teams.  

This marks the third straight year that Colorado State has produced multiple all-region recipients, and the second time in three seasons that as many as three Rams have earned the honor in the same year.  In 2007, juniors Mekana Barnes, Ashley Fornstrom and Jaime Strauss also earned the distinction.  Barnes went on to earn All-America third team honors that season.  

Minch, Batten and Plourde will now await the selection of the 2009 All-America teams, which will be announced by the AVCA on Dec. 16.