Crusader Duo Named To All-America Squads
Tihomirova becomes eighth Crusader ever on first team

Dec. 4, 2007

		Lubovj Tihomirova was named a first team All-American by the NAIA Monday (Dec. 4).

NAIA RELEASE

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) has announced the 2007 Volleyball All-America Teams, as selected by the NAIA Volleyball All-America Selection Committee and Madonna junior outside hitter Lubovj Tihomirova earned first team honors while senior Jacqui Gatt finished as the runner-up for National Libero of the Year and was selected to the honorable mention team.

Tihomirova is the eigth MU volleyball player ever, and the first since 2005 to earn first team honors.  She joins Dana Finley (1991, 92), Kari Van Deusen (1993), Kelly McCausland (1995, 96), Brandy Malewski (2000), Shelley Stanton (2002), Ashley Frost (2005) and Natalja Tinina (2005) on the exclusive list.

Tihomirova, who was selected earlier this season as both the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference and Region VIII Player of the Year, also became the first Crusader since the 2005 season to be selected to the all-tournament team at the NAIA National Championships.

The Riga, Latvia, native posted 82 kills, 15 blocks, an ace and accounted for 91.5 points for the Crusaders who went 3-2 at the championship, putting on a good final show for the selection committee.

For the season, Tihomirova posted a new MU single-season record with 967 kills, leading the WHAC in the process. She hit at a .311 clip, also tops in the conference, while posting 142 total blocks and accounting for 1094 points.

Gatt, the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference and Region VIII Libero of the Year, was picked to the honorable mention squad after leading the WHAC with 889 digs and a .917 reception percentage. Those 889 digs were good for fifth all-time in a single season at MU and her career total of 2,364 places her third all-time in the Crusader record book.

The Livonia, Mich., native was also the runner up for National Libero of the Year, finishing second to Heather Hernandez from Walsh (OH) University. Madonna defeated Walsh this season at the Crusader Classic in a showdown of the country's top-two liberos.

Madonna, which earned its sixth straight trip to the national tournament this season, ended the year with a 35-12 record and captured the program’s 11^th straight WHAC title.

Contact:
Matt Fancett, Assistant AD - Media Relations
(734) 432-5610
Patrick Moore, Sports Information Director
(734)-432-5834