Drushal, Riley First Scots Ever Named to AVCA All-Region Team

2008 AVCA All-Region Teams

Ali Drushal (Lakeville, Ohio / West Holmes) and KateLynn Riley (Westlake, Ohio / Westlake) became the first from The College of Wooster volleyball program to be selected to the All-Great Lakes Region Team as both received the honor, announced the American Volleyball Coaches Association late Thursday. The AVCA's all-region awards were established in 1996 and by being part of the 14-member team, Drushal and Riley are now eligible for the All-America Team, which will be announced Nov. 18.

Drushal, also the North Coast Athletic Conference Libero of the Year and first-team all-NCAC honoree, averaged 6.55 digs per set, despite the opposition attempting to hit away from her on a regular basis. That number ranks seventh in the most recent NCAA Div. III national statistics and puts her atop the league. In addition to totaling 734 digs this season, including a high of 45 during a key 3-2 win over Allegheny College on Sept. 23, the 5-3 senior defensive specialist chipped in 20 service aces and 54 assists while compiling a .956 receiving percentage.

For her career, Drushal racked up a conference-record 3,043 digs, which also makes her just one of 10 in NCAA volleyball history (all divisions) to reach the 3,000 milestone. Drushal, a standout for Wooster's track & field team as well, was the NCAC Libero of the Year each of the last three seasons, highlighted by back-to-back first-team all-conference status and a Div. III-leading 874 digs in 2007.

Riley, who also joined Drushal on the All-NCAC First Team, was a force both offensively and defensively for the Fighting Scots. The 5-9 junior hitting specialist is currently 29th in Div. III in kills per set at 3.85, which led all players in the conference. Riley, who accumulated a .328 hitting percentage while tallying double-digit kills in 28 of 32 matches, topped the NCAC in points per set (4.94), total service aces (50), and total blocks (113) as well.

Headed into her senior season, Riley has registered 1,076 career kills – already making her one of just six in team history to have hit 1,000 – on a .258 hitting percentage, in addition to totals of 82 service aces, 340 digs, and 217 blocks. She's on pace to finish second at Wooster in kills and fifth in blocks.

The Scots went 20-13 this fall, including a 13-3 NCAC record, good for second-place, which marked the program's highest conference finish since 1985.