FSU'S KARLA FAIRBANKS RECEIVES SECOND TEAM ALL-AMERICA KUDOS

November 29, 2004

Senior outside hitter Karla Fairbanks earned 2004 AVCA All-America Second Team laurels

Ferris State University senior outside hitter Karla Fairbanks (Rogers City) has been named to the 2004 American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Division II All-America Second Team in an announcement made today (Nov. 29) by the AVCA.

Fairbanks joins former Bulldog player Alaina Olds (1999-02), who attained second team All-America status in 2002, as the second FSU player in the last three seasons to achieve the honor. She joins Olds, Kathy O'Connor (1992,1993-2nd), Stephanie Chaffin (1992-2nd), Karen Volkers (1990-2nd), Lori Blair (1990-2nd), Patty Theis (1986,1987-1st; 1985-2nd), Wendy McCann (1987-2nd) and Sharon Sanders (1984-2nd) as the Bulldogs' All-America selections.

Twelve individuals were named to each of the three All-America squads. Fairbanks earlier was named to the AVCA Division II All-Great Lakes Region First Team for the second consecutive season and also chosen as a second-team Daktronics All-Great Lakes Region honoree.

Three Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) players were named to one of the three AVCA All-America teams. Fairbanks joined Northern Michigan's Aimee DeWitte as a second-team choice while Carrie Ritchie of Ashland garnered first-team kudos.

A 2003 AVCA Honorable Mention All-America honoree, Fairbanks concluded her career ranked third on Ferris' all-time chart with 1,649 career kills. The 5-11 Fairbanks posted 20 or more kills in 15 of her last 23 appearances this season while totaling a personal career-high 538 kills. She was 53 digs away from becoming only the sixth player in school history to record both 1,000 career kills and 1,000 career digs. In addition, Fairbanks netted 185 career service aces and ranks fourth on FSU’s all-time list.

A two-time (2003-04) All-GLIAC First Team honoree, Fairbanks placed second overall among the league leaders in kills (4.85 kpg) and third in aces (0.59 apg) this season. She was named GLIAC North Division Player of the Week four times this campaign and garnered NCAA Division II Great Lakes Region All-Tournament Team recognition.

Fairbanks helped guide the Bulldogs to a 25-7 overall record during the 2004 campaign, including a second place 14-4 GLIAC North Division mark. FSU, which won its first-ever GLIAC Tournament title this season, also advanced to the NCAA-II National Tournament for the 12th time in school history.

The 24th annual AVCA awards will be presented this Wednesday (Dec. 1) at the 2004 NCAA Division II Elite Eight Tournament Banquet. The banquet, which will be held at the Signature Grand in Davie, Fla., runs in conjunction with the Elite Eight being held at Barry University in Miami Shores, Fla.

The 2004 All-America selections were made by the AVCA Division II All-America Committee: Kim Sudbeck, Augustana College (S.D.), chairperson; Jim Boos, University of Minnesota Duluth; Tia Brandel-Wilhelm, Ferris State University; Jim Callender, Western New Mexico University; Ginger Crissman-Ashley, Catawba College; Sandy Hoffman, Bentley College; Gary Lee, Millersville University; Peggy Martin, Central Missouri State University; and Kim Vinson, Cameron University.