Stanford, Penn State star spikers lead All-America team; NU players make squad

OMAHA -- Stanford's Foluke Akinradewo and Penn State's Nicole Fawcett head the list of American Volleyball Coaches Association All-America selections announced Wednesday.

Akinradewo and Fawcett have been honored by the AVCA four years in a row. They are on the first team for the third straight year. They were second-team picks as freshmen.

Other three-time first-team selections are Stanford's Cynthia Barboza, Penn State's Megan Hodge and UCLA's Nellie Spicer.

Akinradewo, the AVCA national player of the year in 2007, was Pac-10 player of the year for the second straight season. The 6-foot-3 middle blocker is third nationally in hitting percentage and is in the top 10 in blocks per set.

Fawcett, a 6-4 outside hitter, is Big Ten player of the year and ranks among the national leaders in hitting percentage. She led the Big Ten in service aces this season and is second on Penn State's career kills chart.

Barboza, a 6-0 outside hitter, teamed with Akinradewo to help lead Stanford to a third straight Pac-10 title and ranked among the conference leaders in points per set.

Hodge leads Penn State in kills and is second in digs. The 6-3 junior outside hitter helped the unbeaten Nittany Lions to their sixth straight Big Ten title.

Spicer, a 5-10 setter, ended her career as only the second UCLA player to amass 6,000 assists.

Other first-team selections: Hana Cutura, outside hitter, California; Ashley Engle, right side/opposite, Texas; Alisha Glass, setter, Penn State; Christa Harmotto, Penn State, middle blocker; Destinee Hooker, outside hitter, Texas; Alix Klineman, outside hitter, Stanford; Jordan Larson, outside hitter, Nebraska; Stephanie Lynch, middle blocker, Purdue; Lauren Paolini, middle blocker, Texas.