UALBANY VOLLEYBALL ANNOUNCES SEASON-ENDING AWARDS

     Albany, N.Y. - University at Albany head volleyball coach Kelly Sheffield recently announced the team's season awards at the Great Danes' postseason banquet held at The Pearl Restaurant.
     The 2006 most valuable player award was given to senior co-captains Blair Buchanan and Ashley DeNeal. Buchanan earned her third straight America East Conference Player and Setter of the Year awards, leading the Great Danes to the conference championship and an NCAA berth for the second time in three years. DeNeal was named the most outstanding player of the A-East Championship, which was hosted by UAlbany for the third consecutive season.
     Sophomore Kamisha Kellam was named the team's most improved player, finishing fourth on the squad with 2.25 kills per game and averaging a team-high 1.35 blocks. DeNeal was also honored with the "Bring It!" award for the third year in a row. The honor is given to a player who shows the best attitude and work ethic in practice and on the court.
     DeNeal and Buchanan, along with fellow seniors Shelby Goldman and Kristin Fiorillo, were each presented with a framed jersey to commemorate their four years of commitment to the program.
     Goldman, who was an America East first team all-conference honoree, led the team with 4.23 kills per game, and finished her career as the all-time kills leader with 1,671. DeNeal was named to the all-conference first team for the second straight season, finishing as UAlbany's career digs leader with 1,903. Buchanan, who became the first player in NCAA Division I history to earn her conference's player and setter of the year awards three consecutive times, is first on the Great Danes' career assists chart with 5,049.