Dec. 14, 2006

AVCA All-American Release in PDF Format
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Omaha, Neb. - Northern Illinois senior middle blocker Kate McCullagh (Woodstock, Ill.) has accomplished many milestones during her illustrious career in a Huskie uniform, as she was named the 2006 Mid-American Conference Volleyball Player of the Year, selected to the 2006 AVCA All-Mideast Region squad and finished as the all-time leader in kills in NIU history.

Now McCullagh can add another award to her mantle, as the Woodstock, Ill., native was named to the AVCA All-America Honorable Mention volleyball team, announced on Wednesday evening, marking the first time in school-history that a Huskie has been named an All-American.

"What a great honor for Kate and the team," NIU head volleyball coach Ray Gooden said. "For her to be recognized in this manner is just a testament to how hard she has worked in her four years at Northern [Illinois]."

The 6-foot middle blocker climbed her way up the Huskie record books this past season as she broke former teammate Tera Lobdell's career-record for kills and finished with 1,936 putaways. For the season, McCullagh totaled 632 kills and is fourth in the country (as of Dec. 10) with 5.74 kills-per-game.

This past season, McCullagh was twice named the MAC West Division Player of the Week and reached the 30-kill plateau seven times, keying the Huskies to a record of 20-9 and their first MAC West Division title since 2001.

The entire AVCA All-America Teams release is attached as a PDF.

--NIU--