Acosta, O'Dell named First-Team All-Americans
December 7, 2009
Teaming up to help the Cowley College volleyball team win its second straight conference title, fifth straight region crown, and place second at the NJCAA Division II National Championships, Roslandy Acosta and Michelle O'Dell were recently named First-Team All-Americans.
With only 12 players being named to the First-Team, Cowley and national champion Illinois Central College were the only schools to have more than one player named a First-Team All-American.
Cowley head coach Jenifer Bahner was proud to see Acosta and O'Dell recognized for their efforts, and felt everyone on the team shared the recognition.
"This means so much for our team in general," Bahner said. "Volleyball is such a team sport, without the people on the court and on the sidelines they would not be able to accomplish this."
Providing the team with a dominant hitter on the right side, Acosta totaled 413 kills. She was also a gifted setter as she finished with 630 assists. Along with being a First-Team All-American, Acosta was also named the Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference Eastern Division Most Valuable Player, Jayhawk East Freshman of the Year, and was a First-Team All-Region selection.
Bahner knew she was getting a good player in Acosta, but she never dreamed this good.
"She not only met my expectations, she exceeded them," Bahner said. "She was a great contributor to our team and I am so excited to have her coming back next year."
O'Dell excelled as a libero for the volleyball team. As was the case when she was named a First-Team all-conference selection, O'Dell was the only libero named a First-Team All-American. She led the Jayhawk Conference Eastern Division in digs as her 783 digs on the season ranked in the top-10 nationally.
O'Dell worked hard to get to where she is today. As a freshman, O'Dell was a role player that did not start for the volleyball team. However, this season she was one of the main reasons Cowley put together one of its finest seasons in the program's history.
"She really exemplifies what hard work and buying into a team can do for a kid," Bahner said. "She worked to earn a starting position and is somebody I am so happy for and so proud of. She showed the freshmen what to work for and what they can accomplish with hard work."
During her two years at Cowley, O'Dell helped the Lady Tigers win 62 of 74 matches.
All-Americans:
First-Team - Darcey Faylor, Kishwaukee College; Roslandy Acosta, Cowley College; Michelle O'Dell, Cowley College; Jordan Lockwood, Johnson County; Taryn Salum, Scottsdale; Riley Callan, Central Community College-Columbus; Katelyn Horling, Grand Rapids; Bobbi Bayer, Des Moines Area Community College; Rebecca Morgan, Hagerstown; Yiting Cao, Illinois Central, Jeni Sykes, Parkland College; Katie Thomason, Illinois Central.
Second-Team - Molly Elderbrook, Parkland; Chanda Goedken, Kirkwood; Heather Brus, Kirkwood; Kasey Kirchhofer, East Central College; Madeline McDonnell, Kalamazoo Valley; Morgan Zumberger, Columbus State; Erica Brown, North Platte; Erin Flake, Scottsdale; Caitlyn Muder, Highland; Jena Karkos, Kishwaukee; Danielle Smith, McHenry County; Samantha Krilich, Prairie State.
Honorable Mention: Demetria Williams, Butler; Liz Alford, Pima; Ashley Wurdeman, Central Community College-Columbus; Brittany Moncrief, Oakland; Kelsey Cox, St. Clair; Ashley Wolfe, College of Southern Maryland.
With only 12 players being named to the First-Team, Cowley and national champion Illinois Central College were the only schools to have more than one player named a First-Team All-American.
Cowley head coach Jenifer Bahner was proud to see Acosta and O'Dell recognized for their efforts, and felt everyone on the team shared the recognition.
"This means so much for our team in general," Bahner said. "Volleyball is such a team sport, without the people on the court and on the sidelines they would not be able to accomplish this."
Providing the team with a dominant hitter on the right side, Acosta totaled 413 kills. She was also a gifted setter as she finished with 630 assists. Along with being a First-Team All-American, Acosta was also named the Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference Eastern Division Most Valuable Player, Jayhawk East Freshman of the Year, and was a First-Team All-Region selection.
Bahner knew she was getting a good player in Acosta, but she never dreamed this good.
"She not only met my expectations, she exceeded them," Bahner said. "She was a great contributor to our team and I am so excited to have her coming back next year."
O'Dell excelled as a libero for the volleyball team. As was the case when she was named a First-Team all-conference selection, O'Dell was the only libero named a First-Team All-American. She led the Jayhawk Conference Eastern Division in digs as her 783 digs on the season ranked in the top-10 nationally.
O'Dell worked hard to get to where she is today. As a freshman, O'Dell was a role player that did not start for the volleyball team. However, this season she was one of the main reasons Cowley put together one of its finest seasons in the program's history.
"She really exemplifies what hard work and buying into a team can do for a kid," Bahner said. "She worked to earn a starting position and is somebody I am so happy for and so proud of. She showed the freshmen what to work for and what they can accomplish with hard work."
During her two years at Cowley, O'Dell helped the Lady Tigers win 62 of 74 matches.
All-Americans:
First-Team - Darcey Faylor, Kishwaukee College; Roslandy Acosta, Cowley College; Michelle O'Dell, Cowley College; Jordan Lockwood, Johnson County; Taryn Salum, Scottsdale; Riley Callan, Central Community College-Columbus; Katelyn Horling, Grand Rapids; Bobbi Bayer, Des Moines Area Community College; Rebecca Morgan, Hagerstown; Yiting Cao, Illinois Central, Jeni Sykes, Parkland College; Katie Thomason, Illinois Central.
Second-Team - Molly Elderbrook, Parkland; Chanda Goedken, Kirkwood; Heather Brus, Kirkwood; Kasey Kirchhofer, East Central College; Madeline McDonnell, Kalamazoo Valley; Morgan Zumberger, Columbus State; Erica Brown, North Platte; Erin Flake, Scottsdale; Caitlyn Muder, Highland; Jena Karkos, Kishwaukee; Danielle Smith, McHenry County; Samantha Krilich, Prairie State.
Honorable Mention: Demetria Williams, Butler; Liz Alford, Pima; Ashley Wurdeman, Central Community College-Columbus; Brittany Moncrief, Oakland; Kelsey Cox, St. Clair; Ashley Wolfe, College of Southern Maryland.