California (PA) University outside hitter Joanna Nist has been selected as the Daktronics Division II Volleyball Atlantic Region Player of the Year. A sophomore hitter from Rockwood, Pa., Nist leads the top-regionally ranked and recently crowned Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference champion Vulcans with kills (454), and ranks third in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) in kills per game (4.13). She is also second on the team with 415 digs.

Two other California University players joined Nist on the First Team, including sophomore setter Renata da Silva (Sao Paulo, Brazil) and sophomore libero Marta Hodge (Fayetteville, Pa.). Mount Olive College’s Sam Mitchell (Boyd, Wisc.), a senior outside hitter, and Clarion University’s Sarah Fries (Willard, Ohio), a senior opposite hitter earned spots on the First Team lineup. In the middle, Edinboro University senior Jenna Newman (Las Vegas, NV) along with Coker College senior Margaret Madison (Savannah, GA) were also voted on to the First Team.

The Daktronics All-Region First Team and Second Team each consist of seven members, including a setter, two outside hitters, two middle hitters, a right side/opposite hitter, and a libero. The seven-member first team squad will move on to the national ballot, which will be released on November 21, 2007, for voting.

Below you will find the 2007 Daktronics, Inc. Division II Volleyball All-Atlantic Region First and Second Teams.

DAKTRONICS
2007 Division II Atlantic Region Volleyball Team

FIRST TEAM
SETTER Renata da Silva – California (Pa.) University (Sophomore/Sao Paulo, Brazil)
OUTSIDE HITTER Joanna Nist – California (Pa.) University (Sophomore/Rockwood, Pa.)
OUTSIDE HITTER Sam Mitchell – Mount Olive College (Senior/Boyd, Wisc.)
MIDDLE HITTER Jenna Newman – Edinboro University (Senior/Las Vegas, NV)
MIDDLE HITTER Margaret Madison – Coker College (Senior/Savannah, Ga.)
OPPOSITE/RIGHT SIDE HITTER Sarah Fries – Clarion University (Senior/Willard, Ohio)
LIBERO/DEFENSIVE SPECIALIST Marta Hodge – California (PA) University (Sophomore/Fayetteville, Pa.)

SECOND TEAM
SETTER Katie Wilkins – Edinboro University (Freshman/Elkhart, IN)
OUTSIDE HITTER Amber Santavy – California (Pa.) University (Senior/Greensburg, Pa.)
OUTSIDE HITTER Christina Steiner – Clarion University (Senior/Florence, KY)
MIDDLE HITTER Racey Bartley – Mount Olive College (Sophomore/Jacksonville, Fla.)
MIDDLE HITTER Erin Waters – Kutztown University (Senior/Waymart, Pa.)
OPPOSITE/RIGHT SIDE HITTER Inga Kurgonaite – Lock Haven University (Senior/Kaunas, Lithuania)
LIBERO/DEFENSIVE SPECIALIST Nicole Biuso – Kutztown University (Senior/Centereach, NY)

ATLANTIC REGION PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Joanna Nist (California (Pa.) University, So., OH)