San Antonio, Texas (December 14, 2011) - The American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) is proud to announce the 31st annual AVCA Division I All-America Teams for women's volleyball. The awards will be presented Dec. 16, 2011, in San Antonio, Texas at the AVCA All-America/Players of the Year Banquet presented by Zamst. The event is held in conjunction with the 2011 AVCA Convention.

Each of the three AVCA All-America Teams is comprised of 14 athletes. The Division I AVCA National Player of the Year will be announced on Dec. 16 at the AVCA All-America/Players of the Year Banquet presented by Zamst.

The University of Northern Iowa is represented on the All-America second team by senior setter Bre Payton. Payton helped her team win a third consecutive MVC championship in 2011 and was named as the MVC Tournament MVP for her outstanding play, in addition to her being recognized as the MVC Player of the Year, her third consecutive year to win the honor. She led her team in assists in 2011 with well over 1,200, averaging 1.91 kills per set and leading her team with a hitting percentage of .351. She was named as an AVCA Second-Team All-American last season.

UNI junior Krista DeGeest earned honorable mention All-America honors as well. DeGeest led the team in blocks (165) and ranked second on the squad in kills (320). Earlier this month, DeGeest was named to the AVCA all-Central region squad.

The Panthers finished the 2011 season with a 33-2 record.

University of Hawaii outside hitter  Kanani Danielson headlines this year's selections, as she was the only four-time AVCA All-America honoree on any of the three teams. Repeat First-Team selections from a season ago include University of Florida setter/hitter Kelly Murphy, USC outside hitter Alex Jupiter, University of Texas middle blocker Rachael Adams and University of California outside hitter Tarah Murrey.

Of all of the First-Team honorees, exactly half are first-time All-American recipients.  Through all three teams, exactly 14 have garnered All-American awards prior to 2011.  

The selections were made by the AVCA Division I All-America Committee: Santiago Restrepo, Oklahoma; Sherry Dunbar, Indiana; Lisa Seifert, Southern Methodist; Claire Lessinger, Southern Methodist; Jennifer Greeny, Washington State; Craig Skinner, Kentucky; Jeff Nelson, New Mexico; Tonya Johnson, Georgia Tech.  The AVCA Awards Chair is Dayton head volleyball coach Kelly Sheffield.

2011 AVCA DIVISION I FIRST-TEAM ALL-AMERICA

2011 AVCA DIVISION I SECOND-TEAM ALL-AMERICA

2011 AVCA DIVISION I THIRD-TEAM ALL-AMERICA

2011 Division I AVCA Freshman of the Year: Haley Eckerman, Texas, OH
2011 Division I AVCA Player of the Year: Announced at AVCA All-America/Players of the Year Banquet presented by Zamst on Dec. 16, 2011

2011 AVCA Division I Honorable Mention All-America