Parkland VB duo earn AVCA highest honors

Parkland VB duo earn AVCA highest honors
Posted: Dec 14, 2015

LEXINGTON, Ky. (December 10, 2015) - The American Volleyball Coaches Association is pleased to announce Parkland College freshman middle blocker Sofi Kelemete as its 2015 AVCA Two Year College National Player of the Year and her head coach Cliff Hastings as the National Coach of the Year. 

The formal presentation of the AVCA Two Year College National Player of the Year will be made Dec. 18th in Omaha, Nebraska at the AVCA All-America/Players of the Year Banquet held in conjunction with the 2015 AVCA Convention and NCAA Division I Women's Volleyball National Championships. Hastings will also be honored at the AVCA Convention at the Jostens Coaches Honors Luncheon on December 17th.
 
This is the first time ever that a Parkland player or coach has been named the top person in their respective category. The AVCA, unlike the NJCAA, covers all three divisions of the NJCAA as well as the California Division of two-year programs.

Sofi Kelemete Fast Facts

*Led the nation in blocks per set (2.02)
*One of four freshmen in this year's class to be selected an AVCA First-Team All-American
*Helped the Cobras to an undefeated season (57-0)
*Won their first NJCAA Volleyball Championship since 1999
*In the NJCAA Division II Championship, she had eight kills, hit .615 and recorded seven blocks
      NJCAA Tournament MVP
*The first AVCA Two-Year College Player of the Year for Parkland College
*Highland High School Female Athlete of the Year
*Also ran track in high school for one season, and finished first in Districts and fourth in state for           long jump

Quote
From Kelemete on the team struggling early in the tournament, as told to theProspectus Staff Writer Jacob Kenter…
"Once we got that mindset that we can't just go through the motions it was easier for us to win."
 
 
Cliff Hastings Fast Facts

*Season No. 7 leading the Cobras, career record of (330-40)
*NJCAA Division II National Champions
*Their second NJCAA National Championship in program history (1999)
*Finished the season a perfect 57-0
*NJCAA Division II Coach of the Tournament
*Dropped just nine sets all season
*161-5 overall record over the last three seasons
*Ranked third nationally in hitting percentage (.299) and first in assists (2,117), kills (2,310) and         blocks (666)
*Freshman middle Sofi Kelemete is the AVCA Two Year College National Player of the Year
*Kelemente led NJCAA Division II in blocks per set (2.02)

Congratulations to both well deserving honorees!