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Lynch Named First Team All-America
 
AVCA rewards middle hitter for stellar season, career after two honorable mention campaigns.

 
Lynch becomes one of the most highly decorated players in Purdue history with the first team All-America honor, the first for a Boilermaker since 1985.
 
Lynch becomes one of the most highly decorated players in Purdue history with the first team All-America honor, the first for a Boilermaker since 1985.
 
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Dec. 17, 2008

WATCH: Lynch Talks About All-America Honor  |  Watch: Lynch's All-America Highlight Video 

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - For the first time since Marianne Smith in 1985 and only the second time in Purdue volleyball history, a Boilermaker volleyball player has been named AVCA First Team All-America. After two years as an Honorable Mention All-America selection, middle hitter Stephanie Lynch was named to the 14-woman first team as announced by the American Volleyball Coaches' Association on Wednesday.

Of all of the first-team honorees, all but one have previously garnered AVCA All-America first, second or third-team recognition during their careers, with Lynch being the lone exception, snagging her first-ever honor.

"I am surprised and excited," Lynch said. "I knew it would be tough; I didn't want to get my hopes up since there are so many great players out there. My goal was to keep improving every year. It was just a gradual thing that I got to this point, one which I never would have imagined.

"This is great recognition for the program and for our team. It is impossible to do it without your team. It shows that Purdue is a great, up and coming program that is becoming a national power and that we have great players. It also shows how much respect our team does have around the country. It has been a great honor to be a part of this program and help establish it."

Lynch adds the honor to the first team All-Mideast Region and unanimous All-Big Ten accolade she has received thus far in 2008. The second-team Academic All-District V and Academic All-Big Ten honoree also garnered Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week honors twice (9/15 and 10/20) and Defensive Player of the Week twice (11/17 and 12/1). In 2008, Lynch ranks seventh nationally in hitting percentage (.409) and eighth in blocks per set (1.45).

In 2008, Lynch set Purdue career records for block assists (550), total blocks (660) and hitting percentage (.351) and the single-season marks for block assists (174) and hitting percentage. The season hitting percentage record shattered Denise Davault's .355 effort which had stood as the standard since 1977, while the block assists record surpassed Debbie Leeman's tally of 148 in 1986. The career mark for block assists snapped Kim McConaha's record of 382 (2001-04), while Marianne Smith's total block tally of 567 from 1982-85 also fell.


 

 

The New Albany, Ind., native led the team and ranked among the Big Ten's best in blocks per set (3rd, 1.45), hitting percentage (4th, .409), points per set (6th, 4.30) and kills per set (7th, 3.39). She posted double-digit kill tallies 26 times, leading the team on 18 occasions, while also putting up five or more blocks 22 times, including 10 or more three times. Lynch registered a hitting percentage of .300 or better 31 times in 35 matches, including .400 or better 20 times and .500 or better eight times.

All told in her career, Lynch put her name atop the Purdue lists for career hitting percentage (.351), block assists and total blocks, while also ranking second in career blocks per set (1.34) and fourth in career kills (1,544). She also has helped the Boilermakers to the NCAA Second Round all four years, including Sweet 16 appearances in 2005, 2006 and 2008.

"This is a tremendous honor for such a deserving young woman who has worked so hard during her four years at Purdue," head coach Dave Shondell said. "In a year in which there are more great players in college volleyball than ever before, it is particularly rewarding to see Stephanie receive such a great honor. The example that Stephanie has established for others to follow is a wonderful blueprint to success."

Lynch will be honored at the at the AVCA All-America/Players of the Year Banquet at the Qwest Convention Center in Omaha, Neb., Dec. 19.

The 2008 Boilermakers finished the year with a 26-9 mark, its best since 1985, while advancing to the NCAA Sweet 16 for the third time in the last four seasons.
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