After enjoying one of the best regular seasons in program history, the ETSU volleyball team was rewarded as Alysa Long, Whitney Cogburn, and Megan Devine earned all-conference accolades, the Atlantic Sun office announced on Tuesday.”Even though individual accolades are awarded with all-conference, the players on our team know that it takes the entire team for us to be successful, said ETSU head coach Lindsey Devine.

Long, a senior middle blocker was named First-Team All-Conference after leading the league in several statistical categories. Long finished the regular season tops in the league in total blocks (149), blocks per set (1.28), and hitting percentage (.338). In addition, Long was named Atlantic Sun Player of the Week on September 20 for her efforts in the SpringHill Suites Invitational.

Since transferring from Georgia State two years ago, Long will imprint her name throughout the ETSU record books. She will most likely become the individual career leader in attack percentage, while also ranking near the top in career block totals.

“Alysa is a very special player and I am so happy to see her grow and develop in two short years here,” added Devine.

Cogburn, a senior setter was named second-team all-conference after ranking near the top of the league in assists and service aces.

Cogburn has totaled 1,122 assists this season which ranks among the top-10 single season totals in school history. In addition, Cogburn has compiled 135 kills on .210 hitting, while also adding 31 service aces, 198 digs and 97 total blocks.

“Whitney is a player that was recruited as a setter but played mainly right side for much of her career,” said Devine. “Now in her senior year she returned to the setter position and she has really pushed herself in her four years and this all-conference accolade is a result of her hard work.”

After leading the team in points and kills, outside hitter Megan Devine was named Atlantic Sun Freshman of the Year, while also landing on the All-Freshman Team.

Devine becomes the first ETSU Freshman of the Year recipient since the Bucs joined the Atlantic Sun Conference. She currently ranks seventh in the league in kills per set at 2.92, while compiling 321 kills, 22 service aces, 273 digs and 53 total blocks.

“I am extremely proud of Megan for earning the freshman of the year award,” said Devine. “She really values the confidence her team has in her and she expresses over and over that her team motivates her to be the best player she can be.”

The Bucs currently own a 24-8 record heading into the Atlantic Sun Tournament on Thursday evening. The 24 wins recorded ranks fourth all-time in ETSU history. The Bucs recorded 25 wins in 2006, which is the most since the 1991 team also recorded 25 victories.

2010 marks the third time multiple Bucs have been named All-Atlantic Sun in the same season, including 2006 and 2007.

Following a perfect run through the Atlantic Sun Conference for the second straight year, Jake Pease of Lipscomb was named Atlantic Sun Player of the Year. In addition, her teammate Alex Kelly was a unanimous choice for A-Sun First-Team honors.

Kennesaw State’s Karen Weatherington grabbed Coach of the Year honor after guiding the Owls to a 9-1 conference mark and the second seed in the A-Sun Championship. Meanwhile, Mercer’s Charlotte Harris was named the league’s Libero of the Year after leading the A-Sun in digs.

ETSU enters the A-Sun Tournament as the No. 3 seed and will take on No. 6 seed North Florida on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. The winner of that match will take on the No. 2 seed Kennesaw State, Friday evening at 7:30 p.m.

Author