Julia O’Brien Named PSAC East Athlete of the Year
LOCK HAVEN, Pa. – Senior middle hitter Julia O'Brien (New Holland, Pa. /Garden Spot) was named the 2014 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Athlete of the Year in the Eastern Division on Thursday. O'Brien's performance on the court landed her on the volleyball first-team All-PSAC East for the second consecutive season as well. The 6-3 senior appeared in 34 matches, providing a major presence in the middle as she leads the team with 408 kills, 98 assisted blocks, 12 solo blocks, and the overall amount of 110 blocks on the season. In addition, O'Brien's 3.37 kills per set percentage places her fourth in the PSAC, while hitting .283, ranking her 11th in the conference. The senior contributed a .91 block per set percentage for the Golden Rams, which is eighth best in the conference. O'Brien's stellar play is a significant reason why West Chester is third in the PSAC with 275 total blocks on the season. Over her career at West Chester, O'Brien has registered 969 kills and counting. Recently, O'Brien provided the Golden Rams with a dominating performance in the PSAC Quarterfinals, compiling a triple double with 13 kills, 11 digs and 10 blocks in an upset over Pitt-Johnstown, 3-1, Tuesday night. No. 3 West Chester (21-13, 10-12 PSAC) moves on to the PSAC Semifinals, where they will face the University of California (Pa.) on Saturday at 6:30 p.m. ALL-PSAC Volleyball 2014 EASTERN DIVISION FIRST TEAM OH Cody Anderson Lock Haven Sr. MB Julia O'Brien* West Chester Sr. MH Kendall Mahony Pitt-Johnstown Fr. MB Taylor Gottshall^^ Shippensburg Jr. OH Cambria Wierman Pitt-Johnstown Fr. S Jessica Brown Lock Haven Jr. MH Audrey Stringer* Kutztown Jr. EASTERN DIVISION SECOND TEAM DS Devan Orr Pitt-Johnstown Fr. S Maura Nolan^ Shippensburg So. MB Faith Athey^ Shippensburg Jr. OPP Megan Flick Lock Haven Jr. RS Danielle Van Buren Kutztown Sr. DS Brooklyn Smith^ Millersville Jr. OH Sarah Gomish Lock Haven Fr. WESTERN DIVISION FIRST TEAM S Laura Subject** Clarion Sr. OH Hannah Kren^ Gannon So. OH Laurel Miller* California Sr. MB Lynne Hibbard Gannon Jr. MH/OH Corrine Gahagen* Seton Hill Sr. MH/OH Shelby Kyllo Seton Hill Jr. DS Morgan Seybold Clarion Jr. WESTERN DIVISION SECOND TEAM S Megan Wendel^^ Gannon Sr. MB Lexi Stefanov^ Mercyhurst Jr. RS Mackenzie Biggs Clarion So. MH Gabrielle Olson Clarion Fr. MH Miranda Fouzie^ California Jr. DS Taryn Graham Gannon Sr. DS Haley Marett Edinboro Sr. EASTERN DIVISION Athlete of the Year Julia O'Brien West Chester Freshman of the Year Kendall Mahony Pitt-Johnstown Defensive Athlete of the Year Devan Orr Pitt-Johnstown Coach of the Year Joanna Haupt Pitt-Johnstown *Indicates previous All-PSAC first team selection ^Indicates previous All-PSAC second team selection
