Nov. 16, 2005

COLLEGE STATION, Texas - Tulane volleyball standout Sara Radosevic was named Conference USA Freshman of the Year, joined senior libero Kelli Dickson on the all-conference team, and teamed with fellow rookie Luna Rebrovic on the league's All-Freshman squad, the C-USA office announced Wednesday.

The All C-USA honors were the first for all three student-athletes, and marked the first time in school history that a Tulane player was named league Freshman of the Year and also the first time Tulane had more than one player on the All-Freshman Team. Radosevic was named to the All C-USA second team and Dickson claimed third-team distinction.

"These are some tremendously well-deserved honors and they are the highlight of what has been a very difficult season," first-year Tulane head coach Liz Kritza said. "To have three players earn all-conference honors speaks highly of the type of student-athletes we have in this program and at Tulane University. With Sara being named Freshman of the Year and her being joined by Luna on the All-Freshman Team, this is a sign of good things to come for us in the future."

Radosevic, a 6-1 outside hitter from Zagreb, Croatia, leads the team, ranks second in C-USA and stands seventh in the NCAA with 5.20 kills per game. Her kills average is tops among freshmen in all of Division I volleyball, outdistancing Princeton rookie Parker Henritza (4.74) by almost half a kill per game. Radosevic becomes the first Tulane player to claim league Freshman of the Year honors since Shelly Richey and Alicia Robertson earned the honor in the now-defunct Metro Conference in 1990 and 1991, respectively.

She also leads the Green Wave in service aces (25) while ranking third in digs (2.66). Radosevic posted double-digit kill totals in 16 of Tulane's 18 matches during the regular season, including eight 20-plus kill matches and a career-best 31 in a five-game match vs. UCF on Oct. 23, which ranks tied for fourth in Tulane single-match history and tied for the most in a four-game match.

Senior libero Kelli Dickson claimed third-team All C-USA honors after leading the team, ranking second in the league and standing 13th in the NCAA with 5.69 digs per game.

Radosevic also tallied seven double-doubles with 10-plus digs totals, including a career-best 16 vs. Arizona State (Sept. 18) and Tulsa (Nov. 11). She hit .300 or better on five occasions, including a season-best .413 mark at Houston when she posted 23 kills and just four errors in 46 swings.

"Sara came to Tulane with a decorated past, and she has been the mainstay in our offense," Kritza said. "We have asked a lot of her throughout the season, and she shoulders more of a load than most any other freshman in the country. She is a talented player with a very bright future in college volleyball."

Dickson, a 5-10 native of New Orleans, La., leads the team, ranks second in C-USA and stands 13th in the NCAA after averaging 5.69 digs per game during the regular season. She posted double-digit dig totals in 16 of 18 matches in 2005, including 10 20-plus dig outings and a school-record-tying 32 digs vs. Arizona State on Sept. 18. She also ranks third on the club in service aces (14).

Earlier in the season, Dickson became the first player in Tulane history to post at least 2,000 assists and 1,000 digs in a career, and ended the regular season ranked third in Green Wave history with 1,264 digs and fourth all-time with 2,278 assists. A standout on the court as well as in the classroom, she earned ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District VI third-team honors last week.

Setter Luna Rebrovic claimed C-USA All-Freshman Team honors after leading the team and ranking third in the conference with 12.57 assists per game.

"Kelli is an excellent libero," Kritza said. "She consistently stabilizes our passing unit and leads our team's defensive effort. She is the captain of this team and it is good to see all of her hard work get recognized."

Rebrovic, a 5-9 setter from Zagreb, Croatia, rounds out the Tulane All C-USA honorees after leading the Green Wave and ranking third in C-USA with 12.57 assists per game. She also ranks second on the team in digs (194), digs per game (3.18) and service aces (17) while ranking tied for fourth in blocks (22) and blocks per game.

She tallied nine double-doubles in 2005, including a 54-assist, 19-dig performance at Houston on Oct. 28. Rebrovic posted 40-plus assists 12 times, 50-plus assists on five occasions and a career-best 65 assists to go with 18 digs vs. UCF on Oct. 23.

"Luna's performance as a freshman setter has been impressive," Kritza said. "Her daily effort is something that can sometimes go unnoticed. Her ball distribution has improved as the season goes on, and it's nice to see her get recognized by the coaches around the league."

Dickson, Radosevic, Rebrovic and the rest of the Green Wave return to action on Thursday, Nov. 17, when Tulane takes on host Rice at 6 p.m. in the opening round of the 2005 Conference USA Tournament at Autry Court.

2005 ALL-CONFERNENCE USA AWARDS

All C-USA First Team
Kelly-Anne Billingy, OH, Marshall
Pam Ferris, OH, East Carolina
Jaci Gonzalez, L, Houston
Olaya Pazo, S/OH, Rice
Kariny Ritter, OH, Houston
Kari Stacy, OH, UTEP
Katie Stein, S, Marshall

All C-USA Second Team
Natalie Peters, MB, SMU
Sara Radosevic, OH, Tulane
Nickie Sanlin, MB, Marshall
Becca Sartori, MB, Houston
Julia Silva, S, Tulsa
Kassiana Urnau, OH, Tulsa
Evyn Wills, L, Tulsa

All C-USA Third Team
Ivana Bozic, OH, UAB
Stephanie Cahill, OH, Marshall
Kelli Dickson, L, Tulane
Heidi Krug, S, East Carolina
Tessa Kuykendall, MB, Rice
Brooke Peugh, MB, UTEP
Erica Wilson, OH, East Carolina

C-USA All-Freshman Team
Ivana Bozic, OH, UAB
Justine Farmer, OH, Houston
Natalie Peters, MB, SMU
Brooke Peugh, MB, UTEP
Sara Radosevic, OH, Tulane
Luna Rebrovic, S, Tulane

Player of the Year
Kelly-Anne Billingy, OH, Marshall

Defensive Player of the Year
Jaci Gonzalez, L, Houston

Setter of the Year
Katie Stein, S, Marshall

Coach of the Year
Mitch Jacobs, Marshall