Nov. 18, 2004

NEW ORLEANS, La. - Tulane volleyball standout Deva Fowler was named second-team All-Conference USA Thursday afternoon on the eve of the 2004 Texaco-Chevron Conference USA Championship.

Fowler, a senior middle blocker from San Diego, Calif., claimed all-conference honors for the second consecutive season as Tulane has now had at least one student-athlete named to the all-league team for the sixth consecutive year dating back to 1999.

"This is a tremendous honor for Deva, and one that is definitely well-deserved," head coach Betsy Becker said. "She is the consummate team player, and is a real force at the net both offensively and defensively. Deva is one of the best blockers in the conference, and we will be counting on her heavily this weekend in the conference tournament."

Fowler earned all-conference honors after leading the team in kills (321), attack percentage (.331), blocks (118), blocks per game (1.37) and points (410.0), while ranking second on the squad in kills per game (3.73) and fourth in service aces (17). She ranks third in C-USA in blocks and points, and sixth in attack percentage.

As a senior in 2004, Fowler tallied double-digit kill totals on 18 occasions, including a career-best 22 at DePaul on Nov. 6. Defensivley, she tallied five or more blocks 12 times, including a school-record 16 in a five-game win over Saint Louis back on Oct. 8 in Fogelman Arena.

In addition, Fowler hit .300 or better 16 times, including seven matches at .400 or better, and a Tulane three-game match record-tying .750 clip vs. Jackson State on Nov. 9 when she posted 18 kills and no errors in 24 swings. Fowler also earned all-tournament honors in both regular-season tourneys the Green Wave has participated in - the Kathy Trosclair Memorial Tournament and the Arizona State/Tempe Buttes Invitational.

A four-year starter during her career with the Green Wave, Fowler is Tulane's career leader in block assists (458), second in total blocks (544), tied for third in solo blocks (110) and sixth in kills (1,381).

Fowler and the Green Wave return to action on Friday, Nov. 19, when Tulane opens C-USA Tournament play at 7 p.m. vs. 11th-seeded Charlotte. The winner of that match will advance to take on third-seeded Marquette on Saturday, and the winner of the tournament will earn the league's automatic bid to the NCAA Championships.

2004 All-Conference USA Teams
All-Conference USA First Team
Aida Antanaviciute, Saint Louis
Julie DuPont, Cincinnati
Jaci Gonzalez (L), Houston
Bing Sun, Louisville
Dominika Szabo, TCU
Lena Ustymenko, Louisville
Heather Watts (S), Memphis
All-Conference Second Team
Theresa Coughlin, Marquette
Deva Fowler, Tulane
Tiara Gilkey, Memphis
Rachel Torblaa, Cincinnati
Sarah Vernon (S), Marquette
Talaya Whitfield (L), TCU
Anastasia Yartseva, Louisville
All-Conference Third Team
Janet Goreham, DePaul
Ellen Hayes (L), DePaul
Myann Hellsten, Cincinnati
Jennifer Hoffman, Louisville
Erin Ludeke (S), TCU
Kelly McAnelly, Houston
Anna Vaughn, TCU
C-USA All-Freshman Team
Svetlana Dukule, Louisville
Kristina Fabris, USF
Sutton Lasater, Saint Louis
Elenda Pilnikova, Louisville
Kimberly Todd, Marquette
Talaya Whitfield, TCU
Player of the Year
Julie DuPont, Cincinnati