A total of four members of the No. 1-ranked Emory volleyball team were named to the American Volleyball Coaches Association All-America Team for the 2010 season while a key member of the squad was tabbed as the Division III National Player of the Year.

Highlighting the quartet was senior outside hitter Amelia McCall (Montgomery, AL) who was named by the AVCA as the National Player of the Year in Division III while garnering a first-team berth on the All-America Team.  The 5-foot-10 McCall, who was named the 2010 University Athletic Association’s Most Valuable Player, has enjoyed a standout all-around season and enters the upcoming NCAA Championships in Saint Louis having produced 28 matches of double-figure kills and 21 outings of 10 or more digs.  Named as the Sports Imports/AVCA National Player of the Week on Oct. 26 for her play at the Wid Guisler Invitational, hosted by Juniata College, McCall has put together 16 double-doubles (kills/digs) including a pair this past weekend at the NCAA Atlanta, Georgia, Regional that Emory hosted.  McCall tops the team with a 3.44 kills-per set average, good for a third-place tie among UAA players and her 30.1 hitting percentage is good for 10^th place in the conference.  She has blasted a total of 444 kills this year, seventh on the school’s seasonal chart, and she stands 12^th all-time at the school with 1,008 terminations. She becomes the second player in school annals to have been chosen as National Player of the Year, with Courtney Rose the other honoree in 2005.

Sophomore middle blocker Breanah Bourque (Houston, TX) landed second-team honors with her consistent hitting and intimidating blocking a key ingredient in the success of the year’s squad. The 5-foot-11 Bourque has hit a team-leading 36.6 percent, good for the No. 2 spot among UAA players and 30^th nationally, while her 3.06 kills per-set average ranks her 10^th in the league. She has hit 30 percent or better in 26 matches and her 63.2 attack percentage against Brandeis (Oct. 17) is tied for the high-water mark by an Emory player this season.  Named as a First-Team All-UAA selection, she has chalked up 20 double-figure kill matches. In addition, she sets the paces in total blocks with 127 (42-85) and her 1.00 blocks per-set average is good for the No. 2 spot in the UAA.  Most recently, Bourque was named the Most Outstanding Player of the Atlanta Regional after pacing the Eagles with a blazing 42.5 hitting percentage (39-5—80) while averaging 3.25 kills per set.  She came up big in the regional final vs. Cal Lutheran with a team-high 17 kills and five block assist in a 3-2 win.

Junior outside hitter Jessica McAlvany (Roswell, GA) was chosen as a third-team pick after averaging 3.27 kills per set, second on the team and seventh on the UAA chart.  A first-team All-American a year ago, the 6-foot-1 McAlvany has notched 25 outings of double-figure kills including a pair of season-high tying 18 termination-efforts against Mount St. Joseph (Sept. 5) and Birmingham Southern (Oct. 29).  She has compiled 427 kills this year which is good for 10^th place on the school’s seasonal list.  Career-wise, she holds down the No. 21 position at Emory with 789 successful put-aways.

Junior setter Natalie Schonefeld (Riviera, TX) rounded out the group receiving All-America acclaim, landing a honorable-mention spot.  The 5-foot-7 Schonefeld’s setting and decision making has helped Emory to the top spot in the UAA and 29^th nationally with a 29.9 hitting percentage.  A First Team All-UAA pick, she is No. 2 in league and ninth nationally with an 11.12 assists per set average.  Her 1,401 assists this season is good for the No. 6 spot on the school’s seasonal chart.

Emory, 34-4 on the year, meets No. 5-ranked Christopher Newport in the quarterfinal round of the NCAA Championships Friday evening at 6:30 p.m. (EST) in Saint Louis, Mo.