Tweet

LEXINGTON, KY. – Senior Felicia Willoughby and sophomore Cara Baarendse were both named to the AVCA All-East Region team this afternoon, as announced by the American Volleyball Coaches Association. Willoughby, who became the first Hokie to earn the honor more than once last season, was named to the all-region first team for the third consecutive year, while Baarendse earns a spot for the first time.

Felicia Willoughby, Tech’s first ever two-time All-American (honorable mention in 2008 and 2009), was named to the All-ACC team last week for the third year in a row, after earning ACC Freshman of the Year in 2007. She is the first volleyball player in Tech history to make an All-ACC team all four years. Lisa Pikalek ’92 is the only other Tech player to earn four all-conference selections, which she did back when Virginia Tech played for the Metro Conference. The senior from Pleasanton, Calif., demonstrated outstanding leadership as one of the team’s captains, helping to guide the team to its first ever defeat of an AVCA nationally-ranked top-25 team, its first ever NCAA Tournament bid and victory, as well as several key wins over regionally-ranked and national top-50 teams.

Willoughby began the season on a strong note, earning her third straight Preseason All-ACC honor and being named to the all-tournament team in all four of Tech’s preseason tournaments. Willoughby once again led the Hokies in blocks on the season, with 22 solo and 102 assists for a total of 124, averaging 1.03, which ranks her ninth in the ACC. Additionally, she was second on the team in kills (328) and hitting percentage (.364), and her impressive attack clip ranks her third in the ACC and 39th in the nation.

Felicia will graduate from Tech as one of the most accomplished and decorated players in school history. She set two new career blocking records earlier this year and has extended a huge lead over the previous record-holders in both categories, as she leads the career block assists list by 80, with 454, and total blocks by 58, with 552. She also set a new all-time record in career hitting percentage, finishing seven points ahead of Katie Esbrook’s mark of .324 with a career clip of .331. Moreover, she finished in fifth all-time in career block solos (98) and career kills (1,289).

Cara Baarendse, who also earned All-ACC honors last week, earns AVCA all-region for the first time this season. The sophomore from Mason, Ohio, had a phenomenal year in the front row, finishing second in the ACC in hitting percentage and ranking 24th in the nation, hitting .376. She is eighth in the ACC in kills, earning 385 on the season, for an average of 3.24 per set, and she finished tied for second on the team with 14 service aces.

Baarendse got off to a great start, earning three all-tournament selections and being named MVP of the Hilton Garden Hokie Invitational and the Western Kentucky Tournament. She hit .491 with 31 kills at Tech’s home tournament, which was enough to earn a spot on CVU.com’s national Top Performers list for the week. Her .376 clip this season puts her second on the Hokies’ all-time single-season list, and if she continues to play as consistently and efficiently as she has been, she is well on her way to setting a new all-time career hitting percentage, as she is currently 38 points ahead of Willoughby’s new record, hitting .369 over her first two seasons.

"Felicia and Cara have both had tremendous years for our team,” said head coach Chris Riley. “They have been the most consistent part of our offense and both have been great teammates. It is a pleasure coaching both of them."

AVCA All-East Region Team

Region Freshman of the Year: McKenzie Adams, Virginia, OH

Honorable Mention: Britney Brown (Northeastern, S/OH, Sr.), Bailey Hunter (Georgia Tech, OH, Jr.), Courtney Johnston (North Carolina, RS/Opp., Sr.), Emily McGee (North Carolina, OH, So.), Stephanie Neville (Florida State, RS/Opp., Sr.), Jessica O'Shoney (Virginia, MB, So.)

Region Coach of the Year: Jolene Nagel, Duke University

*Denote number of selections for repeat winners

For updates on Virginia Tech volleyball, follow the Hokies on Twitter (@VT_VBall).