FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - 11-20-01

Three AASU Players Earn AVCA All-South Region Honors

SAVANNAH, Ga. – Armstrong Atlantic State placed three players - junior middle hitter Sarah Haynes, junior setter Erin Melius and junior outside hitter Sofie Hakansson - on the 2001 American Volleyball Coaches' Association (AVCA) All-South Region team, announced by the organization this afternoon.

The honor is the second for Haynes, who became AASU's first All-Region honoree in school history last season. The 5-11 junior from Huntingtown, Md., also earned All-Conference honors and recently became the second AASU player in school history to pass the 1,000 kill plateau.

Melius - AASU's all-time assist leader who hails from Colorado Springs, Colo. - earned All-Region honors for the first time in her career, to go along with her All-Conference and All-PBC Tournament honors this season. Also earning All-Region honors for the first time was Hakansson, the Vingaker, Sweden, native who set AASU single-season marks in service aces and digs this season as well as earning All-Conference and All-PBC Tournament honors.

The Pirates finished the 2001 season by advancing to the NCAA South Region semifinal and return all 11 players from this year's squad that compiled a 29-10 overall record.

- Pirates -