2012 AVCA All-American teams

The D-I teams were named last night. (The D-II teams were named a little while back apparently, and I missed it). Let's take a look at them.

D-I First Team All-Americans

Alaina Bergsma (Oregon, OH, Senior)
Lauren Cook (Nebraska, S, Senior)
Haley Eckerman (Texas, OH, Sophomore)
Natalie Hagglund (USC, L, Junior)
Jennifer Hamson (BYU, OH, Junior)
Micha Hancock (Penn State, S, Sophomore)
Katherine Harms (Minnesota, OH, Senior)
Emily Hartong (Hawaii, OH, Junior)
Tabi Love (UCLA, OH, Senior)
Chloe Mann (Florida, MB, Junior)
Lauren Plum (Oregon, S, Junior)
Ariel Scott (Penn State, OH, Junior)
Bailey Webster (Texas, OH, Junior)
Carly Wopat (Stanford, MB, Junior)

Not a lot of love for middles on this list, though it's impossible to find fault with any of the choices. I never got a firsthand look at Oregon in the regular season, so I really can't comment on Plum, but Hagglund and Hancock are certainly at or near the top of the ranks in their positions.

D-I Second Team All-Americans

Lola Arslanbekova (Louisville, OH, Senior)
Whitney Billings (Kentucky, OH, Junior)
Liz Brenner (Oregon, OH, Sophomore)
Tori Dixon (Minnesota, MB, Junior)
Kristen Hahn (Iowa State, L, Junior)
Tyler Henderson (Tulsa, OH, Senior)
Caroline Jarmoc (Kansas, MB, Junior)
Gina Mancuso (Nebraska, OH, Senior)
Samantha Selsky (Dayton, S, Senior)
Ariel Turner (Purdue, OH, Senior)
Krista Vansant (Washington, OH, Sophomore)
Hannah Werth (Nebraska, OH, Senior)
Lauren Wicinski (Michigan State, OH, Junior)

I'm pleased to say I'm familiar with just about all of these names. It's another strong group, and with a few who might grumble about being excluded from the first group. Barring injury setbacks, I have little doubt Vansant will be there next season. Henderson, a name you may not know if you've only followed the top programs this season, actually led the nation in kills per set this year, as one of only two players to be above 5.

D-I Third Team All-Americans

Dana Cranston (Colorado State, OH, Senior)
Jennifer Cross (Michigan, MB, Junior)
Katie Fuller (USC, OH, Senior)
Lisa Henning (Missouri, OH, Junior)
Mari Hole (Ohio State, OH, Senior)
Stephanie Holthus (Northwestern, OH, Junior)
Alison Landwehr (Iowa State, S, Senior)
Deja McClendon (Penn State, OH, Junior)
Sallie McLaurin (Oklahoma, MB, Junior)
Monique Mead (Georgia Tech, OH, Senior)
Ashley Neff (Florida State, MB, Junior)
Gwen Rucker (Louisville, MB, Senior)
Emani Sims (Miami, MB, Sophomore)
Kellie Woollever (Pepperdine, S, Junior)

I'm less familiar with this group. The biggest name in it is obviously McClendon, who was a Second Team selection each of the past two years, though Landwehr was actually First Team a year ago. The fact that the list is largely made up of upperclassmen makes me think there's a good likelihood that this is as good as it'll get for them.

And if I may put my tinfoil hat on one more time, I do have to wonder if Cross made the cut simply to give Michigan some representation on this list. I don't know when the cutoff for these determinations was, and I'm not saying she doesn't deserve it, but I could have believed if Michigan had no one on any of these teams, coming from relatively out of nowhere as they have this postseason. But, by hook or by crook they have an All-American on their squad, and props to them for that.

The Freshman of the Year award has also been handed out. I thought for all the world that one was bound for USC's Samantha Bricio, but it actually goes to another international import – Florida outside hitter Živa Recek, from Slovenia.

The National Player of the Year award will be handed out at an awards banquet tomorrow night, in the lull between the national semifinals and the championship match. You can read the full rundown of recipients, including a little more about each All-American and the list of Honorable Mention recipients, here.