Date Posted: 12/7/2006

NASHVILLE, TENN. - Earning one of the most prestigious honors in program history, Belmont Volleyball junior Colleen Nilson has been named to the 2006 AVCA (American Volleyball Coaches Association) All-South Region Team.

In her three years at Belmont, the setter from McHenry, Illinois has virtually rewritten the Bruin record book while amassing a peerless resume of individual honors. This past season, Nilson was named Atlantic Sun Conference Player of the Year and Atlantic Sun Tournament MVP in leading the conference champion Bruins to a 24-7 record and their first-ever trip to the NCAA Tournament. Nilson, who twice earned Atlantic Sun Player of the Week recognition, led the league in assists per game (13.37), and ranked second in service aces per game (0.50).

A perennial Atlantic Sun All-Academic selection as a political science major, Nilson established new personal career-highs, as well as program and Curb Event Center records in assists on consecutive days when she registered 68 assists each against North Florida on November 3 and Jacksonville on November 4. Nilson already holds the all-time program record for assists (4,410) and has been named First Team All-Atlantic Sun in each of her first three seasons.

Moreover, Nilson’s deft passing and quick decision-making spearheaded a Belmont offense in 2006 that led the Atlantic Sun Conference in hitting percentage (.256) and kills per game (16.68).

Belmont Volleyball Head Coach Deane Webb believes Nilson’s consistency and leadership led to this award. “Certainly, we’re all very proud of Colleen receiving this award,” Webb said. “She has accomplished a great deal in her first three years at Belmont. As with any individual award, this is a reflection of what our team has done as a whole. Colleen has been an integral part of our success.”

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