Nov. 18, 2010

Cambridge, Mass. - Stony Brook University women's volleyball team had four student-athletes named to America East all-conference teams, announced by the conference office on Thursday. Freshman Evann Slaughter (Clinton, Md.) was named Rookie of the Year while senior Ashley Headen (Alexandria, Va.) and junior Alicia Nelson (Apple Valley, Minn.) earned a spot on the conference's seven-member first team.

It is the first time in a program history a Seawolves player has earned the Rookie of the Year honor and the first time since 2007 that Stony Brook has placed two players or more on the first team. Slaughter was joined on the All-Rookie team by freshman Kaitlin Costello (Webster, N.Y.).

A two-time America East Rookie of the Week, Slaughter ranked third in the America East in hitting percentage (.326) and blocks per set (.87) during conference play. Slaughter reached double-figures in kills six times, including her last three matches and led the Seawolves in blocks (71) and block solos (27).

Nelson led the America East with 4.24 kills per set during conference play and has reached double-figures in kills in 23 matches including the last 15. This is the first all-conference honor for Nelson, who also ranked second in the conference with 435.5 points.

A 2009 second team all-conference selection, Headen led the America East with a .342 hitting percentage during conference play. She also ranked fifth with 3.38 kills per set in America East matches.

Costello recorded 93 kills in her first season at Stony Brook in addition to tallying 17 blocks. She recorded a season-high eight kills against UMBC on Nov. 7 and recorded eight digs against Binghamton last weekend.

The Seawolves begin their quest for their first America East championship on Friday, taking on host and top-seed, Albany, in the semifinal round. Match time is set for 7 p.m.