MCC Places Five on Tachikara-NAIA Volleyball All-American Teams

Selections for the 2011 Tachikara-NAIA Volleyball All-American teams have been released and the Mid-Central College Conference (MCC) is represented by five student-athletes. The NAIA All-American teams are determined by the NAIA Volleyball All-American Selection Committee, and recognize student-athlete excellence on a national level.

Taylor University senior Kelsey Pritchard was recognized as a First Team Tachikara-NAIA All-American. This is Pritchard's third year earning All-American Honors after receiving second team recognition for the previous two seasons. Pritchard was also honored as MCC Player of the Year for 2011, and led the Taylor Trojans as MCC regular season champions. From her outside hitter position Pritchard led the Trojans in total kills with 567.

Yui Iwase of Indiana Wesleyan University was awarded Second Team NAIA All-American Honors in recognition of her great performances this year at setter for the wildcats. Iwase is ranked fourth in the NAIA in total assists, with 1649, and was also named MCC Setter of the Year for 2011.

Fellow wildcat Kelsey Masuda is recognized as a Third Team NAIA All-American after a great senior season at libero for the Indiana Wesleyan squad. Masuda ranks second nationally in digs with 888, and a 5.8 dig/set average for the season. Masuda was also recognized as the MCC Libero of the Year, and was a pivotal part of Indiana Wesleyan's success.

Betsy Brown of Taylor University and Peyton Thompson of Indiana Wesleyan round out this year's MCC honorees with Honorable Mention NAIA All-American awards. This is Brown's fourth year to be recognized, winning Honorable Mention All-American recognition her first two seasons and Third Team NAIA All-American in 2010. Thompson led the wildcats in kills this year, with 483, and was instrumental in their capture of the MCC conference tournament championship.