Stewart and Kolesnikova Named to AVCA All-Northeast Region
December 06, 2006 | Women's Volleyball
Dec. 6, 2006
University of Louisville volleyball players Ana Yartseva Stewart and Tatyana Kolesnikova were named to the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) All-Northeast Region team. It is Yartseva Stewart's third appearance on the list.
Stewart, the two-time All-American, earned the triple crown this year when she was named 2006 BIG EAST Most Outstanding Player as well was named BIG EAST Player of the Year and 2006 Pre-Season BIG EAST MVP. She was also named as an all-conference first team selection. In her final season, Stewart helped the Cardinals their first conference tournament championships after 11 straight conference victories to close the regular season and a 13-1 league mark and second-place finish in BIG EAST play. Stewart finished the season as the top individual in the conference in hitting percentage (.438). The Cardinal senior led the team in hitting percentage (.438) and blocks (1.37 bpg). In addition, the Anapa, Russia native ranked second on the team in digs (2.52 dpg) and third in kills (2.46 kpg). Stewart was named to the conference weekly honor roll on Sept. 11 and Sept. 25.
Louisville newcomer outside hitter Tatyana Kolesnikova was tabbed BIG EAST Rookie of the Year and also received all-conference first team honors. Kolesnikova becomes the first Cardinal to be named BIG EAST Rookie of the Year. This season, the Cardinal rookie played in 87 games. The Tashkent, Uzbekistan native was named BIG EAST Rookie of the Week a league-best three times this season and was named conference Player of the Week on Oct. 10. Kolesnikova played a pivotal role for the Cardinals offensively as she led the team in kills with an average of 3.52 (303 total). In addition, she posted a hitting percentage of .352, which ranked second among individuals in the league in all conference matches.
