WILLIAMSBURG, Va. -- University of Virginia senior setter Emily Kirkwood and James Madison Head Coach Disa Garner have been selected as the 2006 Virginia University Division Volleyball Player and Coach of the Year by the Virginia Sports Information Directors Association (VaSID).

2006 VaSID University Division Volleyball All-State Team

Kirkwood was a first-team All-ACC selection and a member of the All-East Region First Team. The Tampa, Fla., native ranked 26th nationally and second in the ACC with 13.08 assists per game. A first-team VaSID All-State honoree in 2004 and 2005, she finished her career with 5,424 assists, ranking second all-time at UVa and seventh in ACC history. Additionally, she holds the school record for career service aces with 167.

Garner led James Madison to a 19-9 record overall and a 13-5 mark in conference play en route to earning CAA Coach of the Year accolades. The Dukes finished the season second in the CAA after a sixth-place finish in 2005.

Joining Kirkwood on the all-state first team are Virginia middle blocker Katie Oakes (Lorton, Va.), Virginia Tech middle blocker Katie Esbrook (Lake in the Hills, Ill.), VCU outside hitter Ludmila Francescatto (Fraiburga, Brazil) and James Madison teammates Jena Pierson (San Antonio, Texas) and Allyson Halls (Columbus, Ohio).

The second team is comprised of Virginia outside hitter Sarah Kirkwood (Tampa, Fla.), George Mason outside hitter Jaqueline Kohler (Curitiba, Brazil), Radford libero Rachel Newton (Anderson, S.C.), Virginia Tech outside hitter Taylor Parrish (Brentwood, Tenn.), James Madison setter Lauren Miles (Tampa, Fla.) and Liberty teammates Kallie Corbin (Beaverton, Ore.) and Autum Black (Mingoville, Pa.). Corbin was also selected as the VaSID Rookie of the Year.

All-State teams are selected by active members of the Virginia Sports Information Directors Association.  For more information, please visit the VaSID site at http://www.ferrum.edu/athletics/vasid.

# # #