Huskie Junior Thompson Chosen Setter of the Year

The Collegiate Volleyball Update (CVU.com) is pleased to announce its selection of Washington's Courtney Thompson as the 2005 CVU.com National Setter of the Year.

A junior from Kent, Wash., Thompson not only finished as the top setter in the country in assists per game with 14.89, but she guided the Husky offense to the National Championship.

Under Thompson's on-court direction, Washington finished first in the nation in team hitting percentage (.338) and second in total kills per game (17.52).

Across other statistical categories, Thompson averaged 2.46 digs per game, as well as chipping in 26 kills, 28 service aces and 64 blocks on the season.

Thompson helped lead Washington to a 32-1 record, a Pac-10 title and it's first-ever National Championship, sweeping Nebraska in the title-match.

Also included in CVU's top setters for 2005 are two who made the list last season in Missouri's Lindsey Hunter and Penn State's Sam Tortorello (both seniors). Making their first appearances are Santa Clara's Crystal Matich and Savanah Parra of Ohio.

Making her second appearance on the list, Hunter guided the Tigers to their best finish ever, leading them to an appearance in the NCAA Regional finals and a 25-5 record. Hunter finished third in the nation with 14.22 assists per game, and chipped in with her all-around play, averaging .94 kills, .4 service aces, 2.4 digs and .5 blocks per game.

Tortorello also made the list again, thanks in part to her all-around solid play. In addition to finishing 11th in the nation in assists per game (13.37), the senior helped Penn State to seventh in team hitting percentage at .307, and was a big part of the Nittany Lions being named the CVU Defensive Team of the Year. Tortorello contributed .84 blocks per game and 2.48 digs per game, in addition she added 1.03 kills per game and 28 total service aces.

Fourth in the country in assists at 13.92 per game, Matich set the Broncos to the National Semifinals, upsetting Stanford and Arizona along the way. Under her direction, Santa Clara captured the West Coast Conference title and finished with a 27-5 record. The sophomore setter averaged .93 kills per game, .41 aces, 1.81 digs and .55 blocks. She was also named the CVU Player of the Week on Dec. 6.

While it's her first appearance on the list, Parra shows Ohio knows something when it comes to setters, following in the footsteps of Briana Adamovsky, who was the 2004 CVU.com National Setter of the Year. While last season's numbers were hard to top, the junior led the Bobcats to a 33-win season and to the semifinals of the NCAA tournament, the farthest Ohio has ever progressed. Additionally, the Bobcats finished first nationally in both kills per game (17.71) and total assists (16.53). Individually, Parra was second in assists, averaging 14.69 per game. She also picked up CVU Player of the Week honors on Nov. 29.

Setter of the Year

Courtney Thompson, Washington

Honorable Mentions

• Lindsey Hunter, Missouri
• Crystal Matich, Santa Clara
• Savanah Parra, Ohio
• Sam Tortorello, Penn State

The Honorable Mentions are not listed in a specific order and should be referred to as an "Honorable Mention" or one of the "Top Five."

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