AAMU'S HINES WINS TOP HONORS
ALABAMA A&M DOMINATES ALL-SWAC VOLLEYBALL TEAM

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- Alabama A&M University's domination over its Southwestern Athletic Conference foes during the 2000 volleyball season is evidenced by the number of Lady Bulldogs named to the All-SWAC team, which was released here on Wednesday.

Three players who played integral roles in Alabama A&M's banner 27-2 regular-season were named to the six player All-SWAC first team. One of those players, De'Anna Hines, was also tabbed SWAC player of the year.

Hines, a 5-11 senior middle hitter/middle blocker from Huntsville, Ala., is the conference leader in hitting percentage (.461) and kills (3.69 pg). In 87 games played, Hines has collected 321 kills, 70 errors and 545 total attacks. She also has 39 digs and 96 blocks to her credit.

"De'Anna has been a tremendous force on the courts for us," said AAMU head coach Betty Austin. "We entered the season with the loss of four major players. De'Anna stepped up immediately and helped guide us to 27 wins. She is a dynamo with a positive attitude and good spirit.

"De'Anna being voted player of the year means a lot to our school and our program," added Austin. "This is only our second season in this conference and our ability to make all-conference and even player of the year says a lot about our school and its commitment to women's volleyball."

Joining Hines on the All-SWAC first team are teammates Monica Thompson and Phatty Arbuckle.

Thompson, a 5-10 freshman outside hitter from Sacramento, Calif., currently ranks second to Hines in the conference in both hitting percentage (.379) and kills (3.66 pg). She also ranks fifth in the league in service aces (0.52 pg). In 89 games played, Thompson has garnered 326 kills, 78 errors and 655 total attacks along with 200 digs, 39 blocks and 40 aces.

Arbuckle, a 5-6 senior outside hitter from Bozeman, Mont., ranks third in the SWAC in hitting (.341) and fourth in kills (3.60 pg). Through regular-season play, she amassed 328 kills, 90 errors and 698 total attacks with 188 digs, 35 aces and 15 blocks.

The remaining first team All-SWAC members hail from Alabama State University, Alcorn State University and Texas Southern University.

Middle blocker Andrea Horska', a 6-0 freshman from the Czech Republic, not only made the first team unit of the all-conference team, but the Alcorn State star was also selected as this year's SWAC freshman of the year. Horska' currently ranks seventh in the SWAC in hitting (.280), seventh in kills (2.99 pg) and third in aces (0.54 pg).

Alabama State's Hakika Bookter, a 6-1 senior middle blocker from Baton Rouge, La., sits atop the SWAC leader board in blocks with an average of 1.96 per game. She also ranks fourth in hitting (.312) and third in kills (3.69 pg).

Texas Southern's Charvette Lewis, a 5-11 senior middle blocker from Houston, Tex., concluded the regular-season ranked sixth in kills (3.11 pg) and sixth in digs (2.61 pg).

Making the All-SWAC second team were six players representing four universities.

Southern University's duo of Chanan Newman (5-9, Sr., Outside Hitter, Montibello, Calif.) and Latrecia Samuels (5-5, Jr., Setter, Jasper, Tex.) made second team All-SWAC with Samuels also winning SWAC newcomer of the year honors. Newman ranks fifth in the SWAC in kills (3.47 pg) and second in digs (3.28 pg) while Samuels ranks third in assists (7.89 pg).

Prairie View A&M's duo of Chanel Henderson (5-8, Sr., Outside Hitter, San Antonio, Tex.) and Tanesha Dillard (5-11, Sr., Setter/Outside Hitter, Kent, Wash.) are among those tabbed to the All-SWAC second team. Dillard ranks ninth in the SWAC in hitting (.246) and fifth in assists (7.06 pg). Henderson doesn't rank in the league statistics but she holds a .151 hitting percentage and a 2.60 kills average.

Deatra Brandon, an outside hitter from Houston, Tex., represents Texas Southern on the All- SWAC second team. The 5-6 junior leads the SWAC in digs with 3.37 per game.

The final member of the All-SWAC team is second team member Eula Kador of Alabama State. The 5-11 junior hitter from Baton Rouge, La. ranks ninth in the conference in kills with 2.72 per game and second in blocks with 1.33 per game.

FIRST TEAM ALL-SWAC:

De'Anna Hines, Alabama A&M (5-11, Sr., Middle Hitter/Middle Blocker, Huntsville, Ala.)

Monica Thompson, Alabama A&M (5-10, Fr., Outside Hitter, Sacramento, Calif.)

Andrea Horska', Alcorn State (6-0, Fr., Middle Blocker, Czech Republic)

Hakika Bookter, Alabama State (6-1, Sr., Middle Blocker, Baton Rouge, La.)

Phatty Arbuckle, Alabama A&M (5-6, Sr., Outside Hitter, Bozeman, Mont.)

Charvette Lewis, Texas Southern (5-11, Sr., Middle Blocker, Houston, Tex.)

SECOND TEAM ALL-SWAC:

Chanan Newman, Southern Univ. (5-9, Sr., Outside Hitter, Montibello, Calif.)

Chanel Henderson, Prairie View A&M (5-8, Outside Hitter, Sr., San Antonio, Tex.)

Deatra Brandon, Texas Southern (5-6, Jr., Outside Hitter, Houston, Tex.)

Eula Kador, Alabama State (5-11, Jr, Hitter, Baton Rouge, La.)

Latrecia Samuels, Southern Univ. (5-5, Jr., Setter, Jasper, Tex.)

Tanesha Dillard, Prairie View A&M (5-11, Sr., Setter/Outside Hitter, Kent, Wash.

)

FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR:
Andrea' Horska, Alcorn State (6-0, Fr., Middle Blocker, Czech Republic)

NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR:
Latrecia Samuels, Southern Univ. (5-5, Jr., Setter, Jasper, Tex.)

PLAYER OF THE YEAR:
De'Anna Hines, Alabama A&M (5-11, Sr., Middle Blocker/Middle Hitter, Huntsville, Ala.)

COACH OF THE YEAR:
Goes automatically to the coach of the team which wins the SWAC championship

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