Birmingham, AL- With the 2009 GSC Tournament just 48 hours away, the league's coaches honored the best in the conference with the selection of this year's All-GSC teams.

EAST DIVISION HONORS

UNA'S JACOBS WINS EAST DIVISION PLAYER OF THE YEAR

North Alabama's Alison Jacobs earned the GSC East Division's Player of the Year Award.  Jacobs is the 12th UNA player to win player of the year in school history. She was a two-time Offensive Player of the Week, and helped push the Lions to the third seed in the East Division at the GSC Tournament. Jacobs was at the helm of a prolific Lion attack, and posted 9.59 digs per set, a top five mark in the conference. A dual-threat, she also had 222 kills and 242 digs on the year.

UNA'S GREGG EARNS EAST FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR

North Alabama outside hitter Cara Gregg was named the East Division Freshman of the Year. Gregg wasted no time establishing herself as an offensive threat for the Lions, helping push them to a 7-3 mark in conference action. The rookie had 344 kills on the year, an impressive 2.99 average, good enough for second on the team. She had double-digit kills in 20 matches this year, including a season-high 15 in a pivotal win over West Alabama.

UWA'S TURNER AND UNA'S RADECKI EARN CO-COACHES OF THE YEAR

West Alabama head coach Tabitha Turner and North Alabama head coach Stephanie Radecki both share the East Division Coach of the Year Award. 

UWA's Turner had a remarkable run in her first season ever as a head coach, spearheading the Tigers to a share of the GSC East Division title for the first time in school history. Turner's squad finished the year 28-7 overall, notching the second seed in the GSC Tournament. West Alabama ripped off a 15-game winning streak during the middle of the season, propelling them to their third straight appearance in the GSC Tournament.

UNA's Stephanie Radecki continues to add to her impressive resume as North Alabama head coach. This year's version of the powerhouse program finished 7-3 in conference play, good enough for the East Division's third seed. UNA is 19-13 overall, and has been ranked as high as sixth in the latest NCAA Regional Poll. Radecki's squad found their stride late in the year, winning 9 of 12 to close things out near the top of the standings.

WEST DIVISION HONORS

HU'S NESHEVA WINS PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Harding outside hitter Manuela Nesheva earned her second straight West Division's Player of the Year Award. Nesheva becomes the first player in Harding history to win multiple Player of the Year honors, and the fourth ever GSC volleyball athlete to accomplish that feat. A three-time Player of the Week, Nesheva is second in the conference in kills per set with 4.43. She finished the conference slate strong, smashing 53 kills in her final two league matches.

OBU'S FRIZELL NAMED FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR

Ouachita Baptist libero Allison Frizell was named the West Division Freshman of the Year.  Frizell showed great talent in her opening campaign, averaging 4.22 digs per set. Frizell anchored the OBU defense, which was ranked nationally at times during the year. Frizell finished fourth in the GSC in digs per set.

UAM'S SMITH EARNS COACH OF THE YEAR

Arkansas-Monticello head coach Nicole Smith is the West Division Coach of the Year for the first time in her career. Smith has overseen the foundation of UAM's program, building it from scratch five seasons ago to the second seed in the GSC Tournament in 2009. The Cotton Blossoms were 9-3 in conference action, and finished the season with 17 wins. Smith is the first UAM coach to ever win this award.

2009 ALL-GSC VOLLEYBALL FIRST TEAM

EAST DIVISION

Pos	Player	School	Year	Hometown
S	Allison Jacobs	UNA	Sr.	Elkhorn, Neb.
OH	Sarah Roberts	UNA	Jr.	Maryville, Tenn.
OH	Irene Hannan	VSU	Jr.	Athens, Ga.
OH	Ruthie King	VSU	Jr.	Winter Park, Fla.
OH	Ana Gabriela Pedrosa	UWA	Sr.	Belo Horizonte, Brazil
OH	Jessica Crook	UWA	Sr.	Ohatchee, Ala.
MB	Jordan Kent	UWA	Sr.	Decatur, Ala.
MH	Patricia Gandolfo	UWF	Sr.	Porto Alegre, Brazil
OH	Chelsea Wilhoite	UWF	Jr.	Jacksonville, Fla.

East Division Freshman of the Year- Cara Gregg, North Alabama
East Division Player of the Year- Alison Jacobs, North Alabama
East Division Co-Coaches of the Year- Stephanie Radecki, North Alabama
                                                                              Tabitha Turner, West Alabama

WEST DIVISION

Pos	Player	School	Year	Hometown
MB	Cayla Knapp	UAM	Sr.	South Lake Tahoe, Calif.
MB	Mallory Storm	UAM	Sr.	Collinsville, Ill.
OH	Laura Farney	ATU	So.	Morton, Ill.
MB	Sarah Von Lienen	ATU	Jr.	Lakeland, Tenn.
MH	Hanna Orendorff	CBU	Sr.	Renton, Wash.
OH	Manuela Nesheva	HU	Sr.	Lukovit, Bulgaria
L	Emily Tate	HU	Jr.	Sasche, Texas
OH	Tatiana Kuhn	HSU	Sr.	Esteio, Brazil
L	Bethany Wright	HSU	Sr.	Georgetown, Texas

West Division Freshman of the Year-Allison Frizell, Ouachita Baptist
West Division Player of the Year-Manuela Nesheva, Harding
West Division Coach of the Year-Nicole Smith, Arkansas-Monticello

2009 ALL-GSC VOLLEYBALL SECOND TEAM

EAST DIVISION

Pos	Player	School	Year	Hometown
MH	Allison Cousins	UAH	Jr.	Huntsville, Ala.
OH	Jessica Ruple	UAH	So.	Tyrone, Ga.
OH	Cara Gregg	UNA	Fr.	Knoxville, Tenn.
MB	Tania Tauiliili	VSU	Fr.	Watkinsville, Ga.
S	Alexis McHale	UWA	So.	Sugarland, Texas
L	Maddie Staub	UWF	So.	Spanish Fort, Ala.
S	Tricia Tirabassi	UWF	Fr.	Kenosha, Wisc.

WEST DIVISION

Pos	Player	School	Year	Hometown
OH	Nicole Ferguson	UAM	Sr.	Brentwood, Tenn.
OH	Brennae Benda	ATU	So.	Woodstock, Ill.
S	Kera Dukic	ATU	Jr.	White Lake, Mich.
MH	Logan Westphal	CBU	So.	Herndon, Va.
OH	Sarah Phipps	HU	Sr.	Memphis, Tenn.
OH	Robin Law	HSU	Jr.	Phoenix, Ariz.
MB	Maggie Glover	SAU	Jr.	Waxahachie, Texas

Head Coaches voted for All-Conference honors.  Ties were not broken.

ALL GSC First Team

ALL GSC Second Team