Three Broncos Honored As Academic All-MAC

KALAMAZOO, Mich. - The Mid-American Conference announced today its selections for the volleyball Academic All-MAC teams, with Jessica Brown, Terin Norris, and Ashley Turnage - earning honors. In addition, Elizabeth Sweeney, Ali Gossen, and Gillian Asque were named Academic Honorable Mention. Of the three Academic All-MAC honorees, only Brown has previously received the award.

The Academic All-MAC honor is for a student-athlete who has excelled in athletics and academics. To qualify, a student-athlete must have at least a 3.20 cumulative GPA and have participated in at least 50 percent of the contests for that particular sport. First-year students and junior college transfers in their first year of residence are not eligible for the award.  The trio of Sweeney, Gossen, and Asque all qualified for the honor.

Norris was named the MAC Freshman of the Year and a First-Team All-MAC selection; as a redshirt freshman, she started every match for the Broncos in 2011 and ranked among the best setters in the conference and country. She ranked second in the MAC and 14th in the nation in assists per set (11.51). In addition to her offensive proficiency, Norris set a new single-season school record with 17 Digs-Assists double-doubles. She recorded a triple-double of 43 assists, 16 digs, and 11 kills in the Broncos' 3-2 victory over Ball State which was only the fourth triple-double in school history and the first since 2008.

Brown earned her third All-MAC playing honors in 2011, making her way on to the First Team. She led the Broncos with an average of 3.00 kills per set, and helped the team to an average of 14.50 kills per set, which ranked ninth in NCAA Division I. She tied a career-high with 22 kills at Ball State on Oct. 1st, the highest total for a Bronco in 2011, and set a career-high with a .778 hitting percentage against Western Carolina in August.

Turnage finished her four-year career at Western Michigan with her best all-around season, setting career highs in kills (326), kills per set (2.69), hitting percentage (.325), total blocks (101), points (388.0), and points per set (3.21). Turnage ranked in the top-100 in the nation with a .325 hitting percentage, and reached 100 total blocks for the first time in her career.