ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. – Ashley Diedrich was tabbed the Peach Belt Conference Co-Freshman of the year and Shannon Byers and Samantha Lukralle were named Second-Team All-Conference at a banquet Friday evening after the first day of the 2012 Peach Belt Conference Volleyball Tournament at Flagler.
Diedrich becomes USC Aiken's first volleyball Freshman of the Year since Amy Long claimed the honor in 2002. She shares the award with Tarryn Angermeier of Lander.
An outside hitter, Diedrich led USC Aiken in the 2012 season with 303 kills. She averaged a team-best 2.68 kills per set in the 2012 Pacer campaign.
The Orlando, Fla. native finished her freshman season with 249 digs. She averaged 2.20 digs per set.
The Peach Belt Conference Player of the Week on Sept. 17, Diedrich acquired seven double-doubles in the 2012 season. She ended her freshman year first among all Pacers and second in the Peach Belt Conference with 53 service aces.
Diedrich (Orlando, Fla./Dr. Phillips HS) closed out the 2012 season with a team second-best 63 blocks.
Byers (Morristown, Minn./Faribault HS) closes out her career as a four-time All-Peach Belt Conference selection. She is now one of just two Pacer volleyball players to be named All-Conference all four of their seasons. Kim Merrill (1994, 95, 96 and 97) also accomplished the rare feat.
A two-time Peach Belt Conference Player of the Week this season (Oct. 1 and Oct. 8), Byers was second among all Pacers in 2012 with 271 kills. She averaged 2.63 kills per set. Byers was also second among all Pacers in 2012 with 312 digs (3.03 digs per set).
The Morristown, Minn. native closed out her Pacer career Friday with 1,400 digs and 1,240 kills in her career. The outside hitter is only the sixth player in Pacer history to have over 1,000 kills and 1,000 digs in their career.
Lukralle (Lindenhurst, N.Y./Lindenhurst HS) closed out her career on Friday with 2,160 career digs. The 2,160 digs is the most all-time in Pacer volleyball history. The dig total is good for fourth all-time in Peach Belt Conference history.
The Lindenhurst, N.Y. native ended her senior season in 2012 with 517 digs. The Pacer libero averaged a Peach Belt Conference second-best 5.68 digs per set. The Peach Belt Conference Specialist of the Week on Oct. 15, Lukralle claimed 20 or more digs in 14 matches this season.
Lukralle is now a two-time All-Peach Belt Conference selection. She also earned the honor in 2011. She was chosen the Peach Belt Conference Libero of the Year in 2010. A member of the 2010 Peach Belt Conference All-Tournament Team, Lukralle was also named All-Region in 2010.
A two-time Peach Belt Conference All-Academic choice, Lukralle was selected to the Capital One Academic NCAA Division II Women's Volleyball District Three First-Team in 2011 and 2012.
Armstrong Atlantic State's Ashley Seal made league history as the first player to be named both the Peach Belt Conference Player of the Year and the Setter of the Year in the same season. Flagler's Casey Gnann was named the league's Libero/Defensive Specialist of the Year for the second straight year.
USC Aiken closed out its 2012 season with an 18-13 overall record. The Pacers finished in sole possession of third place in the Peach Belt Conference with a record of 7-7.
The Pacers are ranked 10th in the latest NCAA Division II Southeast Region rankings.
The PBC All-Conference team is listed below as selected by the league's head coaches. Coaches were not permitted to vote for their own players.
2012 Peach Belt Conference
Volleyball All-Conference Team
First Team
Manyi Ati, Montevallo
Dianna Craine, Flagler
Casey Gnann, Flagler
Jessica Santaniello, Armstrong
Ashley Seal, Armstrong
Emilee Taylor, Flagler
Brittany Wolf, Armstrong
Second Team
Tarryn Angermeier, Lander
Shannon Byers, USC Aiken
Amanda Jones, Armstrong
Jenna Keeler, Augusta State
Samantha Lukralle, USC Aiken
Rachel Stacy, Flagler
Michelle Walker, Montevallo
Co-Freshman of the Year
Tarryn Angermeier, Lander
Ashley Diedrich, USC Aiken
Libero/Defensive Specialist of the Year
Casey Gnann, Flagler
Setter of the Year
Ashley Seal, Armstrong
Player of the Year
Ashley Seal, Armstrong
Coach of the Year
Ashley Stathas, Lander
