Xavier University Athletics
Xavier Volleyball Recognized on All-Conference Teams
11.20.03 | Volleyball
XU Head Coach Floyd Deaton was named A-10 Coach of the Year and his Musketeers earned five spots combined on the All-Conference and All-Tournament teams. Senior Kimberly Cockerel and freshman Marisa Main were named to the All-Conference team. Main was also named to the All-Rookie team along with classmates Astyn Bjorklund and Danielle Skrajewski.
Deaton was named A-10 Coach of the Year after leading XU to a 14-14 overall record and an 8-6 record in conference play this season. He also brings the Musketeers to the Atlantic 10 Championships for the sixth consecutive season while riding the momentum of a six-match winning streak to earn the Tourney's final bid in the last match of the season. The award is the second in Deaton's career. He was also named A-10 Coach of the Year in 1998, the first year of XU's current A-10 Championhip appearance streak. Deaton is in his 14th season as a collegiate head coach, all at Xavier. He has led the Musketeers to a 290-173 record since 1990 and its only A-10 Championship and NCAA Tournament berth in 2001.
Cockerel, a middle blocker from Louisville, Ky., becomes just the third player in Xavier history to be named to three postseason All-Conference teams. The 2000 All-Rookie and 2002 All-Conference team member was also named to the All-Tournament team in 2001 and 2002. This season, Cockerel is second on the team and seventh in the A-10 in hitting percentage at .294 and is one of just two Musketeers to hold a career hitting percentage above .300. She also leads the Musketeers in blocking while ranking second in kills per game.
Main, a setter from Louisville, Ky., is the first in Musketeer history and the only player in the A-10 to be named to both the All-Conference and All-Rookie teams. Main is also the only player in the Atlantic 10 this season to record a triple-double, a feat she accomplished three times. In fact, Main posted the first triple-double in XU history in just her second collegiate match with 18 kills, 13 digs and 36 assists against Jacksonville on Aug. 30. Overall this season, the three-time A-10 Rookie of the Week leads the A-10 in service aces per game while ranking fifth in hitting percentage and assists per game.
Bjorklund, a middle blocker from Nicollet, Minn., was named A-10 Rookie of the Week on Oct. 6 after hitting .378 and tallying 41 kills and 16 blocks in three matches. Bjorklund is second on the team in blocks while reaching double-digits in kills nine times this season and rank fourth on the team in kills per game.
Skrajewski, an outside hitter from Downingtown, Pa., was named A-10 Rookie of the Week on Nov. 10 after leading XU to wins over George Washington and Duquesne. She ranks fourth on the team in digs and blocks while also ranking fifth in kills. Skrajewski is the only Musketeer to reach both the 20 kill and 20 dig plateau this season.
Xavier will open up play at the 21st Atlantic 10 Volleyball Championships against 2003 Regular Season Champion Temple at McGonigle Hall on TU's campus in Philadelphia. The Musketeers and the Owls will play in the first semifinal on Friday at 5:30 p.m.
