SAMADAN, KRISKOVA EARN ALL-ATLANTIC 10 HONORS

Both rookies earned All-Atlantic 10 honors Thursday, with Samadan hauling in a number of awards, including First Team and league Rookie of the Year. Samadan is the first Ram to win a conference Rookie of the Year honor since Michala Kvapilova did so in the Colonial Athletic Association in 2009. Samadan and Kriskova were both named to the A-10 All-Rookie Team.

 

A-10 All-Conference teams were selected by a vote of the league's coaches.

 

The Split, Croatia native is also 54^th nationally in hitting percentage (.361), a mark that, if it stands, would be a program record. She needs two more blocks to set a Rams' single-season record in that category as well. Samadan has been the driving force behind VCU's blocking attack, which is ranked fourth in the country (3.08 blocks per set).

In 27 matches this season, Samadan has also averaged 2.40 kills and 0.61 digs per set and is third on the team with 21 service aces. Her 335.0 points lead the Rams. She is the first VCU player to garner First Team All-Conference honors since Kvapilova in 2009 and is the fifth First Team citation earned under Rams' eighth-year Coach James Finley.

 
Kriskova, a 6-3 right side hitter, is averaging 2.38 kills, 1.96 digs and 0.74 blocks per set while hitting .220. Her 27 service aces are a team best.

 
Samadan and Kriskova are the eighth and ninth VCU players to collect conference All-Rookie citations since Finley's arrival in 2005.

 
Behind its two outstanding rookies, VCU has crafted a 24-5 record on the way to the No. 3 seed in the A-10 Tournament, which will take place at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh Nov. 16-18.

ALL-ATLANTIC 10 CONFERENCE AWARDS
Player of the Year: Rachel Krabacher, Dayton
Libero of the Year: Chelsea Tupuola, Temple
Setter of the Year: Samantha Selsky, Dayton
Rookie of the Year: Martina Samadan, VCU
Coach of the Year: Kelly Sheffield, Dayton

Player, Team     Yr.          Pos.       Ht.          Hometown
Megan Campbell, Dayton             Jr.           MB         6-1          Versailles, Ohio
Rachel Krabacher, Dayton            Sr.           OH          6-4          Cincinnati, Ohio
Samantha Selsky, Dayton             Sr.           S              5-10       Manhattan Beach, Calif.
Arielle Love, Duquesne So.          MH         6-0          Maple Heights, Ohio
Gabriella Matautia, Temple         Jr.           OH/RS   5-11       Ewa Beach, Hawaii
Martina Samadan, VCU Fr.           MB         6-5          Split, Croatia
Alex Smith, Xavier           R-Jr.       MB         6-1          St. Louis, Mo.

Player, Team     Yr.          Pos.       Ht.          Hometown
Allison Foschia, Duquesne           Jr.           OH          6-1          Northfield Center, Ohio
Lauren Whyte, George Washington        Sr.           OH          6-1          Olmsted Falls, Ohio
Chelsea Tupuola, Temple             Sr.           DS/L       5-6          Torrance, Calif.
Sarah Brown, Xavier       Jr.           OH          5-9          Mineral City, Ohio
Aubree Smith, Xavier     So.          S              6-1          St. Louis, Mo.
Stephanie Vorherr, Xavier           Sr.           DS/L       5-9          Cincinnati, Ohio
Amé White, Xavier          Sr.           OH          5-9          Salt Lake City, Utah

Player, Team     Yr.          Pos.       Ht.          Hometown
Janna Krafka, Dayton     Fr.           L/DS       5-5          Centerville, Ohio
Alaina Turner, Dayton    Fr.           OH          5-10       Canton, Mich.
Mary Henry, Duquesne                 Fr.           S              5-11       Bloomfield Hills, Mich.
Taylor Lockett, Duquesne            Fr.           MH         6-0          Golden Valley, Minn.
Megan Gilbert, Saint Louis           Fr.           MB         6-0          Tripoli, Iowa
Romana Kriskova, VCU  Fr.           OH/RS   6-3          Bratislava, Croatia
Martina Samadan, VCU Fr.           MB         6-5          Split, Croatia

ALL-ACADEMIC

Player, Team     Yr.          Major    Hometown
Amanda Videmsek, Charlotte    Jr.           Exercise Science               Highland Heights, Ohio
Jenna Litoborski, Charlotte          Sr.           Actuarial Science              Lemont, Ill.
Megan Campbell , Dayton            Jr.           Mathematics     Versailles, Ohio
Rachel Krabacher , Dayton           Sr.           Chemical Engineering     Cincinnati, Ohio
Allison Foschia, Duquesne           Jr.           Occupational Therapy    Northfield Center, Ohio
Candace Silva-Martin, George Washington          Sr.           International Affairs       Fremont, Calif.
Lauren Whyte, George Washington        Sr.           Mathematics     Olmsted Falls, Ohio