USA South announces All-Conference awards for fall sports

Fayetteville, NC - The USA South Athletic Conference has released its 2009 All-Conference awards for soccer and volleyball, and North Carolina Wesleyan is pleased to announce that the Battling Bishops had 15 student-athletes garner recognition among their respective teams.  Leading the way were First Team selections Brittany Insley and Mackenzie Tingle of volleyball, as well as men's soccer First Teamers Edgar Zaldivar and Michael Muhseler, who was also tabbed the league's Rookie of the Year. Additionally, the Bishops boasted three Second Team picks, three Third Team picks, and two Honorable Mentions to go along with three All-Sportsmanship representatives. 

In volleyball, both Insley and Tingle earned First Team honors for the second consecutive season. The two helped the Bishops secure their third straight 20-win slate and second straight runner-up finish in the league. Individually, Insley (pictured right) currently leads the team with 118 blocks, 444 kills, and a .296 attack percentage, while Tingle followed up her 2008 Rookie of the Year campaign by once again eclipsing the 1,000 assist mark. She also leads the team with 32 service aces on the season.

Also honored in volleyball were freshman Meredith Smith on the Third Team and junior libero Kelly George as an Honorable Mention. Smith currently ranks third on the team with 236 kills, while George has amassed 583 digs this season... the second highest total in program history.

In men's soccer, Muhseler (pictured left) was tabbed the league's Rookie of the Year after leading the USA South in points and goals this fall, having accumulated 33 points and 14 goals thusfar. He also added five assists to tie for fifth in the conference in that category. He was joined on the First Team by Zaldivar, who currently leads the league in assists with ten on the season.

Senior Robert Ivanovich and freshman Florian Bertalan were tabbed Second Teamers for the runner-up Bishops, who turned in a 10-7 record during the regular season. Ivanovich has tallied four goals and three assists in the midfield thusfar, while Bertalan and Honorable Mention selection Staffan Alm have helped anchor a Bishop defense that has given up just 1.59 goals per match.