Volleyball Signee Named HS All-America
12/2/2009 7:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Dec. 2, 2009
COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Mary Cushman, a six-foot outside hitter from Rochester, N.Y., was recently named to the 2009-10 Under Armour Girls High School Second-Team All- America by the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA).
"Mary is an athlete that was being recruited by most of the top programs in the country," Maryland women's volleyball head coach Tim Horsman said. "She is physical. She plays hard and has an unbelievable personality on and off the court. I think she has leadership ability and is going to be somebody that people are drawn to. I think she's going to be an unbelievable player. She's unbelievably athletic and her entire skill set is solid and I think she's going to be ready to compete right away when she gets here."
The First-and-Second-Teams each consist of only 24 individuals. For the first time in the award's four-year history, the organization is also awarding honorable mention accolades. The 100 players represent 27 states and 81 high schools. Many have already committed to play collegiate volleyball at some of the top programs in the country.
Requirements for nomination were that the student-athlete be in her senior year of high school, that she be nominated by her high school coach, that her coach be a member of the AVCA and that her season statistics be entered into MaxPreps, a free service that aggregates and distributes data on high school sports.
Cushman was the 2008 New York Gatorade Player of the Year out of Irondequoidt High School. The New York native is one of the most highly-rated signees in Maryland history, coming in at No. 56 in the nation by prepvolleyball.com.
The signing class for 2010 also added 6-foot-4-inch middle blocker/right side Carlisle Abele. Hailing from Mountain Brook High School in Birmingham, Ala., Abele gives Maryland a big athlete with ability to play in the middle or left and right side.
- GO TERPS -
