Catanach Named ACC Player of the Year

Coming out on top has never been sweeter for Duke (24-6, 16-4 in the ACC), who clinched the No. 1 spot in the conference.

Blue Devil setter Kellie Catanach earned the title of ACC Player of the Year following her performance this season that led the Duke offense to be ranked 19th in the country in kills per set, 21st in assists per set and 37th in hitting percentage. Catanach led the conference and ranked 19th nationally with 11.40 assists per set, ending the season with 20 consecutive matches in which she had 30 or more assists.

The 6-foot-2 junior setter not only shone on the offense, however, aiding a Duke defense that held opponents to a conference-low .170 hitting percentage and averaging 2.14 digs and 0.59 blocks.

But Catanach was not the only Blue Devil to earn honors at the end-of-the-year awards Wednesday, as head coach Jolene Nagel was named ACC Coach of the Year, and four other Duke players were named to the All-ACC Volleyball Team.

Senior middle blocker Becci Burling, junior right-side hitter Amanda Robertson, sophomore middle blocker Christiana Gray and freshman libero Ali McCurdy joined Catanach as members of the All-ACC team.

As conference champions, the Blue Devils earned an automatic bid to the NCAA Volleyball tournament and will find out who they next play Sunday during the NCAA Selection show, which will be aired on ESPN News at 3 p.m.