Trojans' Mitchell, Luft receive all-CVAC recognition

By MOC Sports Information
Published in Sports on November 3, 2006 1:47 PM

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SPARTANBURG, S.C. -- Mount Olive senior Anna-Marie Luft and junior Sam Mitchell were both selected to the first team as the 2006 All-Carolinas-Virginia Athletics Conference Volleyball Team was announced during award ceremonies at the 2006 CVAC Volleyball Tournament, hosted by Converse College. The first team selection is the third in a row for Luft and the second in a row for Mitchell.

Luft, a 5-10 right side hitter from Swansboro, ranks sixth in the CVAC this season with a .295 hitting percentage. She is averaging 2.83 kills per game this season, along with a career-best 1.72 digs per game average. She recorded her first-ever "20-20" match this season and established career highs with 23 kills and 23 digs against regionally-ranked Converse. She has reached double figures in kills 14 times this season and also recorded a season-high five service aces against Barton. Luft joins Heidi Busch as the only other Trojan to earn All-CVAC Volleyball first team honors in at least three consecutive seasons.

Mitchell, a 5-8 junior outside hitter from Boyd, Wis., is one of only two CVAC players averaging at least four kills per game, ranking second in the conference with a 4.12 average. She has 23 "double-doubles" this season, including four matches with at least 20 kills and 20 digs. She tallied a career-high 27 kills to go with 24 digs against Queens and also notched 20 kills and 23 digs against Pfeiffer. Mitchell is second on the team in digs with an average of 3.77 per game. Mitchell becomes the fourth Trojan in the last five years to earn All-CVAC first team honors in back-to-back years, joining Luft, Busch and Chasity Oxendine.

No. 7 seed Mount Olive (10-19) defeated No. 10 seed Queens 3-0 Monday in the first round of the CVAC Tournament. Mount Olive faces No. 2 seed Limestone in the quarterfinal round at 1 p.m. (time approximate), with the winner advancing to the semifinals Friday evening. The championship match is slated for Saturday at 2 p.m. The tournament champion earns an automatic bid to the Atlantic Regional of the 2006 NCAA Division II Women's Volleyball Championship.