Volleyball gets two second-team All-Americans

December 1, 2003


Jane Gibbs



Amie Lee Aschenbeck

Mon. Dec. 1

Gibbs, Aschenbeck get All-America honors

For the second year in a row, MIAC champion St. Thomas landed two of the 36 players on the 2003 AVCA Division III All-American Volleyball team announced Monday.

The Tommies had two second-team honorees -- setter Jane Gibbs (SR-Lakeville), the conference Player of the Year and a 2002 second-team All-American, was a repeat honoree; and hitter Amie Lee Aschenbeck (JR-Long Lake/Orono) made the elite national team for the first time.

Two other MIAC players were honored Concordia's Jackie Barten made third-team All-American, and Macalester's Carley Bomstad was among 65 named honorable mention All-American.
see Jacki Barten bio here

see Carley Bomstad bio here

St. Thomas is one of eight institutions to have two or more players among the 36 honored.

Gibbs was a four-year starter who helped the Tommies post a 97-31 record with two conference championships. She surpassed 5,300 career assists and ranked among the national leaders as a sophomore and as a junior.

Achenbeck hit .333 this season and totalled 349 kills (3.42 kpg) along with 1.05 blocks per game.

Gibbs becomes the Tommies' second two-time volleyball All-American, joining Penny Thompson Starkey (1991, 1992).

The Tommies finished 24-6 but missed the NCAA playoffs despite beating six teams that made the 48-team national field. They were ranked as high as No. 9 in the Division III poll and were ranked No. 17 in the last poll.

see All-America list here