Dec. 5, 2007

LEXINGTON, Ky. - Tiger senior middle blocker Shelby Burton made more Memphis volleyball history today, as she was named to the AVCA All-Midwest Region on Wednesday. Burton is the second Tiger to earn AVCA Regional accolades in consecutive seasons, but the first to earn first team honors in back-to-back years.

Burton joins eight fellow Conference USA standouts, who earned first team honors, including C-USA Player of the Year, Kelly-Anne Billingy, of Marshall and C-USA Setter of the Year, Julia Silva of Tulsa.

A year after a breakout campaign in 2006, Burton bounced back with a strong senior season. The 6-2 middle blocker led Memphis, C-USA and ranked 18th nationally with a .383 attack percentage. She also finished 59th in the country with 1.34 blocks per game. A force on both sides of the net, Burton slammed down 449 kills (3.51 kpg) and served a team-high 39 aces. Defensively, she paced Memphis with 171 blocks. For her performance during the season, Burton was named an All-C-USA First Team performer for the second straight year.

The San Antonio, native, set historical marks by becoming the first Tiger volleyball player ever to lead her team in hitting all four years of her career. She entered the season as the program's all-time hitting percentage leader by just one point, and finished her career with a .369 career attack percentage. The 20th Memphis volleyball player to reach 1,000 career kills, Burton is ranked in a tie for sixth on Memphis' all-time kills ledger with 1389 terminations. Her 397 block assists ranks second all-time at Memphis, while her 484 total rejections are third-most by a Tiger volleyball player.

Burton will now advance to the national ballot for All-American consideration.

The following is the 2007 AVCA All-Midwest Region First Team:
Midwest Region
Kelly-Anne Billingy****  Marshall             RS/Opp.   Sr.
Natalie Bogan            Rice                 MB        So.
Abbey Breit***           Jacksonville St.     OH        Sr.
Shelby Burton**          Memphis              MB        Sr.
Justine Farmer           Houston              OH        Jr.
Leanne Felsing**         Wisconsin-Milwaukee  S/H       Sr.
Elizabeth Fleming        Marshall             S         Fr.
Jenn Miller              Tulane               DS/Lib.   So.
Angie Porche             Valparaiso           OH        So.
Sara Radosevic***        Tulane               OH        Jr.
Julia Silva***           Tulsa                S         Sr.
Bridget Wells            Tulane               RS/Opp.   Jr.

Region Freshman of the Year: Elizabeth Fleming, Marshall, S
Honorable Mention: Amy Benz (Cleveland State, MB, Fr.), Stephanie Cahill (Marshall, OH, Sr.), Karleigh DeLong (Southeast Missouri State, RS/Opp., So.), Brittany Nobilio (Eastern Kentucky, DS/Lib., Sr.), Mel Snyder (Cleveland State, S, Sr.), Ksenija Vlaskovic (Tulane, OH, So.)