Michigan State University Athletics
Kyndra Abron Earns First-Team All-Big Ten Honors
11/30/2009 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Nov. 30, 2009
EAST LANSING, Mich. - As announced by the Big Ten Conference today, Nov. 30, Michigan State volleyball sophomore Kyndra Abron (Livonia, Mich.) has been named to the First-Team All-Big Ten Team, becoming just the 13th different Spartan in school history to be honored as a first-team selection. Abron is the lone sophomore on the list of 14, which is also comprised of three seniors and 10 juniors. Abron's award also marks the 22nd first-team honor for the program.
"It is such a great honor to be selected to the First-Team All-Big Ten team this year," said Abron. "To be one of just three sophomores in school history to receive such a recognition, and to be up there with the likes of Val Sterk and Jenna Wrobel, is just an amazing feeling. I am humbly honored to be recognized by all of the Big Ten coaches, as there are so many great players within the conference to choose from. I want to thank Coach George and all of her staff for their endless support and trust in me throughout the whole season. Without them, this award wouldn't be possible."
Abron, who was named Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week on Aug. 31 after her MVP performance at the Spartan Invitational, has been a strong force up front for the Spartans all season. The MSU sophomore currently ranks third on the team this season in both blocks-per-set, 0.69, and total kills, 259. Abron becomes just the third in Michigan State history to receive first-team honors as a sophomore, joining Val Sterk in 1994 and Jenna Wrobel in 1996.
"All season long, Kyndra has continued to improve," said head coach Cathy George. "In the last half of the conference season she has become a force to be reckoned with, as apparent by the recognition she has received from the conference coaches."
On the season, Abron led the Spartan attack in conference action with her 2.81 kills-per-set average. She also was tops on the team with in solo blocks, tallying 10 overall and eight during Big Ten play. Her 259 total kills ranks third on the team this season, while tallying 197 of those in within the conference, which was second most on the team.
Junior Allyson Karaba (Muskegon, Mich.) has been named Michigan State's recipient of the Big Ten Sportsmanship Award as announced by the conference office. Karaba will join 11 other volleyball athletes who have distinguished themselves through sportsmanship and ethical behavior. In addition, the student-athletes must be in good academic standing and have demonstrated strong citizenship outside of the sports-competition setting.
These student-athletes are now candidates for the Big Ten Sportsmanship Award, as the conference office will honor one male and one female student-athlete from each institution at the end of the academic year.
Over the course of the season, Karaba as anchored the Spartan defense with her 4.21 digs-per-set average. She has also contributed 18 service aces for MSU while adding 67 assists. The junior co-captain has played in all but one match this season, missing Michigan State's match at Iowa due to an injury.
Abron and Karaba, along with the rest of the Spartans, will be back in action when they travel to Lexington, Ky. for the opening round of the NCAA Tournament. MSU will face host Kentucky on Friday, Dec. 4, at 7 p.m., with the winner facing either Clemson or Oregon on Saturday, Dec. 5, at 7 p.m.
All-Big Ten Team (Career)
Johannah Bangert, Jr., MB, ILL
LAURA DeBRULER, Jr., OH, ILL (2)
Hillary Haen, Jr., S, ILL
ASHLEY BENSON, Jr., MB, IND (2)
Juliana Paz, Sr., OH, MICH
LEXI ZIMMERMAN, Jr., S, MICH (2)
Kyndra Abron, So., OH, MSU
LAUREN GIBBEMEYER, Jr., MB, MINN (2)
Sabel Moffett, Jr., MB, NU
KATIE DULL, Jr., OH, OSU
BLAIR BROWN, Jr., RS, PSU
ALISHA GLASS, Sr., S, PSU (3)
MEGAN HODGE Sr., OH, PSU (4)
Arielle Wilson, Jr., MB, PSU (2)
Unanimous selections in ALL CAPS
