Danielle Selkridge has become just the second player in Tampa University history to earn a 2nd South Region Player of the Year Award. Photo: University of Tampa

Also a first-team selection, Selkridge was joined on the team by teammate Holly Reschke.

Fellow Spartans Meagan Burke and Kahley Patrick were also honored as second-team selections.

Selkridge, a senior, becomes the second player in program history to earn the award twice, joining Melissa Vanderhall (2008-09). Selkridge is the nation’s leader with a .503 hitting percentage and also leads the team in kills (368), block solos (27), block assists (74) total blocks (101) and points (433.0).

The first-team player will now appear on the ballot for All-American honors with all first-team all-region players. The team is sponsored by Daktronics, Inc., an acknowledged world leader in scoring, timing and programmable display systems for virtually every sport at every level of competition and is voted on by the NCAA Division II members of the College Sports Information Directors of America (D2SIDA).

In way of celebration the  No. 7 University of Tampa (28-3) volleyball team made quick work of Clark Atlanta University (24-19) in the first round of the NCAA Division II South Regional at the Martinez Center with a 3-0 win on Thursday night.

In the lone three-set sweep of the first day of the regional, Tampa won by scores of 25-21, 25-14, 25-20. The day featured a total of four matches as the third-seed Palm Beach Atlantic, seven-seed Christian Brothers and five-seed Florida Southern all won. The CBU and FSC matches were both upsets as higher seeded West Florida (2) and Eckerd (4) both bowed out of the tournament on the first day of action.

The Spartans were led in their three set sweep by Marissa Lisenbee. The freshman led the team with ten kills and added three digs. The three frames featured 51 total kills by the Spartan offense, with setter Kahley Patrick providing 40 assists. 

The opening set displayed sound balance for the Spartans as Lisenbee,  Reschke, and  Selkridge all contributed four kills. Selkridge swung at a 4-6 clip, improving her already nation-best .503 attack percentage.

The final set featured additional Tampa players stepping up to finish off the Panthers of Clark Atlanta. Sophomore Jackie Neff led UT in the frame with five kills. Newcomer Megan Heffron connected for three kills, while Amerell added four more of her own. Tampa took the third stanza 25-20, sealing the victory.

The Spartans advance to the regional semifinals to meet Sunshine State Conference opponent Florida Southern College. The teams will square off on Friday November 30, 2012 at 7:30 P.M. at the Martinez Center.