Published: November 17, 2009 08:48 am      

McCausland, Uceda earn 1st team honors

MOUNT PLEASANT — Ashford University juniors Kelsay McCausland, of Camanche, and Allison Uceda, of Lima, Peru, received first-team All-Midwest Collegiate Conference recognition as season honors were announced Monday.

McCausland and Uceda were two of 14 players selected to the first team, while nine student-athletes garnered honorable mention all-conference status.

“I’m extremely proud of the roles Kelsay and Allison have played on our team this year, and their talent speaks for itself,” Ashford coach Micah Cewe said. “They are committed and determined to work hard to get us past the semifinals of the conference tournament next year.”

McCausland, a middle hitter, led the MCC in total service aces with 71 and finished 13th nationally in that category. Her hitting percentage of .288 ranked fifth in the MCC.

She also had a team-high 376 kills (2.6 kpg) and earned four all-tournament team selections (Mustang Invitational, Oktoberfest Invitational, Saints Invitational, Clarke Invitational).

In addition, McCausland was named both the MCC Hitter of the Week and Player of the Week on separate occasions and became the third player in school history to cross the 1,000 career-kill milestone.

In her first season as a junior transfer from Indian Hills Community College, Uceda was second on the team in kills behind McCausland with 348. She was just as adept on the defensive end, finishing eight matches with double-digit dig totals, good for five double-doubles (kills/digs).

Uceda equaled the team’s single-game high for the season in kills (tying McCausland’s 18-kill effort against Mount Mercy/McKendree), nailing down 18 against Grand View University at home (Sept. 15).

Grand View freshman outsider hitter Devon Jansen received Player of the Year and Newcomer of the Year accolades. Viterbo’s Heather Harelstad was voted as the league’s Libero of the Year for the third straight year, while St. Ambrose’s Lauren Aderman was named Setter of the Year.

Grand View Head Coach Tina Carter was voted Coach of the Year by her peers.