Byrd, Shields Named to All-America Teams
December 18, 2002 | Volleyball
Erin Byrd, a senior on the University of Wisconsin volleyball team, has been named to the 2002 American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) All-America Second Team. Junior Morgan Shields was named to the All-America Third Team. It is the first All-America honor for both athletes and the eighth and ninth volleyball All-Americans in UW history.
The AVCA picked 12-member first, second and third teams with the third team being adding to the AVCA All-America program for the first time this season.
Byrd, a 6-0 outside hitter, led the Badgers in 2002 with 4.34 kills per game and also has a team-best 353 digs (2.97/game). The Glen Ellyn, Ill., native ranked second on the team with 0.34 service aces per game. Byrd was a unanimous selection to the 2002 All-Big Ten team. She was named the Big Ten Player of the Week on Oct. 21 and was also named to the all-tournament team in all four invitationals the Badgers played in this season.
One of the Badgers' best all-around players, Byrd wraps up her career ranked among the top UW players in digs (2nd/1,397); kills (6th/1,270); attack attempts (6th/3,527); service aces (8th/120); and block solos (15th/36).
Shields, a 5-11 setter, led the Big Ten and ranked among the top four players in the nation with 13.91 assists per game. She earned All-Big Ten honors this season and was also named the Big Ten Player of the Week on Sept. 9 and Nov. 18. The Watertown, Wis., native led the Badgers with 0.52 service aces per game, which ranks second on the UW season record lists. Shields also set the UW Big Ten season record for assists with 1,062.
