2014 Daktronics West Region Volleyball All-Star Teams

PORTLAND, Ore. -- Finishing off a breakout sophomore season in a year of "firsts" for Academy of Art University Volleyball, Melissa Brum has been named 2014 Daktronics NCAA Division II West Region Second Team All-Star. One of 15 athletes to receive a regional honor, she is the first in program history to do so.

Brum's sophomore season was highlighted by averages significant at the national level. By the year's end, she was fifth in the country in kills per set (4.47) and ninth in the entire NCAA Division II in points per set (4.82). She had 20 double-doubles which were the second-most in program history and became the first Urban Knight to crack the Top 3 in total kills which had previously exclusively belonged to Dan Yang, taking over second with 451 terminations on the year.

In the Pacific West Conference, Brum ranked #1 in total kills and second only to PacWest Player of the Year Shih Ting Chen (BYU-Hawaii) in both kills per set and points per set. Brum's season-high of 23 kills (one off her career-high) came in the season finale when ART U triumphed over Notre Dame de Namur 3-1 on Nov. 15. She contributed a career-high 22 digs on a night where Academy of Art produced its second-most digs in program history.

"I'm thrilled for Mel being our first Daktronics All-Region selection," head coach Ed Jackson said. "Melissa has had arguably one of the best seasons any volleyball player has ever had here at ART U. I'm really proud of her commitment to this team and the hard work she put in preparing for the season. She is a testament to the quote, 'Luck is when preparation meets opportunity.' She has proven to be our leading attacker. Since she's only sophomore, Mel has a brighter future as she continues to develop."

Joining Brum on the Daktronics All-Region Teams from the Pacific West Conference were Shih Ting Chen of BYU-Hawaii as well as Kathleen Anderson and Hannah Butler of Fresno Pacific.

Players selected to the region first team will be listed on the Daktronics All-American national ballot. The All-American team will be announced Dec. 3.

The All-American 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. The teams are voted on by the members of D2SIDA, NCAA Division II Sports Information Directors Association.