Nov. 21, 2001

CLEVELAND, Ohio - In the midst of Mid-American Conference postseason play, two Miami University volleyball players earned all-MAC status as voted by the conference coaches, the Mid-American Conference announced Wednesday. Junior outside hitter Kelly McCullough (Hudson, Ohio/Hudson) was one of six players named to the all-MAC first team, while junior middle hitter Jennifer Eaton (Cincinnati, Ohio/Ursuline Academy) garnered second team recognition.

The two team-up to comprise the MAC's top blocking tandem, accounting for more than 50 percent of Miami's blocks and lifting the RedHawks to the top of the conference charts in blocking. Additionally the two have been the driving forces behind Miami's 14th MAC Tournament appearance and 13th trip to the semifinals.

"Both Kelly and Jen have been dynamic forces in our lineup all season," says head coach Carolyn Condit. "Although there has been a great team effort behind them, it seems appropriate that these two are recognized by the conference coaches for their tremendous efforts this season."

Despite always being targeted as Miami's top threat, McCullough continues to post big numbers, strengthening her campaign as the MAC's top outside hitter. No other outside hitter ranks as high in as many MAC categories as McCullough, who is ranks fourth in hitting percentage (.315), third in kills per game (3.90) and seventh in blocks per game (1.15). She is the league's top outside hitter in hitting percentage and blocks per game and second-best outside hitter in kills per game. McCullough, who was an honorable mention all-MAC selection last season, was twice named MAC Player of the Week this season and has been named to an all-tournament team in every tournament she has played in over the past two seasons.

In early October, Eaton recorded the first back-to-back triple-doubles on record for the Miami volleyball program. A month ago she became the first in the program's history to produce three triple-doubles in the same season. Last weekend she became the first to attain four triple-doubles in a career with all four having come this season. All of Eaton's triple-doubles have come in four-game matches. Eaton, who was named MAC Player of the Week and Female Scholar-Athlete of the Week, has been ranked nationally in blocks for seven weeks and leads the Mid-American Conference in that category. She was ranked 25th in last week's national statistics and currently averages 1.54 blocks per game. Eaton, who owns a 3.78 grade-point average and majors in psychology/pre-medicine also was named to the Verizon Academic All-District IV Second Team last week.

Miami, the No. 4 seed in the MAC Tournament, faces host and No. 1 seed Northern Illinois in the semifinals at 7 p.m. (CT) Friday.