Ashby Recognized For Volleyball Media Relations Efforts

June 1, 2006

Cleveland, Ohio - Alan Ashby, who just completed his seventh year working as associate sports information director at Cleveland State, has been given the Grant Burger Award for the Midwest Region by the American Volleyball Coaches Association.

The award, one of eight regional awards handed out at the NCAA Division I level by the AVCA, is given annually to a sports information staff member for their efforts in promoting the sport of volleyball.

"I am happy that the AVCA has seen fit to recognize the hard work that Alan has put in to promote the Viking volleyball program," CSU Director of Athletics Lee Reed said. "He is truly deserving of this award."

"Alan works very hard to get our program some exposure and things seem to get better every year. That's good because every little bit of publicity that we receive helps our recruiting," head volleyball coach Chuck Voss said.

Ashby, who joined the CSU athletic department in the summer of 1999, has served as the primary media contact for women's volleyball for the last three years. He also works with the sports of women's basketball, softball, men's and women's golf and fencing.

Ashby had a lot to publicize about the Viking volleyball program this past year. CSU posted a 19-10 record, the most wins by the program since 1988 and fourth straight winning record.

The individual awards also poured in for the Vikings.

Senior Nickole Kennedy was named First-Team All-District and honorable mention All-America by the AVCA, becoming only the second All-American in the program's history.

Senior Jenna Maddocks also achieved a milestone for the program when she became the first volleyball player to earn Academic All-America honors, earning third team recognition on the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America unit.

Senior Alisa Hatcher received national attention in the USA Today, the ESPN.com and several other publications for her comeback from a pulmonary embolism that not only threatened her playing career, but her life as well.