Xavier's Haywood chosen All-Region; honorable mention for Pirkl

NEW ORLEANS — The American Volleyball Coaches Association has recognized Xavier University of Louisiana seniors Claudia Haywood and Franziska Pirkl on the 2015 NAIA All-Southeast Region team. Haywood is a first-team selection, and Pirkl received honorable mention.
     
Haywood, a 5-foot-11 middle blocker from Memphis, Tenn., and a graduate of Cordova High School, led the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference this year with a .292 hitting percentage. She was first-team All-GCAC her final two seasons, and she was GCAC Tournament MVP this year and in 2013. Haywood finished her career with a .287 hitting percentage, 756 kills and 207 blocks, all of which rank among the top four in XU history.
     
Pirkl, a 5-9 setter from Munich, Germany, and a graduate of Theodolinden Gymnasium, led the GCAC this year with 8.97 assists per set. She was first-team All-GCAC four times, the 2015 GCAC Setter of the Year and a two-time Daktronics-NAIA Scholar Athlete. Her 3,293 career assists are an XU record. Pirkl also produced 227 kills, 116 aces, 754 digs and 103 blocks in her career 7#8212; those latter three numbers rank in XU's top five..
     
The Gold Nuggets were 19-8 this year, and for the fifth consecutive season they won GCAC regular-season and tournament championships and qualified for the NAIA National Championship.

2015 AVCA NAIA All-Southeast Region

Name	Institution	Pos.	Yr.	Hometown
Carol Siqueira	Lindsey Wilson College	OH	SR	Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Rebecca Just**	St. Catharine College	OH	SR	Louisville, KY
Makenzie Montano	Lindsey Wilson College	S	SO	Louisville, KY
Jenny Howell	Georgetown College	OH	SO	Cincinnati, OH
Whitney Battoe	St. Thomas University	RS	SO	Naperville, IL
Corri Muha	Georgetown College	MB	SR	Cincinnati, OH
Jordan Strickland**	St. Catharine College	S	SR	Lexington, KY
Jana Kortas	Cambellsville University	RS	SR	Simpsonville, KY
Carolynne Silva	Lindsey Wilson College	MB	SO	Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Ana Privrat	Southern Univ of New Orleans	L	SR	Belgrade, Serbia
Michelle Calderon	Webber International Univ.	L	SO	Orlando, FL
Megan Minke	Keiser University	MB	JR	Sisters, OR
Ragni Knudsen	Lindsey Wilson College	OH	FR	Myle, Norway
Claudia Haywood	Xavier University (LA)	MB	SR	Memphis, TN

Honorable Mention

Name	Institution	Pos.	YR	Hometown
Breeanna Navarro	Warner University	MB	FR	Jupiter, FL
Franziska Pirkl	Xavier University (LA)	S	SR	Munich, Germany
Victoria Truehert	Southeastern University	OH	FR	Brandon, FL
Adrienne Czaplewski	Warner University	OH	JR	Winter Park, FL
Lauren Schneidtmiller	Georgetown College	OH	SR	Louisville, KY
Megan Ganser	University of the Cumberlands	MB	JR	Waterloo, WI
Jenna Swaffer	Warner University	S	JR	Henderson, NV
Carla Novaes	Talledega College	OH	JR	Sao Paulo, Brazil

Region Coach of the Year	Andy Cavins, Linsdey Wilson College
Region Assistant Coach of the Year	Steve Benson, Warner University
Region Player of the Year	Carol Siqueira, Lindsey Wilson College
Region Freshman of the Year	Ragni Knudsen, Lindsey Wilson College
Region Libero of the Year	Ana Privrat, Southern Univ. New Orleans

Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
XULAgold.com
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA 
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