Complete AVCA All-America list in PDF Format 
Dec. 17, 2008
Omaha, Neb. -
Illinois outside hitter Laura DeBruler has been named a Second Team All-American, the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) announced Wednesday. DeBruler will be formally honored at the All-America banquet Friday night in Omaha as part of the AVCA Convention and the NCAA Final Four.
DeBruler becomes just the 10th Illini to earn AVCA All-American honors in school history and just the sixth to be named first or second team. She joins Lisa Argabright (third team, 2003), Jessica Belter (2004, honorable mention), Erin Borske (1995, first team), Nancy Brookhart (1987, 88, 89, second team), Laura Bush (1989, second team), Mary Eggers (1986, 87, 88, first team), Kirsten Gleis (1992, first team), Tina Rogers (1992, second team), and Erin Virtue (2003, honorable mention) as Illini AVCA All-Americans.
DeBruler burst onto the national scene in week one, posting 31 kills, including 22 in the final three sets, to help Illinois upset no. 11 Oregon in the State Farm Illini Classic. That week she was named AVCA and CVU.com National Player of the Week. DeBruler posted 46 kills in three NCAA matches, which were third most in the tournament through three rounds. That helped her earn NCAA All-Regional Tournament accolades.
DeBruler was a unanimous All-Big Ten selection after leading the conference in both kills (4.66 per set) and points (5.17 per set). Her kill numbers also rank DeBruler sixth nationally in that category. The graduate of Downers Grove (Ill.) North High School finished with 587 kills for the season and her 1,162 career kills are on pace to shatter the Illinois career record. She also hit .253 for the year while her 379 digs and 28 aces were both second on the team. DeBruler earned three All-Tournament honors, including being named MVP of the Illini Classic. Her 27 career 20-kill matches are two off the Illinois record.
Illinois finished the season 26-8, 15-5 and in third place in the Big Ten. Illinois, the ninth seed nationally in the NCAA Tournament, advanced to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2003 before being eliminated by eighth-seed California in the State College Regional.
