Dec. 7, 2010
NOTRE DAME, Ind. – Volleyball outside hitter Andrea McHugh was named the AVCA’s Northeast Region Freshman of Year, as announced by the organization Tuesday afternoon. McHugh, who was honored as the BIG EAST Conference Freshman of the Year earlier this season, also earned an all-region honorable mention nod.
“I’m really pleased for Andrea as she had nothing short of an incredible freshman year for our program,” Irish head coach Debbie Brown said. “For her to be recognized as the region’s top freshman is a great accomplishment. This award speaks to her strong all-around skills and the impact she has had on our team this season.”
McHugh is the latest of three Notre Dame players to earn the region’s top honor for a freshman, as Kellie Sciacca (2007) and Lauren Kelbley (2002) also earned the distinction while wearing an Irish uniform.
The dynamic McHugh led Notre Dame in 2010 with 386 kills (3.48/set), 32 aces (0.29/set) and was third with 279 digs (2.51/set). She accounted for 437.5 of Notre Dame’s 1,887.5 points this season.
McHugh, who was named BIG EAST Freshman of the Week five times this season to set a Notre Dame record, was also a first team all-BIG EAST selection (and the only rookie on the first team). In addition to being Notre Dame’s second ever BIG EAST Freshman of the Year, McHugh ranked second among league players in kills/set (4.08) during conference play behind only Cincinnati’s Stephanie Niemer (5.17), who was named BIG EAST Player of the Year. The Yorba Linda, Calif., native was also second with 4.67 points/set and seventh with 0.40 aces/set.
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