Mitchem Earns Second AVCA Two-Year National Player of the Year Award

LEXINGTON, Ky. - The American Volleyball Coaches Association is pleased to announce Irvine Valley College sophomore middle blocker Annie Mitchem as its 2014 AVCA Two Year College National Player of the Year.

There are numerous quality six rotation players around the country, but not many can claim to be a six rotation middle blocker like Mitchem. She ends the season leading the nation in hitting percentage (.517), fourth in blocks per set (1.24) and third on her team in digs per set (2.46). She played a large hand in having her Lasers lead the country with a .344 team hitting percentage and holding their opponents to a microscopic .106 team clip.

Irvine Valley College had a season to remember with Mitchem leading the way. They went a perfect 27-0, losing just seven sets all season culminating in their first California Community College Athletics (CCCAA) Championship. They avenged last year's championship match defeat to Cabrillo by defeating the same team this season where Mitchem had a match to remember. She smashed 24 kills, hit .488, and recorded six solo blocks and seven digs en route to winning the CCCAA Tournament MVP.

"She's the best player I've seen ever at the community college level," Irvine Valley coach Tom Pestolesi said of Mitchem. "She can do everything."

Mitchem becomes just the second player in Two Year College/AVCA Player of the Year history to win the honor in both of her seasons. Fabiana Spisso de Abreu of Southern Idaho in 1998 and 1999 is the only other player to accomplish the feat. Mitchem will be joining the University of Hawai'i next season. 

The formal presentation of the AVCA Two Year College National Player of the Year will be made Dec. 19th in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma at the AVCA All-America/Players of the Year Banquet held in conjunction with the 2014 AVCA Annual Convention and NCAA Division I Women's Volleyball National Championships.

AVCA Two-Year Colleges National Players of the Year
2014: Annie Mitchem (Irvine Valley College) 
2013: Annie Mitchem (Irvine Valley College) 
2012: Keani Passi (Southern Idaho) 
2011: Xiao Liang (Iowa Lakes) 
2010: Roslandy Acosta (Cowley County)
2009: Yiting Cao (Illinois Central)
2008: Kayla Schmidt (Blinn)
2007: Soriana Pacheco (Western Nebraska)
2006: Juliana Paz (Iowa Western)
2005: JoAnna Kaczor (Southern Idaho)
2004: Keila Oliviera (Miami-Dade)
2003: Nevena Siljegovic (Moorpark)
2002: Madelaynne Montano (Miami-Dade)
2001: Juliana Escobar (Barton County)
2000: Stephanie Martin (Southern Idaho)
1999: Fabiana Spisso de Abreu (Southern Idaho)
1998: Fabiana Spisso de Abreu (Southern Idaho)
1997: Hai Yan (Southern Idaho)
1996: Jenni Roselli (Spokane Falls)
1995: Paula Araujo (Southern Idaho)
1994: Katianne Simonetti (Southern Idaho)
1993: Jessica Lee (Golden West)
1992: Pele Baker (Eastern Arizona)
1991: Hilda Gaxiola (Texas Southmost)
1990: Sandra Pena (Miami-Dade-Wolfson Campus)
1989: Kristine Cousins (Miami-Dade-South Campus)
1988: Nicole Stubbs (Schoolcraft)
1987: Sonia Trevino (San Jacinto-Central Campus)

http://www.avca.org/awards/players-of-the-year/two-year-college/

In addition, Annie recently signed a letter of intent with the University of Hawaii. Full Story