Dec. 10, 2003

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - The American Volleyball Coaches' Association Released its 2003 All-Region Teams on Wednesday, bestowing honorable mention accolades on UC Santa Barbara sophomore middle blocker Megan Blackshire.

The native of Capistrano Beach, Calif., earned All-West Region recognition after helping the Gauchos win their second consecutive Big West Conference Championship this season and finish 19-9 overall. The AVCA West Region is comprised of teams from the Big West, Mountain West and Western Athletic Conferences.

Blackshire, also a First Team All-Big West choice, averaged 3.24 kills and a team-high 0.99 blocks per game in 2003, while her .366 hitting percentage ranked third among all league players. She ended the season on a tear, with double-digit kills in each of her final 15 matches, including a career-high 22 put-aways against Utah State on Oct. 10. Blackshire recorded 10 or more kills on 22 separate occasions, more than any other Gaucho.

Blackshire will be one of six starters and 12 letterwinners returning for UCSB in 2004 as the squad looks to three-peat as Big West champs.

For the complete list of 2003 AVCA All-Region honorees, please visit http://www.avca.org/collegiate/DIawards/DIART03.asp.