CAMBRIDGE, Mass.-- A trio of America East volleyball senior standouts earned All-Region honorable mention status from the American Volleyball Coaches Association this week. The 2011 America East Player of the Year Alicia Nelson from Stony Brook, and Albany teammates Laurie Gonzalez and Casey Wright received the honors.

Nelson (Apple Valley, Minn./Eastview) led the conference in kills per set (4.39) and points per set (4.93). A three-time conference player of the week, Nelson had 13 double-doubles and recorded double-digit kills in all but three matches.

Gonzalez was named the America East Defensive Specialist of the Year for the fourth consecutive season this year after leading the Great Danes to a 21-9 overall record, going 10-1 in league play. Gonzalez averaged a conference-high 5.33 digs per set and also finished with 23 service aces on the season. A native of Carolina, Puerto Rico, Gonzalez was also named to the COBRA Magazine All-Northeast Region Team. 

Wright, a native of Ballston Spa, N.Y., earned her first AVCA All-Region award as well, after leading the Great Danes and finishing fourth in the conference with 3.37 kills per set. She also led the America East in hitting percentage for the third straight season, hitting at a .393 clip, and was ranked eighth in blocks (0.81 per set). Wright, who helped lead UAlbany to their sixth conference title in the last eight years, was ranked fourth in points, averaging 3.95 per set.

AVCA Northeast All-Region Team

Honorable Mention: Emily Juhl (Louisville, OH/RS, So.), Alicia Nelson (Stony Brook, OH, Sr.), Laurie Gonzalez (Albany, L, Sr.), Meghan Matusiak (Seton Hall, RS, Sr.), Sara Rishell (American, MB, Fr.), Casey Wright (Albany, MB, Sr.)