Dec. 14, 2011

OXFORD, Miss. – For the second year in a row, senior middle blocker Regina Thomas earned national recognition from the American Volleyball Coaches Association when she was named an honorable mention All-America selection, the organization announced on Wednesday.

Thomas was named a third team All-America selection a year ago by the AVCA, becoming the program’s first All-America selection.

The senior middle blocker from Richardson, Texas, turned in a solid season for the Rebels, returning to the court less than a year after suffering a season-ending ACL injury in 2010 that cut short her junior campaign.

Thomas hit .369 this year and posted 1.10 blocks per set. Her .369 average made her the top hitter in the Southeastern Conference in the NCAA statistical rankings at the end of the regular season for the second straight year. Her 1.10 blocks per set was second in the SEC as one of the top performers in the league. She put down 237 kills on the year 120 total blocks. The senior finished her career third all-time in blocks at Ole Miss with 383 over the last four years.

She turned in 10 matches with double-digit kills this past season, including a season-high 15 kills two times – both at home against Arkansas and No. 18 Kentucky. Thomas also put down a season-high 10.0 blocks as part of a double-double in a win over Eastern Illinois at the Magnolia Invitational as she helped her team win the tournament title for the fifth straight season.