Hudson, WKU receive national honors

Elliott Pratt

WKU’s volleyball season may be over, but recognition for the Lady Toppers’ season isn’t.

Coach Travis Hudson has been named a finalist for the American Volleyball Coaches Association Division I Coach of the Year award. The AVCA also named Hudson the South Region Coach of the Year.

Hudson, who was named 2012 Sun Belt Conference Coach of the Year last month, said credit for the nomination goes to his players.

“I’m honored to be named Region Coach of the Year and a National Coach of the Year finalist,” Hudson said. “Every coach is a product of the kids on the court, and it was such a dream year for us. I’m just so grateful to our players for buying in to what WKU volleyball is all about.”

Hudson previously was awarded the Region Coach of the Year in 2002 and 2005.

The National Coach of the Year will be presented at the 2012 Jostens Coaches Honors Luncheon Dec. 13 at the 2012 AVCA Annual Convention in Louisville.

Along with Hudson, senior outside hitter Jordyn Skinner and junior setter Melanie Stutsman have earned All-South Region honors by the AVCA.

WKU has now placed at least two players on the All-South team for the third year in a row.

Skinner finished her career with the Lady Toppers ranking in the top 10 in multiple categories, including sets and matches played, kills and kills per game.

She led the Lady Toppers with 356 kills and 40 service aces.

Stutsman is a two-time first-team All-Sun Belt Conference player and earned the Most Outstanding Player award at this year’s Sun Belt Tournament. The setter averaged 11.29 assists per set, good enough for first in the conference and 22nd in the nation.

“I’m really excited for both of those kids,” Hudson said. “This is a year that I think we had numerous kids that could have achieved that level of success, but those two are very deserving and were certainly a big part of why we were successful.”