November 20, 2008 - The NAIA Association of Independent Institutions announced on Thursday their 2008 A.I.I. Volleyball All-Conference team, as selected by the A.I.I. volleyball coaches. The University of St. Thomas claimed both major awards, with sophomore middle blocker Casey Mulryan earning the A.I.I. Player of the Year award, while Celts head coach Jill Reynolds was named the A.I.I. Coach of the Year.

Mulryan and Reynolds were a part of the inaugural A.I.I. Championship team from St. Thomas, as the Celts defeated Our Lady of the Lake in straight sets in the finals to advance to the NAIA National Championships. St. Thomas heads to San Diego, California to face Point Loma Nazarene University in the opening round. The winner of this first round match will then travel to Sioux City, Iowa as a top 24-team vying for the 2008 NAIA Volleyball Championship title.

St. Thomas leads the list with five A.I.I. All-Conference team members, while Lambuth is next with three All-Conference selections. Crichton College had two players named to the A.I.I. team, while Embry-Riddle (AZ) and Indiana University Northwest round out the inaugural All-Conference team with one selection each.

Full A.I.I. Conference Awards available below: