Dec. 3, 2010

LOS ANGELES, Calif. - LMU volleyball junior Jasmine Rankins has been named to the COBRA Magazine Southwest All-Region Team as announced by the magazine today. COBRA Magazine's purpose is to celebrate the success of volleyball players of African descent in hopes of encouraging black girls across the country to pursue the sport.

Rankins, selected first team All-WCC for the first time in her career, led the team this year in attacks (1,202), kills (425), service aces (50), block solos (12) and points (510). Her aces and kills marks also led all players in the West Coast Conference. The conference-best 50 service aces place Rankins tied for fifth in the LMU single season record books, matched with Cindy Weglarz (1997). Her .45 service aces per set, which rank 17th in the nation this week, also places in the Top-10 in the LMU single season books, ranking sixth. The outside hitter averaged 3.79 kills per set, good for 70th in the nation this week and second in the conference. Rankins took home three All-Tournament selections over the course of the 2010 campaign, earning the honor at the Luxe City Center Trojan Invite, Varney's Kansas State Invitational and BYU Molten Classic. The native of Oceanside, Calif., who led the Lions with nine double-doubles this year, finished second in the WCC in terms of kills in conference matches alone. As she did over the entire 2010 season, Rankins led all players in service aces in WCC play with 20 (.40 per set).

Midwest All-Region Team
Arizona, Tiffany Owens, OH, Sr.
Arizona, Whitney Dosty, OH, Sr.
Arizona, Cursty Jackson, MB, Jr.
USC, Alex Jupiter, OH, Jr.
USC, Falyn Fonoimoana, OH, Fr.
Arizona State, Sarah Reaves, OH, Sr.
Cal Baptist, Ingrid Carmona, OH, So.
LMU, Jasmine Rankins, OH/OPP, Jr.
West Texas, Keidra Williams, MB, Jr.
New Mexico State, Kayleigh Giddens, OH, Sr.
San Bernardino, Mbebui Chafeh, OH, Sr.
San Bernardino, Nicole Moore, OH, Sr.
San Jacinto College, Jazmine Green, OH, Fr.
UT-San Antonio, Briana Mason, MH, Sr.
UT-San Antonio, Brittany Malloy, MH, So.

Honorable Mention
Cal State Fullerton, Jennifer Edmond, RS, Jr.
Texas Tech, Miara Cave, OH, So.
Texas Tech, Barbara Conceicao, MB, Sr.
New Mexico State, Whitney Woods, OH, Sr.
UTEP, Jeane Horton, MB, Fr.
Cal State Northridge, Monica McFarland, OH, So.