Shakopee's Ashley Wittman has been named to the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) third annual Under Armour All-American High School Volleyball Team.

Wittman, a member of the Class 3A Minnesota state volleyball champion Shakopee Sabers, was joined on the first team by two others from the metropolitan area: Tori Dixon of Burnsville and Molly Kreklow of Delano. In addition, Kayla Koenecke was named to the honorable mention team.

Wittman, who was named the metro-area player of the year by the Minneapolis-based Star Tribune, will play volleyball for the University of Minnesota starting next year.

Each of the 24 players on the first team will be invited to play in the inaugural Under Armour All-America High School Volleyball Match and Skills Competition held at Qwest Center Omaha (Neb.) on Dec. 21, conjunction with the 2008 AVCA annual convention.

For the first time in the award's three-year history, both a first team and second team were honored, with 24 players on each. The 48 players represent 23 states and 44 high schools. Many have already committed to play collegiate volleyball at some of the top programs in the country.

 Requirements for nomination were that the student-athlete be in her senior year of high school, that she be nominated by her high school coach, that her coach be a member of the AVCA and that her season statistics be entered into MaxPreps, a free service that aggregates and distributes data on high school sports.