Clarion University junior volleyball players Jackie Hill (Seven Valley/Susquehannock) and Melanie Bull (York/Susquehannock) have been playing volleyball together since seventh grade, and now they are Daktronics All-Atlantic Region team members together as well.

Hill and Bull were both named to the Daktronics Atlantic Region First Team after tremendous seasons in 2002.

The duo teamed up to help the Golden Eagles to one of the most successful seasons in school history. Clarion finished the season 31-5 overall and 7-3 in the PSAC-West good for third place. The Eagles set a school record for wins while also qualifying for the NCAA Atlantic Region playoffs for the first time in school history.

"Jackie and Mel were very important parts of our team and our success this season," Clarion second-year head coach Tracey Fluharty said. "They have both worked very hard to earn this award and are both very deserving of it."

Hill, Clarion’s setter, had 1,461 set assists (12.28 per game), 344 digs (2.89 per game), 75 kills, 41 service aces and 74 blocks this season. She had the second most set assists in a single season in school history (she holds the record with 1,552 in 2001) while setting the school record for set assists in a career with 4,421. Her 1,083 career digs are the sixth most in school history, while her 12.28 assists this season were the third most in the PSAC.

In addition to the All-Region award, Hill was also named first team PSAC-West.

"Jackie is our quarterback," Fluharty said. "She was the key to our offense. She might be the best setter in the conference."

Bull, an outside hitter, set the school record for kills in a season with 548 this year while hitting 30.8 percent (548 kills, 130 errors, 1,355 attempts). She also had the second most digs in a single season with 577 (she holds the record with 602 in 2001) while adding 65 service aces and 40 blocks). She set the school record for digs in a career during the year and now has 1,477, while her 1,342 career digs are the second most in school history. Her 4.61 kills per game were the fourth most in the PSAC and the second most in the PSAC-West, while her 4.85 digs per game were the third most in the PSAC and were tops in the PSAC-West.

Like Hill, Bull was also a first team PSAC-West selection this season.

"Melanie is one of the best outside hitters in the conference," Fluharty said. "As her number indicate, she was a very key player for us this season. She is a great player both offensively and defensively."

Because both players were first team Atlantic Region, they will now appear on the Daktronics Division II All-American ballot.