When Nicole Fawcett heard her name announced, she could only come up with two words.
"My first words were, 'Holy ----'," Fawcett said in a phone interview Saturday.
Friday night, Penn State's Fawcett was named the 2008 American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Division I Women's Volleyball National Player of the Year.
The decision caught the senior by surprise. She said she was in complete shock, admitting she didn't think she would get the award. And when she heard her name called, Fawcett thought she wouldn't be able to stand.
Instead, she thought the AVCA would honor Stanford's Foluke Akinradewo again, as the Cardinal senior won the award last season. Fawcett also said she was surprised because there were "so many amazing players" and that it would be hard to pick just one.
It is only the second time a Nittany Lion has received Player of the Year recognition by the AVCA. Back in 1999, Lauren Cacciamani shared the award with Kerri Walsh, the two-time Olympic beach volleyball gold medalist who was then at Stanford.
Despite this being the fist time a Penn State player has won the award by herself, Fawcett is more concerned about her team's match against Stanford for the NCAA title at 8 p.m. Saturday night at the Qwest Center in Omaha, Neb.
"I'll give that award up in a heartbeat to win the national championship tonight," Fawcett said.
As for her teammates, while they congratulated her, they haven't talked about it much, she said. But Fawcett added she's glad it isn't getting much attention because everyone is focusing on the title match.
Although she said she didn't know she won until her name was announced, Fawcett said her father, Bob, and her brother, Joe, knew beforehand. She said coach Russ Rose told her brother at practice and joked that she was surprised he was able to keep it a secret.
Earlier this season, Fawcett was named the Big Ten Player of the Year. She has also been selected as a First Team All-American in each of the last three seasons.
This year, Fawcett ranks second on the team in kills with 421 and is first in aces with 39. The outside hitter also has 199 digs and 72 blocks this season.
For her career, the senior from Zanesfield, Ohio, ranks second in program history with 1,933 kills. Her .372 hitting percentage this season is also the highest of her collegiate career.
But instead of celebrating the award last night, Fawcett said she was pretty tired and just went to bed.
"I don't think I'll ever think about it," Fawcett said. "More than anything, I'm going to remember tonight. That's the top priority -- to win it all."
