INDIANAPOLIS - Kelly Albin, a lacrosse player at the University of California-Davis who also served as a volunteer in Peru, was chosen Sunday as the NCAA Woman of the Year.<br>
<br>
Albin was selected for her athletic and academic excellence, as well as community service and leadership.<br>
<br>
She led California-Davis to a No. 2 ranking in Division II lacrosse and ranked 12th in assists per game (1.71) and 19th in points per game (4.24).<br>
<br>
The other national finalists were Julie Hardt, a swimmer from Georgia; Abbey Elsberry a track thrower from Boise State; Megan Grunert, a swimmer at the University of Indianapolis; Anna Crary, a crew member at Smith College; Sherita Williams, a track jumper from Michigan State; Kayla Heising, a swimmer at the College of Wooster; Shana Robinson, a sprinter from Tulsa; Imani Dorsey, a soccer player at the University of Portland; and Melissa Block, a lacrosse player from Mary Washington College.<br>
<br>
Albin set 18 school records, including shots in a game, career assists, season assists, assists in a game, career ground balls and career turnovers.<br>
<br>
Albin graduated magna cum laude in March with a 3.953 grade-point average in food science, with an emphasis on microbiology.<br>
<br>
She was a College Sports Information Directors Association Academic All-American, a member of the Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association Academic All-American Team and was the Division II Scholar Athlete of the Year.<br>
<br>
Albin also served as a volunteer in Peru in 2003, teaching physical education, building clean-burning stoves in adobe houses, installing septic systems and flush toilets in a preschool, and planting trees on a reforestation site.
