Volleyball Quintet Named AVCA All-Americans
AVCA ALL-AMERICAN RELEASE
The American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) released its All-America Teams today and five student-athletes from the Empire 8 were honored.
Ithaca sophomores
Joelle Goldstein and
Kayla Gromen, and freshman
Katie Evans and Stevens Junior
Mary Tobin and sophomore
Sydni Horner were all named AVCA Honorable Mention All-Americans
Goldstein paced the Bombers' offense in points (439.5) and kills (381), and ranked second in hitting percentage (.262) and digs (340). Her 35 service aces were third on the team and 41 total blocks were fourth. Over the two matches at regionals, Goldstein tallied 35 kills on a .280 hitting percentage, including a career-high-tying 20 in the loss to Clarkson, with 18 digs. She reached double-digit kills in 22 matches this season and eclipsed 10-plus digs in 18 contests.
Gromen became the first player to hand out over 1,000 assists in a season since 2009, and finished the year with 1,231. Her assist total for the season currently ranks her 18th in all of Division III, which was highlighted by a career-high 65 assists in a five-set win over Cortland on Oct. 7. Gromen also led the Bombers with 64 aces. At regionals, she recorded 68 assists with 16 digs, five kills, four blocks and four aces.
Evans adds one more accomplishment to her already impressive freshman campaign. She was named the Empire 8 and AVCA New York Region Rookie of the Year earlier this season. Evans is currently 23rd nationally in hitting percentage at .357, and spent most of the season within the top 10 out of 250 ranked players. She totaled 353.5 points on 291 kills, 77 total blocks and 18 aces. Evans notched 12 kills and seven blocks at regionals.
Horner was tabbed E8 Libero/Defensive Specialist of the Year in 2015, after leading the Empire 8 with 649 digs. Against Western Connecticut State University, Horner became the 10
th student-athlete in program history to reach 1,000 career digs. The Columbia, Md. native reached 30 digs in a match twice this season, including a season-high 31 against Endicott College.
Tobin became the third person in program history to reach the 1,000 kills/1,000 digs, as she hit both marks this season. The Boothwyn, Pa. native was selected as the E8 Player of the Year, becoming the first Duck since Samantha Gates in 2013 to win that award. Against St. John Fisher on September 25, Tobin recorded season-highs of 20 kills and 24 digs to lead Stevens to a 3-1 win over the Cardinals. It is the second first team honor for Tobin, who also was chosen during her rookie campaign in 2013.