Six Named Honorable Mention All-America by AVCA
AVCA Release
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Fresh off the conclusion of the NCAA Regional Rounds this past weekend, the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) released its annual All-American selections. Six Empire 8 student-athletes appeared in the release, as Ithaca College junior outside hitter
Joelle Goldstein and Stevens Institute of Technology senior
Mary Tobin, junior
Sydni Horner, sophomore
Brianna Perez, freshman
Sara Hain and freshman
Shelby Stewart were each named
AVCA Honorable Mention All-American.
The honor is the second for Goldstein, Tobin and Horner, while Perez, Hain and Stewart are each making their first appearance on the list.
Goldstein, the Empire 8 Player of the Year, concluded the year with team highs of 341 kills and 48 service aces, while she finished second on the squad with 326 digs. She also added 38.0 total blocks on seven solos and 31 block assists.
Tobin led the Ducks this fall with 379 kills while hitting .222 for the season. The veteran also served as a force on defense with 376 digs, and was named First Team All-Empire 8 two weeks ago for the fourth season in-a-row.
Horner picked up the all-american nod on the heels of being named E8 defensive player of the year two weeks ago. Horner led the Ducks with 698 digs, leading the E8 in both total digs and digs per set.
Perez led the Ducks with 1,266 assists this season serving as one of the most important pieces of the Stevens attack. Perez led the E8 in both average assists per set and total assists as she was also named first team all-conference.
Hain earned the honor in her rookie season as she worked her way into being one of the top up-and-coming offensive weapons in the area. Hain recorded over 200 kills for the season, and was a menace on the net for opposing defenses with 70 block assists.
The nod adds another to the rookie season of Stewart after an all-conference award two weeks ago, off a season in which she tallied 196 kills with 20 digs. Stewart truly made her mark at the net however where she blocked a team-high 121 shots.