Women's Volleyball | 11/20/2024 2:06:18 PM
Senior Tessa Grover of Nazareth University, junior Braelyn Hornick of Hartwick College, SUNY Brockport sophomore Elsie Logan and the St. John Fisher University trio of sophomores Ana Gutman and Kaylene Noble in addition to freshman Lydia Fraser earned 2024 American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) All- Region honors on Wednesday, Nov. 20. AVCA All-Americans will be announced on Nov. 27.
Fraser, Grover, Gutman and Hornick earned All-Region III first team accolades, while Gutman, Logan and Noble were honorable mention selections. Five of the six student-athletes were previously named 2024 All-Empire 8 first team selections. Three of selections are from Empire 8 Champion St. John Fisher, who begins NCAA Tournament play with an opening round matchup against Marietta College on Nov. 21.
Fraser, a first-year outside hitter from Plymouth, MI, was named the 2024 Empire 8 Rookie of the Year. She emerged as a leader for the Cardinals, slamming 317 kills on the season to go along with 253 digs and a team-high 46 service aces, while also earning All-E8 first team accolades. She has recorded at least 10 kills in a match 20 times and has 10 double-doubles on the season. Fraser was a five-time E8 Rookie of the Week and the ninth Rookie of the Year in St. John Fisher program history.
Grover, a right side/setter from Rochester, NY, was named the 2024 Empire 8 Player of the Year and garnered Empire 8 Championship All-Tournament Team honors. Grover garnered All-E8 first team honors for the fourth straight season and AVCA All-Region accolades for the third time in her career. Grover enjoyed a tremendous senior year for the Golden Flyers, having averaged 3.87 assists, 3.06 kills, 2.30 digs and 0.61 blocks per set this season, while hitting .300. She was among the top-five in the league in hitting percentage, kills per set, blocks per set and total points per set. She had at least 10 kills in a match 14 times and recorded four triple-doubles. Grover, who was also the 2021 Empire 8 Rookie of the Year, was a three-time E8 Player of the Week and AVCA Division III National Player of the Week on Oct. 15.
Gutman, a middle blocker from Rochester, NY, has saved her best volleyball for late in the season. She was named the 2024 Empire 8 Championship Tournament Most Valuable Player after hitting .516 during the tournament with 38 kills in leading the Cardinals to the league title. She is in the midst of a tremendous sophomore season for the Cardinals, leading the Empire 8 with a .395 hitting percentage to go along with 234 kills and 57 blocks. She has recorded at least 10 kills in a match 10 times and hit over .400 in a match 13 times.
Hornick, a junior setter from Candor, NY, made a triumphant return in 2024 after missing all of 2023 due to injury. The 2022 Empire 8 Player of the Year and AVCA All-Region selection, Hornick led the Empire 8 with 10.2 assists per set to go along with 240 digs, 41 service aces and 29 blocks. She recorded at least 40 assists in 10 matches this season, including six of her final seven contests.
Logan, a sophomore from Tonawanda Seneca Nation Territory, NY, was named the 2024 E8 Libero/Defensive Specialist of the Year. Logan led all Empire 8 players with 489 digs and was second, averaging 4.75 digs per set, in addition to 75 assists and 32 service aces. She has recorded at least 10 digs in all but one match this season, including 10 contests with at least 20 digs. Logan averaged 5.1 digs per set in 10 E8 regular season contests.
Noble, the 2023 Empire 8 Player and Rookie of the Year and AVCA Honorable Mention All-American, once again has enjoyed a strong season for the Cardinals, recording a team-best total of 342 kills to go along with 276 digs, 36 blocks and 34 service aces. Noble, a native of Fayetteville, NY, has slammed at least 10 kills in a match 22 times this season and was named to the Empire 8 Championship All-Tournament Team.
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The members of the Empire 8 Conference are committed first and foremost to the pursuit of academic excellence and the league is regarded as an outstanding NCAA Division III conference. The membership has distinguished itself among its peer group for its quality institutions, spirited and sportsmanlike competition, outstanding services and highly ethical policies and practices. Its commitment to serve the educational needs of its student-athletes is the hallmark of the E8. For more on the Empire 8 visit
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