Women's Volleyball | 12/3/2024 1:45:00 PM
Senior Tessa Grover of Nazareth University, junior Braelyn Hornick of Hartwick College and the St. John Fisher University trio of sophomore Ana Gutman and freshman Lydia Fraser were named 2024 American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Honorable Mention All-Americans on Wednesday, Nov. 27.
Grover is a repeat All-American, also earning Honorable Mention accolades in 2023. All four student-athletes were named AVCA All-Region selections last week.
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 333 kills on the season to go along with 266 digs and a team-high 47 service aces, while also earning All-E8 first team accolades. She recorded at least 10 kills in a match 21 times and had 11 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, 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 completed a tremendous sophomore season for the Cardinals, leading the Empire 8 with a .390 hitting percentage to go along with 243 kills and 58 blocks. She 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.
ABOUT THE EMPIRE 8 CONFERENCE
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
www.empire8.com.
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