Creighton had five women honored on Tuesday.
Photo by: Steve Branscombe
Volleyball Picks Up Seven AVCA Awards As All-Region Honors Released
12/6/2016 11:25:00 AM | Volleyball
Brittany Witt named Freshman of the Year, Kirsten Bernthal Booth named Coach of the Year
OMAHA, Neb. -- The Creighton Volleyball team dominated the honors in the East Region as the American Volleyball Coaches Association announced its All-Region Teams on Tuesday.
Lydia Dimke, Taryn Kloth, Marysa Wilkinson and Jaali Winters were named First Team All-East Region, while Brittany Witt was named Honorable-Mention All-East Region. Witt was also tabbed East Region Freshman of the Year, and Kirsten Bernthal Booth was named East Region Coach of the Year.
Booth was named East Region Coach of the Year for the second straight season after leading Creighton to a second consecutive Sweet 16. The Bluejays are 28-6 this season and rolled to BIG EAST regular-season and tournament titles for a third straight year. Booth leads a group including Angie Oxley Behrens, Ryan Meek and Micah Rhodes that was named BIG EAST Coaching Staff of the Year.
Dimke earns her first All-Region recognition after a standout season that saw her bring home BIG EAST Player of the Year honors. The junior setter from Ham Lake, Minn., leads the BIG EAST with 11.39 assists per set and leads all BIG EAST setters with 2.71 digs per set. Dimke has also set Creighton to a .276 attack percentage as a team, which is on pace to shatter the school record.
Kloth also earns her first All-Region recognition after earning First Team All-BIG EAST honors. The sophomore outside hitter from Sioux Falls, S.D., averages 3.22 kills per set on .285 hitting, ranking in the top-10 of the league in both kills per set and points per set.
A junior middle blocker from Lincoln, Neb., Wilkinson earns All-Region honors for the first time as well. She was a Second Team All-BIG EAST choice and is second on the team in both blocks per set and hitting percentage.
Winters is an All-Region honoree for the second straight campaign, as she was a First Team honoree and East Region Freshman of the Year in 2015. The Ankeny, Iowa, native was named First Team All-BIG EAST and BIG EAST Tournament MVP during season that saw her lead the Bluejays in kills.
Witt is an Honorable-Mention selection to the All-East Region team, in addition to being named East Region Freshman of the Year. Witt leads all BIG EAST freshmen in digs and digs per set, and she dug a career-high 32 balls in last Thursday's NCAA Tournament win over Northern Iowa.
Representatives from Creighton (4) and Florida State (3) claimed half of the 14 spots on the First Team squad in the East Region.
A complete list of winners can be found at https://www.avca.org/awards/all-regional-all-america-awards/2016-division-i-region.html. All-American honors will be announced on December 14 prior to next week's Final Four in Columbus, Ohio.
The 21st-ranked Bluejays will take their nation-leading 22-match win streak to Austin, Texas, this weekend to play in the program's second consecutive Sweet 16. Creighton meets #17 Michigan on Friday at 5:30 pm in a match to be broadcast on ESPNU.
EAST REGION
Freshman of the Year:Â Brittany Witt, Creighton, L
Coach of the Year:Â Kirsten Bernthal Booth, Creighton
Freshman of the Year:Â Julia Scoles, North Carolina, OH
Coach of the Year:Â Joe Sagula, North Carolina
Freshman of the Year:Â Payton Caffrey, West Virginia, OH
Coach of the Year:Â Melissa Stokes, Missouri State
Freshman of the Year:Â Alexis Hart, Minnesota, OH
Coach of the Year:Â John Cook, Nebraska
Freshman of the Year:Â Molly Haggerty, Wisconsin, OH
Coach of the Year:Â Kelly Sheffield, Wisconsin
Freshman of the Year:Â Kathryn Plummer, Stanford, OH
Coach of the Year:Â Shawn Garus, Boise State
Freshman of the Year:Â McKenna Miller, BYU, OH
Coach of the Year:Â Heather Olmstead, BYU
Freshman of the Year:Â Hollann Hans, Texas A&M, MB
Coach of the Year:Â Travis Hudson, Western Kentucky
Freshman of the Year:Â Leah Edmond, Kentucky, OH
Coach of the Year:Â Wayne Kreklow, Missouri
Freshman of the Year:Â Catherine Repsher, Southern Miss, MB (Must be true freshman to win FOY)
Coach of the Year:Â Amanda Berkley, Southern Miss
* Denotes total number of years selected to AVCA Division I All-Region Team Â
2016 Record: 28-6, 18-0 Big East
Fourteenth season at the helm of Creighton…Recognized as Big East Coaching Staff of the Year for the second consecutive season…Creighton recorded the first 18-0 conference record in Big East history…Won the program's third straight outright league title…Advancing to the Round of 16 for the second season in a row…Defeated fifth-seeded Kansas to hand them their first home loss of the 2016 season…This is her second consecutive AVCA Region Coach of the Year honor at the D-I level.
2016 Record: 29-3, 19-1 ACC
Sagula is in his 27th season leading the Tar Heels…Defeated Coastal Carolina to advance to their third ever appearance in the NCAA Regionals…Earned the No. 7 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament, marking their third consecutive season hosting the opening weekend…Five players earned All-ACC and two freshman garnered spots on the All-ACC Freshman Team…Named ACC Coach of the Year after tying the league record with seven ACC Titles…This marks his fourth AVCA Region Coach of the Year award (2002, 2001, 1998).
2016 Record: 26-9, 16-2 Missouri Valley Conference
Just completed her 21st season at Missouri State…Led the Bears to their most wins since 2006…Stokes selected for her second Missouri Valley Conference Coach of the Year award…The Bears recorded their fourth regular-season conference title and appeared in the conference tournament championship match…Reeled off 16 straight wins in conference play for the longest MVC streak in school history…Led the Bears to a ninth NCAA tournament appearance during her tenure…This is her first AVCA Region Coach of the Year award.
2016 Record: 29-2, 18-2 Big Ten
This season marks John Cook's 16th season with the Huskers…Took home his first Big Ten Coach of the Year award as the head coach of Nebraska… Claimed the outright Big Ten Championship and the No. 1 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament…Dating back to last year's championship run, the Huskers have won eight consecutive postseason matches…Advanced to the NCAA Regional for the 22nd time in the last 23 seasons…Held onto the No. 1 spot in 12 of the 15 AVCA Coaches Polls this season…Cook won AVCA Region Coach of the Year honors while at Wisconsin in 1997, and has subsequently went on to win the award at Nebraska in 2000, 2005, and 2008.
2016 Record: 24-7, 17-3 Big Ten
This season is Sheffield's fourth with the Badgers… Has led UW to three straight NCAA Tournament appearances, including a berth in the 2013 national championship match in his first season… Earned a No. 3 seed in the NCAA Tournament, which is their highest seed in program history…Will host an NCAA Regional Final for the first time since 2000…Mentored three Badgers to All-Big Ten honors…Two-time Northeast Region Coach of the Year award winner (2014, 2010).
2016 Record: 26-7, 16-2 Mountain West
Garus completed his eighth season as the Boise State Head Coach…Their 26 victories were the second-most in program history…Won the Mountain West and earned a spot in their first ever NCAA Tournament…Knocked off No. 20 Western Kentucky in the first round for their first Tournament victory…Finished the season second in the Mountain West in hitting percentage (.257) and first in assists per set (13.49), kills per set (14.48), and digs per set (15.54)…In a season of first for the Broncos, this was also Garus' first AVCA Region Coach of the Year honor.
2016 Record: 29-3, 16-2 West Coast Conference
BYU clinched their third consecutive outright West Coast Conference championship…After back-to-back sweeps, the Cougars are making their fifth straight appearance in the Round of 16…After coaching at BYU since 2011, Olmstead took the head coaching reins in 2015 and led the Cougars to a 28-4 record and a conference championship…Three Cougars were named to the All-WCC First Team…This is her first AVCA Region Coach of the Year award.
2016 Record: 30-3, 14-0 Conference USA
Hudson once again led the Lady Toppers to a successful 2016 campaign in his 22nd season…Their three losses tie for the fewest in program history…Won both the Conference USA Regular Season and Tournament Championships…Made their 10th appearance in the NCAA Tournament and their eighth via an automatic bid…They maintained consistent appearances in the AVCA Coaches Poll, once ranking as high as No. 19…Four-time AVCA Region Coach of the Year award winner (2012, 2005, 2002).
2016 Record: 27-5, 16-2 SEC
This season marks Kreklow's 17th at the helm of the Tigers…Defeated Purdue to advance to their first Round of 16 since 2010…Clinched a share of the 2016 SEC Championship, and earned the automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament…Collected the No. 15 seed in the Tournament and went on to sweep Northern Illinois and beat Purdue in four sets…Garnered SEC Coach of the Year for the second time in his career…He is now a two-time AVCA Region Coach of the Year honoree (2013).
2016 Record: 23-8, 11-3 Conference USA
Berkley just completed her fourth season as the head coach of the Golden Eagles…Claimed the No. 2 seed in the Conference USA Tournament, which was their highest seed since 2009…Made it to the conference semifinals for the third time in four years…Won 20+ games in each of the last three seasons…Finished first in the conference in opponent hitting percentage (.181) and opponent kills per set (11.46)…This marks her first AVCA Region Coach of the Year award.Â
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About AVCA
The AVCA, with its headquarters in Lexington, Ky., is managed by Associations International. The mission of the AVCA is to advance the sport of volleyball with AVCA coaches at the epicenter of leadership, advocacy and professional development. With a membership of over 7,000 and counting, the AVCA provides a professional network for those individuals and companies dedicated to enhancing and promoting the sport. Members include collegiate, high school, club, youth and Olympic coaches, as well as volleyball club directors. The AVCA provides education to volleyball coaches, recognition of elite players and coaches, promotion of volleyball competitions throughout the world, and networking opportunities for volleyball products and services providers. Further information is available at www.avca.org.
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Lydia Dimke, Taryn Kloth, Marysa Wilkinson and Jaali Winters were named First Team All-East Region, while Brittany Witt was named Honorable-Mention All-East Region. Witt was also tabbed East Region Freshman of the Year, and Kirsten Bernthal Booth was named East Region Coach of the Year.
Booth was named East Region Coach of the Year for the second straight season after leading Creighton to a second consecutive Sweet 16. The Bluejays are 28-6 this season and rolled to BIG EAST regular-season and tournament titles for a third straight year. Booth leads a group including Angie Oxley Behrens, Ryan Meek and Micah Rhodes that was named BIG EAST Coaching Staff of the Year.
Dimke earns her first All-Region recognition after a standout season that saw her bring home BIG EAST Player of the Year honors. The junior setter from Ham Lake, Minn., leads the BIG EAST with 11.39 assists per set and leads all BIG EAST setters with 2.71 digs per set. Dimke has also set Creighton to a .276 attack percentage as a team, which is on pace to shatter the school record.
Kloth also earns her first All-Region recognition after earning First Team All-BIG EAST honors. The sophomore outside hitter from Sioux Falls, S.D., averages 3.22 kills per set on .285 hitting, ranking in the top-10 of the league in both kills per set and points per set.
A junior middle blocker from Lincoln, Neb., Wilkinson earns All-Region honors for the first time as well. She was a Second Team All-BIG EAST choice and is second on the team in both blocks per set and hitting percentage.
Winters is an All-Region honoree for the second straight campaign, as she was a First Team honoree and East Region Freshman of the Year in 2015. The Ankeny, Iowa, native was named First Team All-BIG EAST and BIG EAST Tournament MVP during season that saw her lead the Bluejays in kills.
Witt is an Honorable-Mention selection to the All-East Region team, in addition to being named East Region Freshman of the Year. Witt leads all BIG EAST freshmen in digs and digs per set, and she dug a career-high 32 balls in last Thursday's NCAA Tournament win over Northern Iowa.
Representatives from Creighton (4) and Florida State (3) claimed half of the 14 spots on the First Team squad in the East Region.
A complete list of winners can be found at https://www.avca.org/awards/all-regional-all-america-awards/2016-division-i-region.html. All-American honors will be announced on December 14 prior to next week's Final Four in Columbus, Ohio.
The 21st-ranked Bluejays will take their nation-leading 22-match win streak to Austin, Texas, this weekend to play in the program's second consecutive Sweet 16. Creighton meets #17 Michigan on Friday at 5:30 pm in a match to be broadcast on ESPNU.
EAST REGION
| First Name | Last Name | School | Pos. | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Â Corinne | Â Bain** | Â Harvard | Â S/H | Â Sr. |
| Â Abbey | Â Bessler*** | Â Xavier | Â OH | Â Sr. |
| Â Julia | Â Brown | Â NC State | Â OH | Â Jr. |
| Â Lydia | Â Dimke | Â Creighton | Â S | Â Jr. |
| Â Mara | Â Green | Â Florida State | Â MB | Â Sr. |
| Â Katie | Â Horton** | Â Florida State | Â OH | Â Sr. |
| Â Aleksandra | Â Kazala | Â American | Â OH | Â So. |
| Â Taryn | Â Kloth | Â Creighton | Â OH | Â So. |
| Â Milica | Â Kubura | Â Florida State | Â OH | Â Jr. |
| Â Anna | Â Logan | Â Butler | Â OH | Â So. |
| Â Demi | Â Muses | Â New Hampshire | Â MB | Â Sr. |
| Â Sofia | Â Peterson | Â Xavier | Â RS | Â Sr. |
| Â Marysa | Â Wilkinson | Â Creighton | Â MB | Â Jr. |
| Â Jaali | Â Winters** | Â Creighton | Â OH | Â So. |
HONORABLE MENTION
| First Name | Last Name | School | Pos. | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Â Kennedy | Â Etheridge | Â American | Â S | Â So. |
| Â Melanie | Â Keil | Â Florida State | Â MB | Â Sr. |
| Â Molly | Â Sauer | Â Louisville | Â L | Â So. |
| Â Layne | Â Self | Â Rhode Island | Â MB | Â Sr. |
| Â Maggie | Â Speaks | Â NC State | Â S | Â Sr. |
| Â Brittany | Â Witt | Â Creighton | Â L | Â Fr. |
Coach of the Year:Â Kirsten Bernthal Booth, Creighton
EAST COAST REGION
| First Name | Last Name | School | Pos. | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Â Kamalani | Â Akeo | Â Pittsburgh | Â S | Â So. |
| Â Janey | Â Goodman** | Â James Madison | Â RS | Â Sr. |
| Â Sasha | Â Karelov | Â Duke | Â L | Â Sr. |
| Â Taylor | Â Leath | Â North Carolina | Â OH | Â So. |
| Â Taylor | Â Louis** | Â Marquette | Â OH | Â So. |
| Â Leah | Â Meyer | Â Duke | Â MB | Â So. |
| Â Jenna | Â Potts | Â Pittsburgh | Â MB | Â Sr. |
| Â Jenna | Â Rosenthal | Â Marquette | Â MB | Â So. |
| Â Julia | Â Scoles | Â North Carolina | Â OH | Â Fr. |
| Â Olga | Â Strantzali | Â Miami | Â OH | Â Jr. |
| Â Taylor | Â Treacy** | Â North Carolina | Â RS | Â Sr. |
| Â Jordan | Â Tucker** | Â Duke | Â MB | Â Sr. |
| Â Teegan | Â Van Gunst** | Â Georgia Tech | Â OH | Â Sr. |
| Â Stephanie | Â Williams | Â Pittsburgh | Â OH | Â Fr. |
HONORABLE MENTION
| First Name | Last Name | School | Pos. | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Â Taylor | Â Austin | Â James Madison | Â L | Â Jr. |
| Â Jasmine | Â Burton | Â Virginia | Â RS | Â Sr. |
| Â Tessa | Â Fournier | Â Seton Hall | Â L | Â Sr. |
| Â Cindy | Â Marina | Â Duke | Â S | Â Fr. |
| Â Meghan | Â Niemann | Â Marquette | Â MB | Â Sr. |
| Â Lindsey | Â Owens | Â Virginia Tech | Â OH | Â Sr. |
Coach of the Year:Â Joe Sagula, North Carolina
MIDWEST REGION
| First Name | Last Name | School | Pos. | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Â Katie | Â Brand*** | Â Kansas State | Â S | Â Sr. |
| Â Payton | Â Caffrey | Â West Virginia | Â OH | Â Fr. |
| Â Jane | Â Emmenecker | Â Dayton | Â S | Â Jr. |
| Â Amber | Â Erhahon | Â Dayton | Â MB | Â Jr. |
| Â Kayla | Â Haneline | Â Northern Iowa | Â MB | Â Sr. |
| Â Ainise | Â Havili*** | Â Kansas | Â S | Â Jr. |
| Â Lily | Â Johnson*** | Â Missouri State | Â OH | Â Jr. |
| Â Jody | Â Larson | Â Wichita State | Â RS | Â Sr. |
| Â Abbie | Â Lehman*** | Â Wichita State | Â MB | Â Jr. |
| Â Kelsie | Â Payne** | Â Kansas | Â RS | Â Jr. |
| Â Madison | Â Rigdon | Â Kansas | Â OH | Â Jr. |
| Â Danielle | Â Rygelski** | Â Saint Louis | Â OH | Â Sr. |
| Â Jess | Â Schaben | Â Iowa State | Â OH | Â So. |
| Â Cassie | Â Wait | Â Kansas | Â L | Â Sr. |
HONORABLE MENTION
| First Name | Last Name | School | Pos. | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Â Laura | Â Milos | Â Oral Roberts | OH | Â Jr. |
| Â Tayler | Â Soucie | Â Kansas | MB | Â Sr. |
| Â Brooke | Â Sassin | Â Kansas State | OH | Â Sr. |
| Â Scottie | Â Ingram | Â Murray State | OH | Â Sr. |
| Â Jenna | Â Radtke | Â Northern Illinois | MB | Â Sr. |
| Â Emma | Â Hagedorn | Â UMKC | MB | Â Sr. |
Coach of the Year:Â Melissa Stokes, Missouri State
NORTH REGION
| First Name | Last Name | School | Pos. | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Â Autumn | Â Bailey*** | Â Michigan State | Â OH | Â Jr. |
| Â Abby | Â Cole*** | Â Michigan | Â MB | Â Sr. |
| Â Mikaela | Â Foecke** | Â Nebraska | Â OH | Â So. |
| Â Alyssa | Â Garvelink | Â Michigan State | Â MB | Â Jr. |
| Â Alexis | Â Hart | Â Minnesota | Â OH | Â Fr. |
| Â Briana | Â Holman*** | Â Nebraska | Â MB | Â Jr. |
| Â Kelly | Â Hunter** | Â Nebraska | Â S | Â Jr. |
| Â Kadie | Â Rolfzen**** | Â Nebraska | Â RS | Â Sr. |
| Â Amber | Â Rolfzen** | Â Nebraska | Â MB | Â Sr. |
| Â Samantha | Â Seliger-Swenson** | Â Minnesota | Â S | Â So. |
| Â Hannah** | Â Tapp | Â Minnesota | Â RS/MB | Â Sr. |
| Â Jordan | Â Thompson | Â Cincinnati | Â RS | Â So. |
| Â Sarah | Â Wilhite | Â Minnesota | Â OH | Â Sr. |
| Â Justine | Â Wong-Orantes** | Â Nebraska | Â L | Â Sr. |
HONORABLE MENTION
| First Name | Last Name | School | Pos. | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Â Lydia | Â DeWeese | Â Wisconsin-Green Bay | Â MB | Â Jr. |
| Â Allyssah | Â Fitterer | Â Michigan State | Â MB | Â Sr. |
| Â Jaelyn | Â Keene | Â Illinois State | Â MB | Â Jr. |
| Â Molly | Â Lohman | Â Minnesota | Â MB | Â Jr. |
| Â Paige | Â Tapp | Â Minnesota | Â RS/MB | Â Sr. |
|  MacKenzi |  Welsh |  Michigan |  S |  Fr. |
Coach of the Year:Â John Cook, Nebraska
NORTHEAST REGION
| First Name | Last Name | School | Pos. | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Â Faye | Â Adelaja** | Â Purdue | Â MB | Â Sr. |
| Â Ali | Â Bastianelli | Â Illinois | Â MB | Â So. |
| Â Lauren | Â Carlini**** | Â Wisconsin | Â S | Â Sr. |
| Â Danielle | Â Cuttino** | Â Purdue | Â OH | Â Jr. |
| Â Madeline | Â Garda | Â Bowling Green | Â L | Â Sr. |
| Â Molly | Â Haggerty | Â Wisconsin | Â OH | Â Fr. |
| Â Grace | Â Kauth | Â Cleveland State | Â OH | Â Sr. |
| Â Simone | Â Lee | Â Penn State | Â OH | Â Jr. |
| Â Haleigh | Â Nelson*** | Â Wisconsin | Â MB | Â Sr. |
| Â Jordyn | Â Poulter | Â Illinois | Â S | Â So. |
| Â Taylor | Â Sandbothe*** | Â Ohio State | Â MB | Â Sr. |
| Â Jelena | Â Sunjic | Â Bowling Green | Â RS | Â Sr. |
| Â Haleigh | Â Washington** | Â Penn State | Â MB | Â Jr. |
| Â Tionna | Â Williams | Â Wisconsin | Â MB | Â So. |
HONORABLE MENTION
| First Name | Last Name | School | Pos. | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Â Brandi | Â Donnelly | Â Illinois | Â L | Â Jr. |
| Â Ali | Â Frantti | Â Penn State | Â OH | Â Jr. |
| Â Taylor | Â Hughes | Â Ohio State | Â S/H | Â So. |
| Â Romana | Â Kriskova | Â Wisconsin | Â RS | Â Sr. |
| Â Cara | Â Mattaliano | Â Princeton | Â OH | Â Sr. |
| Â Katie | Â Tomasic | Â Miami (Ohio) | Â RS | Â Jr. |
Coach of the Year:Â Kelly Sheffield, Wisconsin
PACIFIC NORTH REGION
| First Name | Last Name | School | Pos. | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Â Inky | Â Ajanaku**** | Â Stanford | Â MB | Â Sr. |
| Â Amanda | Â Benson | Â Oregon | Â L | Â Sr. |
| Â Kyra | Â Holt | Â Washington State | Â OH | Â Sr. |
| Â Crissy | Â Jones | Â Washington | Â RS | Â Jr. |
| Â Merete | Â Lutz*** | Â Stanford | Â RS | Â Jr. |
| Â Mary-Kate | Â Marshall** | Â Oregon State | Â OH | Â Jr. |
| Â Sierra | Â Nobley** | Â Boise State | Â OH | Â Jr. |
| Â Maddy | Â O'Donnell | Â Boise State | Â MB | Â Sr. |
| Â Katie | Â Oleksak | Â Colorado State | Â S | Â Fr. |
| Â Kathryn | Â Plummer | Â Stanford | Â OH | Â Fr. |
| Â Courtney | Â Schwan | Â Washington | Â OH | Â Jr. |
| Â Bailey | Â Tanner | Â Washington | Â S | Â Jr. |
| Â Nikki | Â Taylor** | Â Hawai'i | Â RS | Â Sr. |
| Â Lindsey | Â Vander Weide | Â Oregon | Â OH | Â So. |
HONORABLE MENTION
| First Name | Last Name | School | Pos. | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Â Taylor | Â Agost | Â Oregon | Â RS | Â Jr. |
| Â Laura | Â Beach | Â Wyoming | Â MB | Â Sr. |
| Â Audriana | Â Fitzmorris | Â Stanford | Â MB | Â Fr. |
| Â Kirstie | Â Hillyer | Â Colorado State | Â MB | Â Fr. |
| Â Emily | Â Maglio | Â Hawai'i | Â MB | Â Jr. |
| Â Taylor | Â Nelson | Â Cal Poly | Â S | Â Jr. |
Coach of the Year:Â Shawn Garus, Boise State
PACIFIC SOUTH REGION
| First Name | Last Name | School | Pos. | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Â Adora | Â Anae | Â Utah | Â OH | Â Jr. |
| Â Nele | Â Barber | Â Long Beach State | Â OH | Â Sr. |
| Â Amy | Â Boswell*** | Â BYU | Â MB | Â Sr. |
| Â Taylor | Â Formico** | Â UCLA | Â L | Â Sr. |
| Â Jennie | Â Frager | Â UCLA | Â MB | Â Sr. |
| Â Lisa | Â Kramer** | Â San Diego | Â RS | Â Sr. |
| Â Khalia | Â Lanier | Â Southern California | Â OH | Â Fr. |
| Â Kalei | Â Mau | Â Arizona | Â OH | Â Sr. |
| Â McKenna | Â Miller | Â BYU | Â OH | Â Fr. |
| Â Elise | Â Ruddins | Â Southern California | Â MB | Â Sr. |
| Â Lauren | Â Schad | Â San Diego | Â MB | Â Sr. |
| Â Penina | Â Snuka*** | Â Arizona | Â S | Â Sr. |
| Â Sarah | Â Sponcil** | Â Loyola Marymount | Â OH | Â Jr. |
| Â Torrey | Â Van Winden | Â UCLA | Â RS | Â Fr. |
HONORABLE MENTION
| First Name | Last Name | School | Pos. | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Â Jordan | Â Anderson | Â UCLA | Â OH | Â Sr. |
| Â Reily | Â Buechler | Â UCLA | Â OH | Â Jr. |
| Â Bree | Â Hammel | Â UNLV | Â RS | Â Sr. |
| Â Whitney | Â Young Howard | Â BYU | Â MB | Â Sr. |
| Â Lindsey | Â Ruddins | Â UC Santa Barbara | Â OH | Â Fr. |
| Â Gabby | Â Simpson | Â Colorado | Â S/H | Â Jr. |
Coach of the Year:Â Heather Olmstead, BYU
SOUTH REGION
| First Name | Last Name | School | Pos. | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Â Stephanie | Â Aiple*** | Â Texas A&M | Â S | Â Jr. |
| Â Rachel | Â Anderson | Â Western Kentucky | Â MB | Â So. |
| Â Jazzmin | Â Babers*** | Â Texas A&M | Â MB | Â Sr. |
| Â Kaitlyn | Â Blake | Â Texas A&M | Â MB | Â So. |
| Â Alyssa | Â Cavanaugh*** | Â Western Kentucky | Â OH | Â Jr. |
| Â Jesse | Â Earl** | Â Auburn | Â L | Â Jr. |
| Â Aubrey | Â Edie | Â Ole Miss | Â S | Â Sr. |
| Â Leah | Â Hardeman** | Â Coastal Carolina | Â OH | Â Jr. |
| Â Annayka | Â Legros | Â Coastal Carolina | Â MB | Â Sr. |
| Â Jessica | Â Lucas*** | Â Western Kentucky | Â S | Â Jr. |
| Â Carlyle | Â Nusbaum | Â Lipscomb | Â OH | Â So. |
| Â Taylor | Â Racich | Â Lipscomb | Â RS | Â Sr. |
| Â Krystal | Â Rivers**** | Â Alabama | Â RS | Â Sr. |
| Â Lexi | Â Thompson | Â Ole Miss | Â OH | Â Jr. |
HONORABLE MENTION
| First Name | Last Name | School | Pos. | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Â Alexa | Â Filley | Â Auburn | Â S | Â Jr. |
| Â Danielle | Â Harbin | Â Arkansas | Â OH | Â Sr. |
| Â Hollann | Â Hans | Â Texas A&M | Â OH | Â Fr. |
| Â Madison | Â Hill | Â Marshall | Â MB | Â Fr. |
| Â Ally | Â Kiekover | Â Marshall | Â MB | Â Sr. |
| Â Allie | Â Kellerman | Â Marshall | Â L | Â Sr. |
Coach of the Year:Â Travis Hudson, Western Kentucky
SOUTHEAST REGION
| First Name | Last Name | School | Pos. | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Â Rhamat | Â Alhassan*** | Â Florida | Â MB | Â Jr. |
| Â Kaz | Â Brown** | Â Kentucky | Â MB | Â Jr. |
| Â Melanie | Â Crow | Â Missouri | Â OH | Â Jr. |
| Â Olivia | Â Dailey | Â Kentucky | Â S | Â So. |
| Â Ashley | Â Dusek** | Â Kentucky | Â L | Â Jr. |
| Â Leah | Â Edmond | Â Kentucky | Â OH | Â Fr. |
| Â Katie | Â Hegarty | Â SMU | Â OH | Â Jr. |
| Â Jale | Â Hervey | Â UCF | Â OH | Â Sr. |
| Â Alex | Â Holston**** | Â Florida | Â RS | Â Sr. |
| Â Carly | Â Kan**** | Â Missouri | Â OH | Â Sr. |
| Â Caroline | Â Knop | Â Florida | Â L | Â Jr. |
| Â Allie | Â Monserez | Â Florida | Â S | Â So. |
| Â Carli | Â Snyder** | Â Florida | Â OH | Â Jr. |
| Â Erica | Â Treiber | Â Tennessee | Â MB | Â So. |
HONORABLE MENTION
| First Name | Last Name | School | Pos. | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Â Amanda | Â Carroll | Â Florida Gulf Coast | Â OH | Â So. |
| Â Janelle | Â Giordano | Â SMU | Â MB | Â Sr. |
| Â Morgan | Â Heise | Â SMU | Â L | Â Sr. |
| Â Kira | Â Larson | Â Missouri | Â RS | Â Sr. |
| Â Alyssa | Â Munlyn | Â Missouri | Â MB | Â So. |
| Â Mikayla | Â Shields | Â South Carolina | Â RS | Â Fr. |
Coach of the Year:Â Wayne Kreklow, Missouri
SOUTHWEST REGION
| First Name | Last Name | School | Pos. | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Â Sarah | Â Bell | Â Southern Miss | Â S | Â So. |
| Â Dajana | Â Boskovic** | Â UTSA | RS | Â Sr. |
| Â Chloe | Â Collins** | Â Texas | Â S | Â Sr. |
| Â Natalie | Â Gower | Â TCU | Â MB | Â Sr. |
| Â Chelsey | Â Harris | Â Rice | Â RS | Â Sr. |
| Â Marion | Â Hazelwood*** | Oklahoma | Â MB | Â Jr. |
| Â Madison | Â McDaniel | Â Rice | Â S | Â Jr. |
| Â Ebony | Â Nwanebu** | Â Texas | Â RS | Â Jr. |
| Â Paulina | Â Prieto Cerame** | Â Texas | Â OH | Â Sr. |
| Â Markie | Â Schaedig*** | Â Arkansas State | Â L | Â Sr. |
| Â Ashley | Â Smith** | Â TCU | Â OH | Â Sr. |
| Â Katie | Â Staiger | Â Baylor | Â OH | Â Jr. |
| Â Mallory | Â Warrington** | Â Arkansas State | Â S | Â Sr. |
| Â Micaya | Â White | Â Texas | Â OH | Â Fr. |
HONORABLE MENTION
| First Name | Last Name | School | Pos. | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Â Lauren | Â Douglass | Â Texas Tech | Â MB | Â Sr. |
| Â Portia | Â Okafor | Â Rice | Â MB | Â Jr. |
| Â Stephany | Â Purdue | Â Southern Miss | Â OH | Â Sr. |
| Â Amanda | Â Chamberlain | Â North Texas | Â MB | Â Jr. |
| Â Carlisa | Â May | Â Arkansas State | Â OH | Â So. |
| Â Brittany | Â Gilpin | Â Texas A&M-Corpus Christi | Â OH | Â Jr. |
Coach of the Year:Â Amanda Berkley, Southern Miss
* Denotes total number of years selected to AVCA Division I All-Region Team Â
AVCA DIVSION I REGION COACHES OFÂ THE YEAR
AVCA DIVISION I EAST REGION COACH OF THE YEAR
Kirsten Bernthal Booth, Creighton2016 Record: 28-6, 18-0 Big East
Fourteenth season at the helm of Creighton…Recognized as Big East Coaching Staff of the Year for the second consecutive season…Creighton recorded the first 18-0 conference record in Big East history…Won the program's third straight outright league title…Advancing to the Round of 16 for the second season in a row…Defeated fifth-seeded Kansas to hand them their first home loss of the 2016 season…This is her second consecutive AVCA Region Coach of the Year honor at the D-I level.
AVCA DIVISION I EAST COAST REGION COACH OF THE YEAR
Joe Sagula, North Carolina2016 Record: 29-3, 19-1 ACC
Sagula is in his 27th season leading the Tar Heels…Defeated Coastal Carolina to advance to their third ever appearance in the NCAA Regionals…Earned the No. 7 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament, marking their third consecutive season hosting the opening weekend…Five players earned All-ACC and two freshman garnered spots on the All-ACC Freshman Team…Named ACC Coach of the Year after tying the league record with seven ACC Titles…This marks his fourth AVCA Region Coach of the Year award (2002, 2001, 1998).
AVCA DIVISION I MIDWEST REGION COACH OF THE YEAR
Melissa Stokes, Missouri StateÂ2016 Record: 26-9, 16-2 Missouri Valley Conference
Just completed her 21st season at Missouri State…Led the Bears to their most wins since 2006…Stokes selected for her second Missouri Valley Conference Coach of the Year award…The Bears recorded their fourth regular-season conference title and appeared in the conference tournament championship match…Reeled off 16 straight wins in conference play for the longest MVC streak in school history…Led the Bears to a ninth NCAA tournament appearance during her tenure…This is her first AVCA Region Coach of the Year award.
AVCA DIVISION I NORTH REGION COACH OF THE YEAR
John Cook, Nebraska2016 Record: 29-2, 18-2 Big Ten
This season marks John Cook's 16th season with the Huskers…Took home his first Big Ten Coach of the Year award as the head coach of Nebraska… Claimed the outright Big Ten Championship and the No. 1 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament…Dating back to last year's championship run, the Huskers have won eight consecutive postseason matches…Advanced to the NCAA Regional for the 22nd time in the last 23 seasons…Held onto the No. 1 spot in 12 of the 15 AVCA Coaches Polls this season…Cook won AVCA Region Coach of the Year honors while at Wisconsin in 1997, and has subsequently went on to win the award at Nebraska in 2000, 2005, and 2008.
AVCA DIVISION I NORTHEAST REGION COACH OF THE YEAR
Kelly Sheffield, WisconsinÂ2016 Record: 24-7, 17-3 Big Ten
This season is Sheffield's fourth with the Badgers… Has led UW to three straight NCAA Tournament appearances, including a berth in the 2013 national championship match in his first season… Earned a No. 3 seed in the NCAA Tournament, which is their highest seed in program history…Will host an NCAA Regional Final for the first time since 2000…Mentored three Badgers to All-Big Ten honors…Two-time Northeast Region Coach of the Year award winner (2014, 2010).
AVCA DIVISION I PACIFIC NORTH REGION COACH OF THE YEAR
Shawn Garus, Boise State2016 Record: 26-7, 16-2 Mountain West
Garus completed his eighth season as the Boise State Head Coach…Their 26 victories were the second-most in program history…Won the Mountain West and earned a spot in their first ever NCAA Tournament…Knocked off No. 20 Western Kentucky in the first round for their first Tournament victory…Finished the season second in the Mountain West in hitting percentage (.257) and first in assists per set (13.49), kills per set (14.48), and digs per set (15.54)…In a season of first for the Broncos, this was also Garus' first AVCA Region Coach of the Year honor.
AVCA DIVISION I PACIFIC SOUTH REGION COACH OF THE YEAR
Heather Olmstead, BYUÂ2016 Record: 29-3, 16-2 West Coast Conference
BYU clinched their third consecutive outright West Coast Conference championship…After back-to-back sweeps, the Cougars are making their fifth straight appearance in the Round of 16…After coaching at BYU since 2011, Olmstead took the head coaching reins in 2015 and led the Cougars to a 28-4 record and a conference championship…Three Cougars were named to the All-WCC First Team…This is her first AVCA Region Coach of the Year award.
AVCA DIVISION I SOUTH REGION COACH OF THE YEAR
Travis Hudson, Western Kentucky2016 Record: 30-3, 14-0 Conference USA
Hudson once again led the Lady Toppers to a successful 2016 campaign in his 22nd season…Their three losses tie for the fewest in program history…Won both the Conference USA Regular Season and Tournament Championships…Made their 10th appearance in the NCAA Tournament and their eighth via an automatic bid…They maintained consistent appearances in the AVCA Coaches Poll, once ranking as high as No. 19…Four-time AVCA Region Coach of the Year award winner (2012, 2005, 2002).
AVCA DIVISION I SOUTHEAST REGION COACH OF THE YEAR
Wayne Kreklow, Missouri2016 Record: 27-5, 16-2 SEC
This season marks Kreklow's 17th at the helm of the Tigers…Defeated Purdue to advance to their first Round of 16 since 2010…Clinched a share of the 2016 SEC Championship, and earned the automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament…Collected the No. 15 seed in the Tournament and went on to sweep Northern Illinois and beat Purdue in four sets…Garnered SEC Coach of the Year for the second time in his career…He is now a two-time AVCA Region Coach of the Year honoree (2013).
AVCA DIVISION I SOUTHWEST REGION COACH OF THE YEAR
Amanda Berkley, Southern Miss2016 Record: 23-8, 11-3 Conference USA
Berkley just completed her fourth season as the head coach of the Golden Eagles…Claimed the No. 2 seed in the Conference USA Tournament, which was their highest seed since 2009…Made it to the conference semifinals for the third time in four years…Won 20+ games in each of the last three seasons…Finished first in the conference in opponent hitting percentage (.181) and opponent kills per set (11.46)…This marks her first AVCA Region Coach of the Year award.Â
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About AVCA
The AVCA, with its headquarters in Lexington, Ky., is managed by Associations International. The mission of the AVCA is to advance the sport of volleyball with AVCA coaches at the epicenter of leadership, advocacy and professional development. With a membership of over 7,000 and counting, the AVCA provides a professional network for those individuals and companies dedicated to enhancing and promoting the sport. Members include collegiate, high school, club, youth and Olympic coaches, as well as volleyball club directors. The AVCA provides education to volleyball coaches, recognition of elite players and coaches, promotion of volleyball competitions throughout the world, and networking opportunities for volleyball products and services providers. Further information is available at www.avca.org.
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Players Mentioned
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/ VolleyballCreighton Volleyball Media Availability - 4/15/26
Wednesday, April 15
Creighton vs. Kentucky Volleyball Press Conference - 12/13/25
Sunday, December 14
Creighton Volleyball NCAA Tournament Highlights vs. Kentucky, 12/13/25
Saturday, December 13
Kentucky Volleyball Media Availability - 12/12/25
Friday, December 12
