Volleyball Well-Represented as AVCA Announces All-Region Honors

OMAHA, Neb. -- A program record-tying five student-athletes from the Creighton Volleyball team, as well as head coach Kirsten Bernthal Booth, were honored with All-Region acclaim by the American Volleyball Coaches Association on Tuesday.

Booth, in addition to seniors Maddy Bilinovic, Elise Goetzinger, Norah Sis and Kendra Wait as well as junior Ava Martin, were recognized as the best of the best from the West Region, which consists of 18 teams from the states of Colorado, Nebraska, Nevada, Utah and Wyoming. That's a change from past years when CU was in the East Region and fought for honors among various teams from the Atlantic Coast Conference, America East Conference, Atlantic 10 Conference, BIG EAST Conference, Coastal Athletic Association, Ivy League, Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference and Patriot Leagues, in addition to then-independent Hartford.

The 211 student-athletes who made All-Region represent 108 different schools. Pittsburgh leads the way with seven First Team selections. Creighton, Nebraska, Oregon and Stanford all had five First Team All-Region picks.

Wait (2021-24) joins Jaali Winters (2015-18) as the second player in program history to be named First Team All-Region four times. Sis is the second player in CU history with exactly three First Team All-Region accolades (2021, 2022, 2024) along with Kelli Browning. Martin has now earned back-to-back All-Region acclaim, and Bilinovic and Goetzinger each earn their first career All-Region recognition.

Booth landed her fifth AVCA Region Coach of the Year plaudit, having also picked up a similar award in 2015, 2016, 2018 and 2023.

This year's awards mark the 10th straight year that Creighton has had two or more student-athletes earn First Team All-Region acclaim, putting the Bluejays in elite company with the likes of Texas (24 straight years), Kentucky (15), Minnesota (15), Nebraska (14), Wisconsin (13) and Pittsburgh (10). Creighton's 33 First Team All-Region selections since 2015 ranks tied for ninth-most nationally, trailing only Nebraska (46), Texas (44), Kentucky (44), Minnesota (43), Stanford (41), Pittsburgh (41), Wisconsin (36) and Louisville (34). Creighton also had five All-Region choices in 2016.

Bilinovic leads Creighton with 3.85 digs per set as the leader of a Bluejay defense that ranks second nationally in opponent's attack percentage. The Independence, Ohio native is a two-time BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Week and was named to the All-BIG EAST Team two weeks ago. The senior was also a member of the Cardinal Classic All-Tournament Team in September.

Goetzinger picked up All-BIG EAST accolades this fall after ranking second in the league in both hitting percentage and blocks per set. She is averaging 2.46 kills and 1.09 blocks per set, and her .383 hitting percentage puts her on pace to set Creighton's single-season and career records in that category. The Blue Mounds, Wis., was named to the All-Tournament Team at both the Bluejay Invitational and Cardinal Classic this fall.

Martin was a unanimous All-BIG EAST selection during a standout junior season in which she averaged 3.67 kills and 1.98 digs per set on .327 hitting. She ranks second in the BIG EAST with 0.49 aces per set, and her 53 service line winners are second-most in CU single-season history. The Overland Park, Kan., product was a two-time BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Week, named to a pair of All-Tournament Teams and one of 36 women on the initial AVCA Player of the Year Watch List.

A four-time All-BIG EAST honoree, Sis lands her third All-Region recognition after leading Creighton with 4.58 points and 3.88 kills per set. The Papillion, Neb., product was a three-time BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Week and named to three All-Tournament Teams (including MVP honors at the Creighton Classic). Named to the AVCA's National Player of the Year Watch List, she ranks second in program history with 1,641 career kills. She ranks second in the BIG EAST in kills per set and points per set, is third in aces per set, and is seventh in hitting percentage.

Wait is leading the BIG EAST in assists per set (11.11) for the fourth straight season while directing an offense that ranks second nationally in kills per set as well as in hitting percentage. The Gardner, Kan., native repeated as BIG EAST Player of the Year and BIG EAST Setter of the Year in 2024 after helping Creighton to a 11th straight BIG EAST regular-season title. Wait is a four-time All-BIG EAST and All-East Region choice. She was named All-Tournament Team at three different events this fall -- including MVP honors at the Bluejay Invitational and BIG EAST Tournament, and was also a six-time BIG EAST Setter of the Week. She is one of 14 semifinalists for AVCA National Player of the Year.

Booth guided Creighton to its 11th straight regular-season BIG EAST title, and 10th BIG EAST Tournament crown in the past 11 years. The Bluejays are 31-2 this season and headed back to the Sweet 16 after sweeping South Dakota and Ole Miss last weekend. The Bluejays are currently in the midst of a program-record 24-match win streak, which is the longest active win streak in the country. This is her fifth honor since 2015, tying her for the most nationally with Kelly Sheffield (Wisconsin).

No. 6 Creighton (31-2) is in the midst of its 13th straight trip to the NCAA Tournament and will travel to the campus of Penn State University on Wednesday in anticipation of Friday's 12 p.m. Central contest vs. No. 13 Texas (20-6) that will be nationally-televised on ESPN2.

All-America honors will be announced next Wednesday (Dec. 18) prior to next week's Final Four in Louisville.

CENTRAL REGION

2024 AVCA Division I Women's All-Region Team - Central

?Team	First	Last	School	Pos.	Year
1st	Caroline	Bien	University of Kansas	OH	Sr.
1st	Aliyah	Carter	Kansas State University	OH	Gr.
1st	Marina	Crownover	University of Missouri	S	RS-So.
1st	London	Davis	University of Kansas	RS	Sr.
1st	Jordan	Iliff	University of Missouri	RS	Sr.
1st	Lydia	Martyn	University of Oklahoma	MB	Gr.
1st	Toyosi	Onabanjo	University of Kansas	MB	Sr.
1st	Jurnee	Robinson	Louisiana State University	OH	So.
1st	Maya	Sands	University of Missouri	L	Jr.
1st	Alexis	Shelton	University of Oklahoma	OH	Jr.
1st	Morgan	Stout	Wichita State University	MB	RS-Sr.
1st	Camryn	Turner	University of Kansas	S	Sr.
1st	Mychael	Vernon	University of Missouri	OH	Gr.
1st	Jada	Wills	Drake University	L	Gr.
HM	Macy	Daufeldt	Drake University	OH	Jr.
HM	Ayah	Elnady	University of Kansas	OH	Sr.
HM	Kira	Fallert	University of Northern Iowa	OH	Sr.
HM	Kari	Geissberger	University of Oklahoma	RS	Gr.
HM	Cassidy	Hartman	University of Northern Iowa	OH	So.
HM	Cicily	Hidalgo	Southeastern Louisiana University	OH	Sr.
HM	Courtney	Jackson	University of Arkansas	L	Sr.
HM	Erin	Powers	University of Northern Iowa	L	Sr.

Player of the Year: Mychael Vernon, University of Missouri, OH, Gr.
Coach of the Year: Dawn Sullivan, University of Missouri

EAST COAST REGION

2024 AVCA Division I Women's All-Region Team - East Coast

?Team	First	Last	School	Pos.	Year
1st	Olivia	Babcock	University of Pittsburgh	RS	So.
1st	Rachel	Fairbanks	University of Pittsburgh	S	Sr.
1st	Camryn	Hannah	Penn State University	OH	Gr.
1st	Ryla	Jones	University of Pittsburgh	MB	Fr.
1st	Bre	Kelley	University of Pittsburgh	MB	RS-Jr.
1st	Emmy	Klika	University of Pittsburgh	L	Sr.
1st	Rya	McKinnon	Howard University	OH	Jr.
1st	Jess	Mruzik	Penn State University	OH	Gr.
1st	Amanda	Rice	North Carolina State University	RS	Sr.
1st	Mabrey	Shaffmaster	University of North Carolina	OH	Sr.
1st	Torrey	Stafford	University of Pittsburgh	OH	So.
1st	Izzy	Starck	Penn State University	S	Fr.
1st	Taylor	Trammell	Penn State University	MB	Sr.
1st	Valeria	Vazquez Gomez	University of Pittsburgh	OH	Sr.
HM	Milam	Gomillion	University of Virginia	L	Sr.
HM	Jordan	Hardy	Bucknell University	L	Sr.
HM	Kerry	Keefe	Duke University	OH	Jr.
HM	Jasmine	Knight	Virginia Commonwealth University	MB	Gr.
HM	Dylan	Maberry	High Point University	OH	Gr.
HM	Tyne	Ross	North Carolina A&T State University	OH	Fr.
HM	Maya	Winterhoff	Appalachian State University	MB	Jr.

Player of the Year: Olivia Babcock, University of Pittsburgh, RS, So.
Freshman of the Year: Izzy Starck, Penn State University, S
Coach of the Year: Dan Fisher, University of Pittsburgh

MIDWEST REGION

2024 AVCA Division I Women's All-Region Team - Midwest

?Team	First	Last	School	Pos.	Year
1st	Lexie	Almodovar	University of Dayton	OH	RS-Sr.
1st	Chloe	Chicoine	Purdue University	OH	So.
1st	Raven	Colvin	Purdue University	MB	Sr.
1st	Ramsey	Gary	Indiana University	L	So.
1st	Camryn	Haworth	Indiana University	S	Sr.
1st	Lauryn	Hovey	Bowling Green State University	RS	Jr.
1st	Eva	Hudson	Purdue University	OH	Jr.
1st	Emily	Londot	Ohio State University	OH	Gr.
1st	Alyssa	Miller	University of Dayton	S	Sr.
1st	Jill	Pressly	DePaul University	OH	Gr.
1st	Panna	Ratkai	Purdue University Fort Wayne	OH	RS-So.
1st	Liana	Sarkissian	University of Dayton	MB	Jr.
1st	Raina	Terry	University of Illinois	OH	Gr.
1st	Lauren	Yacobucci	Wright State University	S	So.
HM	Bree	Borum	Loyola University Chicago	S	Sr.
HM	Giulia	Cardona	University of Evansville	RS	Sr.
HM	Ali	Hornung	Purdue University	L	Sr.
HM	Rachel	Krasowski	DePaul University	L	Gr.
HM	Carson	Tyler	Ball State University	OH	Fr.
HM	Zahria	Woodard	University of Ilinois Chicago	MB	Gr.
HM	Patrycja	Lagida	Chicago State University	OH	So.

Player of the Year: Eva Hudson, Purdue University, OH, Jr.
Freshman of the Year: Carson Tyler, Ball State University, OH
Coach of the Year: Tim Horsmon, University of Dayton

NORTH REGION

2024 AVCA Division I Women's All-Region Team - North

?Team	First	Last	School	Pos.	Year
1st	Yadhira	Anchante	Marquette University	S	Gr.
1st	Carter	Booth	University of Wisconsin	MB	Jr.
1st	Hattie	Bray	Marquette University	MB	Sr.
1st	Logan	Case	Western Michigan University	S	Sr.
1st	Kamryn	Chaney	Princeton University	OH	So.
1st	Carly	Diehl	Yale University	S	Sr.
1st	Sarah	Franklin	University of Wisconsin	OH	Sr.
1st	Charlie	Fuerbringer	University of Wisconsin	S	Fr.
1st	Julia	Haggerty	Boston College	MB	Sr.
1st	Aubrey	Hamilton	Marquette University	OH	RS-Sr.
1st	Tsvetelina	Ilieva	Binghamton University	OH	Sr.
1st	Erin	Jones	St. John's University	RS/S	Jr.
1st	Andelyn	Simkins	Western Michigan University	L	Sr.
1st	Anna	Smrek	University of Wisconsin	MB	Sr.
HM	Milan	Bayless	Colgate University	OH	So.
HM	Kara	Erdmann	University of Wisconsin Milwaukee	L	Jr.
HM	Elena	Giacomini	Quinnipiac University	RS	Gr.
HM	Nalani	Iosia	Michigan State University	L	Sr.
HM	Allison	Jacobs	University of Michigan	OH	Gr.
HM	Mackenzie	Parsons	Cornell University	MB	Fr.
HM	Devyn	Robinson	University of Wisconsin	MB/RS	Sr.
HM	Emma	Werkmeister	University of Connecticut	OH	Jr.

Player of the Year: Sarah Franklin, University of Wisconsin, OH, Sr.
Freshman of the Year: Charlie Fuerbringer, University of Wisconsin, S
Coach of the Year: Mike Gawlik, Central Michigan University

NORTHWEST REGION

2024 AVCA Division I Women's All-Region Team - Northwest

?Team	First	Last	School	Pos.	Year
1st	Phoebe	Awoleye	University of Minnesota	MB	Gr.
1st	Paige	Bartsch	Boise State University	RS	Sr.
1st	Emoni	Bush	University of Washington	OH	Jr.
1st	Cristin	Cline	University of Oregon	S	RS-Fr.
1st	Mimi	Colyer	University of Oregon	OH	Jr.
1st	Lydia	Grote	University of Minnesota	RS	RS-Sr.
1st	Julia	Hanson	University of Minnesota	OH	Jr.
1st	Mackenzie	Morris	University of Oregon	L	Sr.
1st	Onye	Ofoegbu	University of Oregon	MB	RS-Sr.
1st	Michelle	Ohwobete	University of Oregon	OH	Sr.
1st	Katy	Ryan	Washington State University	RS	Sr.
1st	Melani	Shaffmaster	University of Minnesota	S	RS-Sr.
1st	Sydni	Schetnan	South Dakota State University	MB	RS-Jr.
1st	Sylvie	Zgonc	South Dakota State University	OH	So.
HM	Kamryn	Farris	University of South Dakota	L	Jr.
HM	Noemie	Glover	University of Oregon	RS	So.
HM	Brianne	Gunderson	Eastern Washington University	MB	RS-Jr.
HM	Julia	Hunt	University of Washington	MB	Fr.
HM	Taina	Kaauwai	University of Portland	MB	So.
HM	Kylen	Sealock	University of South Dakota	OH	Sr.

Player of the Year: Mimi Colyer, University of Oregon, OH, Jr.
Freshman of the Year: Julia Hunt, University of Washington, MB
Coach of the Year: Dan Georgalas, South Dakota State University

PACIFIC REGION

2024 AVCA Division I Women's All-Region Team - Pacific

?Team	First	Last	School	Pos.	Year
1st	Caylen	Alexander	University of Hawaii	OH	Jr.
1st	Ally	Batenhorst	University of Southern California	OH	Gr.
1st	Geli	Cyr	Arizona State University	OH	Sr.
1st	Anna	Dodson	UCLA	MB	Gr.
1st	Sami	Francis	Stanford University	MB	Sr.
1st	Jordyn	Harvey	Stanford University	RS	So.
1st	Claire	Jeter	Arizona State University	MB	Gr.
1st	Cheridyn	Leverette	UCLA	OH	Jr.
1st	Kami	Miner	Stanford University	S	Sr.
1st	Elena	Oglivie	Stanford University	L	Sr.
1st	Elia	Rubin	Stanford University	OH	Jr.
1st	Mary	Shroll	Arizona State University	L	Gr.
1st	Mia	Tuaniga	University of Southern California	S	Sr.
1st	Argentina	Ung	Arizona State University	S	Gr.
HM	Grace	Chillingworth	Pepperdine University	RS	Sr.
HM	Alexa	Edwards	University of the Pacific	OH	Gr.
HM	Paige	Flickinger	Loyola Marymount University	OH	Gr.
HM	Jaelyn	Hodge	University of Arizona	OH	Sr.
HM	Kate	Lang	University of Hawaii	S	Sr.
HM	Olivia	Utterback	University of California Davis	RS	Sr.
HM	Jordan	Wilson	University of Arizona	OH	Jr.

Player of the Year: Kami Miner, Stanford University, S, Sr.
Freshman of the Year: Avery Scoggins, University of Arizona, S
Coach of the Year: JJ Van Niel, Arizona State University

SOUTH REGION

2024 AVCA Division I Women's All-Region Team - South

?Team	First	Last	School	Pos.	Year
1st	Callie	Bauer	Western Kentucky University	S	RS-Jr.
1st	Nina	Cajic	University of Tennessee	OH	Gr.
1st	Kaylee	Cox	Western Kentucky University	OH	Sr.
1st	Cara	Cresse	University of Louisville	MB	RS-Jr.
1st	Anna	DeBeer	University of Louisville	OH	Gr.
1st	Brooklyn	DeLeye	University of Kentucky	OH	So.
1st	Keondreya	Granberry	University of Tennessee	MB	Jr.
1st	Emma	Grome	University of Kentucky	S	Sr.
1st	Caroline	Kerr	University of Tennessee	S	RS-So.
1st	Charitie	Luper	University of Louisville	OH	Sr.
1st	Elena	Scott	University of Louisville	L	Sr.
1st	Mokihana	Tufono	University of Mississippi	S	Jr.
1st	Molly	Tuozzo	University of Kentucky	L	So.
1st	Nia	Washington	University of Mississippi	OH	Jr.
HM	Brooke	Bultema	University of Kentucky	MB	RS-Fr.
HM	Payton	Brgoch	University of Mississippi	MB	Sr.
HM	Tori	Hester	Troy University	OH	Sr.
HM	Madolyn	Isringhausen	Tennessee Tech University	OH	Sr.
HM	Cammy	Niesen	University of Mississippi	L	Jr.
HM	Reese	Robins	University of Louisville	MB	So.
HM	Arissa	Smith	Mississippi State University	MB	So.
HM	Izzy	Van De Wiele	Western Kentucky University	MB	So.

Player of the Year: Brooklyn DeLeye, University of Kentucky, OH, So.
Freshman of the Year: Nayelis Cabello, University of Louisville, S
Coach of the Year: Craig Skinner, University of Kentucky

SOUTHEAST REGION

2024 AVCA Division I Women's All-Region Team - Southeast

?Team	First	Last	School	Pos.	Year
1st	Maria Clara	Andrade	University of South Florida	OH	Jr.
1st	Jaela	Auguste	University of Florida	MB	Fr.
1st	Bianca	Bertolino	Georgia Tech	OH	Sr.
1st	Sophie	Fischer	University of Georgia	MB	Gr.
1st	Flormarie	Heredia Colon	University of Miami	OH	Jr.
1st	Shelby	Kent	Florida Gulf Coast University	OH	Sr.
1st	Audrey	Koenig	Florida State University	OH	Sr.
1st	Grace	Lopez	University of Miami	OH	So.
1st	Khori	Louis	Florida State University	MB	Sr.
1st	Kennedy	Martin	University of Florida	RS	So.
1st	Elli	McKissock	University of Florida	L	Sr.
1st	Tamara	Otene	Georgia Tech	OH	Sr.
1st	Jalyn	Stout	Coastal Carolina University	S	Gr.
1st	Riley	Whitesides	University of South Carolina	OH	Gr.
HM	Reagan	Barth	Georgia Southern University	OH	So.
HM	Caroline	Dykes	University of South Florida	S	Sr.
HM	Skye	Ekes	Mercer University	OH	Sr.
HM	Taylor	Head	Florida State University	OH	Gr.
HM	Isabel	Martin	University of Florida	OH	RS-Sr.
HM	Taylor	Parks	University of Florida	S	Fr.
HM	Ariana	Rodriguez	University of Miami	S	RS-Fr.

Player of the Year: Kennedy Martin, University of Florida, RS, So.
Freshman of the Year: Jaela Auguste, University of Florida, MB
Coach of the Year: Matt Botsford, Florida Gulf Coast University

SOUTHWEST REGION

2024 AVCA Division I Women's All-Region Team - Southwest

?Team	First	Last	School	Pos.	Year
1st	Ifenna	Cos-Okpalla	Texas A&M University	MB	Jr.
1st	Celia	Cullen	Southern Methodist University	S	Gr.
1st	Brianna	Ford	University of Texas Arlington	RS	Gr.
1st	Kate	Georgiades	University of Houston	L	Gr.
1st	Jalyn	Gibson	TCU	OH	Jr.
1st	Logan	Lednicky	Texas A&M University	RS	Jr.
1st	Elise	McGhee	Baylor University	OH	Sr.
1st	Melanie	Parra	TCU	OH	Sr.
1st	Paige	Reagor	University of Texas Arlington	MB	Gr.
1st	Naya	Shime	Southern Methodist University	RS	Gr.
1st	Marianna	Singletary	University of Texas	MB	RS-So.
1st	Madisen	Skinner	University of Texas	OH	Sr.
1st	Kaya	Weaver	University of Texas El Paso	MB	Jr.
1st	Samantha	Wunsch	Texas State University	OH	Jr.
HM	Natalie	Foster	Southern Methodist University	MB	Gr.
HM	Lademi	Ogunlana	Rice University	MB	Jr.
HM	Kylee	Owens	Prairie View A&M University	OH	Jr.
HM	Kyndal	Payne	Texas A&M University Corpus Christi	OH	Sr.
HM	Reagan	Rutherford	University of Texas	RS	RS-Sr.
HM	Maya	Tabron	Southern Methodist University	OH	Gr.
HM	Ema	Uskokovic	University of Texas El Paso	OH	RS-Jr.

Player of the Year: Melanie Parra, TCU, OH, Sr.
Freshman of the Year: Ayden Ames, University of Texas, MB
Coach of the Year: Sam Erger, Southern Methodist University

WEST REGION

2024 AVCA Division I Women's All-Region Team - West

?Team	First	Last	School	Pos.	Year
1st	Merritt	Beason	University of Nebraska	OH	Sr.
1st	Maddy	Bilinovic	Creighton University	L	Sr.
1st	Syd	Cole	University of Northern Colorado	S	Gr.
1st	Kamryn	Gibadlo	University of Utah	OH	So.
1st	Elise	Goetzinger	Creighton University	MB	Sr.
1st	Andi	Jackson	University of Nebraska	MB	So.
1st	Malaya	Jones	Colorado State University	RS	RS-Sr.
1st	Claire	Little	Brigham Young University	OH	So.
1st	Ava	Martin	Creighton University	OH	Jr.
1st	Harper	Murray	University of Nebraska	OH	So.
1st	Bergen	Reilly	University of Nebraska	S	So.
1st	Lexi	Rodriguez	University of Nebraska	L	Sr.
1st	Norah	Sis	Creighton University	OH	Sr.
1st	Kendra	Wait	Creighton University	S	Sr.
HM	Emery	Herman	Colorado State University	S	Gr.
HM	Lauren	Jardine	University of Utah	OH	Sr.
HM	Brielle	Kemavor	Brigham Young University	MB	So.
HM	Allie	Olsen	University of Utah	MB	Sr.
HM	Gabi	Placide	University of Northern Colorado	OH	So.
HM	Emrie	Satuala	University of Utah	MB	Jr.

Player of the Year: Lexi Rodriguez, University of Nebraska, L, Sr.
Freshman of the Year: Alex Bower, Brigham Young University, S
Coach of the Year: Kirsten Bernthal Booth, Creighton University

2024 AVCA DIVISION I REGION COACHES OF THE YEAR

The following coaches have been selected as this year's AVCA Region Coaches of the Year. Each of the honorees can be considered for the AVCA National Coach of the Year, and the awards will be presented at the Coaches Honors Luncheon in Louisville on Dec. 19, at the 2024 AVCA Convention.

CENTRAL REGION COACH OF THE YEAR

Dawn Sullivan, University of Missouri
2024 Record (as of Dec. 9): 22-8
Sullivan has opened her career at Missouri with a bang. In her first season, she led the Tigers back to the NCAA Tournament, and she has her 2024 squad in the Sweet Sixteen via a four-set win at No. 10 SMU on Friday. Following a nine-match win streak, the Tigers moved into the AVCA coaches' poll Nov. 11, and they've been ranked ever since.

EAST COAST REGION COACH OF THE YEAR

Dan Fisher, University of Pittsburgh
2024 Record (as of Dec. 9): 31-1
The hits just keep on coming for Fisher and the Panthers. Coming of three-consecutive NCAA semifinal appearances, Pittsburgh has been even more dominant in 2024. The veteran coach's team has rolled to a 31-1 record against a schedule featuring 12 ranked opponents, and they didn't drop a set in the first month of the season.

MIDWEST REGION COACH OF THE YEAR

Tim Horsmon, University of Dayton
2024 Record (as of Dec. 9): 31-2
Horsmon's team added to the luster of an already great season over the weekend, as it took down Baylor on the road to earn the school's first-ever regional appearance in the Division I Championship. He has led the Flyers to 31 wins heading into the 2024 Sweet Sixteen, and he picked up his 400th career victory at UD earlier this season.

NORTH REGION COACH OF THE YEAR

Mike Gawlik, Central Michigan University
2024 Record (as of Dec. 9): 24-7
The recently completed storybook season was Gawlik's best at Central Michigan. His squad put together the school's most successful campaign since 1983 by going 24-7 and finishing in second place in the Mid-American Conference with a 15-3 mark in league play. In addition, a record-tying five Chippewa players earned All-MAC honors.

NORTHWEST REGION COACH OF THE YEAR

Dan Georgalas, South Dakota State University
2024 Record (as of Dec. 9): 27-3
Georgalas guided SDSU to one of the nation's most impressive turnarounds. His team went 9-20 a year ago and rebounded to finish the 2024 campaign with 27 victories, for an incredible 18-win swing. They opened the memorable season by winning their first 22 matches, which made them the last unbeaten team in Division I.

PACIFIC REGION COACH OF THE YEAR

JJ Van Niel, Arizona State University
2024 Record (as of Dec. 9): 30-3
Van Niel makes it two years in a row of earning AVCA Region Coach of the Year honors after leading Arizona State to the 2024 Big 12 title. The team's 30 victories marked the second-most in program history and the Sun Devils tied a school record with 20 sweeps. They also were ranked No. 8 in the final regular-season AVCA Top 25 Poll.

SOUTH REGION COACH OF THE YEAR

Craig Skinner, University of Kentucky
2024 Record (as of Dec. 9): 22-7
Another year, another Southeastern Conference title for Skinner and the Wildcats. The veteran coach's 20th squad at Kentucky picked up the school's eighth-consecutive league crown, no small feat considering they faced a rugged schedule that included nine ranked teams. The Wildcats enter the NCAA regional on a 16-match win streak.

SOUTHEAST REGION COACH OF THE YEAR

Matt Botsford, Florida Gulf Coast University
2024 Record (as of Dec. 9): 27-5
Florida Gulf Coast enjoyed a great season, as Botsford's 2024 squad tied for the most victories, 24, by an FGCU team in his 11-year tenure. The Eagles captured the A-Sun regular-season and tournament titles, earning an NCAA Championship bid for the fourth-straight season. Botsford also picked up his 250th career coaching win this season.

SOUTHWEST REGION COACH OF THE YEAR

Sam Erger, Southern Methodist University
2024 Record (as of Dec. 9): 25-8
It was a magical season of firsts for Erger and the Mustangs. Her 2024 team made the school's first appearance in the top 10 in the AVCA Poll, received a program-best No. 2-seed in the NCAA Championship, and hosted an NCAA first- and second-round matches for the first time. SMU also had wins over No. 2 Nebraska and No. 1 Pittsburgh.

WEST REGION COACH OF THE YEAR

Kirsten Bernthal Booth, Creighton University
2024 Record (as of Dec. 9): 31-2
Booth's Bluejays are enjoying a record-setting 2024 campaign. They moved into the top five of the AVCA Poll for the first time ever, set a record for consecutive home wins (currently 32), and have tied the highest win total (31) during Booth's 22 years at Creighton. The coach picked up her 500th career win in last week's NCAA first-round match.