Volleyball Senior Trio Earns AVCA All-Region Honors

OMAHA, Neb. -- Three senior leaders on the Creighton Volleyball team were honored with All-Region acclaim by the American Volleyball Coaches Association on Tuesday. Annalea Maeder, Ava Martin and Kiara Reinhardt 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.

The 213 student-athletes who made All-Region represent 109 different schools.

This year's awards mark the 11th 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 (25 straight years), Kentucky (16), Minnesota (16), Nebraska (15), Wisconsin (14) and Pittsburgh (11).

Creighton's 36 First Team All-Region selections since 2015 ranks 10th-most nationally, trailing only Nebraska (51), Kentucky (49), Texas (48), Minnesota (46), Stanford (46), Pittsburgh (45), Wisconsin (41), Florida (38) and Louisville (38).

Maeder is in her first season at Creighton, but fifth overall in college after four years at Cal. In her lone season with the Bluejays, Maeder has been a seven-time BIG EAST Setter of the Week and leads the league with 10.69 assists per set. The Ried, Switzerland product also ranks fourth in the BIG EAST with 0.41 aces per set and directs a Bluejay offense that hits a league-best .292. Maeder was named All-BIG EAST and named BIG EAST Setter of the Year.

Martin is the BIG EAST's only player on the AVCA National Player of the Year Watch List, and lived up to the Preseason BIG EAST Player of the Year hype she was anointed by league coaches before the fall. Martin finished in the top 10 in the BIG EAST in league play in points per set (5.16), kills per set (4.52), aces per set (0.50) and hitting percentage (.376). In her career, she's fourth in CU history with 1,607 kills and third with 127 aces. The Overland Park, Kan., native was named BIG EAST Tournament MVP and was recently the second pick in the Major League Volleyball Draft. This is Martin's third straight First Team All-Region accolade, making her just the fifth player in program history to be honored three times or more along with Jaali Winters (2015-18), Kendra Wait (2021-24), Kelli Browning (2012-14) and Norah Sis (2021, 2022, 2024).

Reinhardt is a sixth-year senior who became the winningest player (123) in program history and in position to set a CU single-season record for hitting percentage. She owns 801 career kills, is fourth in program history with 530 blocks and fifth with a .333 hitting percentage. Reinhardt was the eighth pick in the Major League Volleyball Draft from Cedarburg, Wis.

This is the second straight season Creighton has been in the West Region, 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.

No. 11 Creighton (27-5) is in the midst of its 14th straight trip to the NCAA Tournament and will travel to the campus of the University of Kentucky later today in anticipation of Thursday's 12 p.m. Central contest vs. No. 8 Arizona State (28-3) that will be nationally-televised on ESPN2.

All-America honors will be announced next Wednesday (Dec. 17) prior to next week's Final Four in Kansas City.

CENTRAL REGION


Team	First	Last	School	Pos.	Year
1st	Caylen	Alexander	University of Missouri	OH	Sr.
1st	Claire	Ammeraal	University of Iowa	S	Sr.
1st	Daedrianna	Cail	Arkansas State University	MB	Sr.
1st	Jill	Hanson	University of Tulsa	MB	Fr.
1st	Cassidy	Hartman	University of Northern Iowa	OH	Jr.
1st	Brayden	Hipp	University of Tulsa	S	Sr.
1st	Ava	LeGrand	Kansas State University	S	Sr.
1st	Shaylee	Myers	Kansas State University	OH	Sr.
1st	Reese	Ptacek	University of Kansas	MB	So.
1st	Jurnee	Robinson	Louisiana State University	OH	Jr.
1st	Maya	Sands	University of Missouri	L	Sr.
1st	Alexis	Shelton	University of Oklahoma	OH	Sr.
1st	Rachel	Van Gorp	Iowa State University	L	So.
1st	Jovanna	Zelenovic	University of Kansas	RS	Fr.
HM	Tyrah	Ariail	University of Missouri	MB	RS-Sr.
HM	Morgan	Brandt	Iowa State University	S	Sr.
HM	Kelli Jo	Burgess	University of Oklahoma	MB	Jr.
HM	Lily	Dykstra	University of Northern Iowa	OH	Jr.
HM	Kyra	McKelvey	Southeastern Louisiana University	RS	Jr.
HM	Jadyn	Petersen	University of Northern Iowa	L	RS-Fr.
HM	Rhian	Swanson	University of Kansas	OH	Sr.

Player of the Year: Shaylee Myers, Kansas State University, OH, Sr.
Freshman of the Year: Jovanna Zelenovic, University of Kansas, RS
Coach of the Year: Bobbi Petersen, University of Northern Iowa

EAST COAST REGION


Team	First	Last	School	Pos.	Year
1st	Olivia	Babcock	University of Pittsburgh	RS	Jr.
1st	Blaire	Bayless	University of Pittsburgh	OH	Jr.
1st	Deniz	Dakak	American University	S	So.
1st	Reagan	Ennist	University of Virginia	OH	Fr.
1st	Gillian	Grimes	Penn State University	L	Sr.
1st	Safi	Hampton	University of North Carolina	OH	Jr.
1st	Abby	Harrell	Villanova University	OH	Jr.
1st	Bre	Kelley	University of Pittsburgh	MB	Sr.
1st	Kennedy	Louisell	James Madison University	OH	Jr.
1st	Kennedy	Martin	Penn State University	RS	Jr.
1st	Maddy	May	University of North Carolina	L	Sr.
1st	Maggie	Mendelson	Penn State University	MB	Sr.
1st	Brooke	Mosher	University of Pittsburgh	S	RS-Sr.
1st	Maya	Winterhoff	Appalachian State University	MB	Sr.
HM	Kristen	Birmingham	UNC Charlotte	OH	Gr.
HM	Korrin	Burns	Saint Francis University	OH	Sr.
HM	Ryla	Jones	University of Pittsburgh	MB	So.
HM	Campbell	McKinnon	Villanova University	MB	So.
HM	Marina	Pezelj	University of Pittsburgh	OH	Fr.
HM	Julia	Rienks	Virginia Commonwealth University	RS	Sr.
HM	Chelsea	Thorpe	University of North Carolina	RS	Jr.
HM	TaKenya	Stafford	Coppin State University	OH	RS-Sr.

Player of the Year: Olivia Babcock, University of Pittsburgh, RS, Jr.
Freshman of the Year: Reagan Ennist, University of Virginia, OH
Coach of the Year: Dan Fisher, University of Pittsburgh

MIDWEST REGION


Team	First	Last	School	Pos.	Year
1st	Candela	Alonso-Corcelles	Indiana University	OH	Sr.
1st	Taylor	Anderson	Purdue University	S	Jr.
1st	Taylor	de Boer	University of Illinois	OH	RS-So.
1st	Morgan	Gaerte	University of Notre Dame	OH	So.
1st	Emma	Grace	Xavier University	OH	RS-Sr.
1st	Grace	Heaney	Purdue University	RS	So.
1st	Kamryn	Hunt	University of Dayton	OH	Jr.
1st	Jaidyn	Jager	Indiana University	OH	Fr.
1st	Teodora	Krickovic	Indiana University	S	Fr.
1st	Sydney	Nolan	University of Cincinnati	OH	Jr.
1st	Ashlyn	Philpot	University of Illinois	MB	So.
1st	Avry	Tatum	Indiana University	RS	Sr.
1st	Carson	Tyler	Ball State University	OH	So.
1st	Kenna	Wollard	Purdue University	OH	Jr.
HM	Ayah	Elnady	Northwestern University	OH	Gr.
HM	Emma	Hickey	Valparaiso University	L	Sr.
HM	Abbie	Householder	Youngstown State University	OH	Sr.
HM	Ryan	McAleer	Purdue University	L	So.
HM	Kenna	Phelan	University of Illinois	S	Jr.
HM	Grace	Purichia	Indiana University Indianapolis	S	Jr.
HM	Liana	Sarkissian	University of Dayton	MB	Sr.

Player of the Year: Kenna Wollard, Purdue University, OH, Jr.
Freshman of the Year: Teodora Krickovic, Indiana University, S
Coach of the Year: Dave Shondell, Purdue University

NORTH REGION


Team	First	Last	School	Pos.	Year
1st	Carter	Booth	University of Wisconsin	MB	Sr.
1st	Hattie	Bray	Marquette University	MB	Gr.
1st	Mimi	Colyer	University of Wisconsin	OH	Sr.
1st	Sydney	Draper	Princeton University	S	Jr.
1st	Grace	Egan	University of Wisconsin	RS	RS-So.
1st	Isabela	Haggard	Marquette University	S	Fr.
1st	Allison	Jacobs	University of Michigan	OH	Gr.
1st	Eliza	Konvicka	Cornell University	RS	Sr.
1st	Serena	Nyambio	University of Michigan	MB	Sr.
1st	Ava	Poinsett	Yale University	OH	Fr.
1st	Natalie	Ring	Marquette University	OH	Sr.
1st	Kristen	Simon	University of Wisconsin	L	Fr.
1st	Una	Vajagic	University of Wisconsin	OH	RS-So.
1st	Emma	Werkmeister	University of Connecticut	OH	Sr.
HM	Erin	Jones	St. John's University	S/RS	Sr.
HM	Do?a	Kutlu	University of Connecticut	S	Gr.
HM	Kiannisha	Santiago	Rider University	RS	Sr.
HM	Karolina	Staniszewska	Michigan State University	OH	Jr.
HM	Izadora	Stedile	Hofstra University	OH	Sr.
HM	Arianna	Ugolini	Bryant University	OH	Sr.
HM	Sophia	Wolfson	Brown University	MB	So.

Player of the Year: Mimi Colyer, University of Wisconsin, Sr., OH
Freshman of the Year: Ava Poinsett, Yale University, OH
Coach of the Year: Kelly Sheffield, University of Wisconsin

NORTHWEST REGION


Team	First	Last	School	Pos.	Year
1st	Kierstyn	Barton	University of Washington	OH	Jr.
1st	Lucie	Blazkova	Washington State University	MB	RS-So.
1st	Madison	Burr	South Dakota State University	MB	So.
1st	Alanah	Clemente	University of Oregon	RS	Fr.
1st	Sjakkie	Donkers	Gonzaga University	OH	So.
1st	Kamryn	Farris	University of South Dakota	L	Sr.
1st	Carly	Gilk	University of Minnesota	RS	Fr.
1st	Julia	Hanson	University of Minnesota	OH	Sr.
1st	Tezra	Rudzitis	University of St. Thomas	RS	Sr.
1st	Lauren	Rumel	Oregon State University	OH	Sr.
1st	Eliza	Sharp	Boise State University	MB	RS-Fr.
1st	Stella	Swenson	University of Minnesota	S	RS-Fr.
1st	Valentina	Vaulet	University of Oregon	OH	Jr.
1st	Sylvie	Zgonc	South Dakota State University	OH	Jr.
HM	Morgan	Kealy	University of St. Thomas	S	Jr.
HM	Alana	Marrs	Oregon State University	MB	Fr.
HM	Lauren	Medeck	University of South Dakota	OH	So.
HM	Simona	Meteska	University of Washington	OH	Fr.
HM	Lourdes	Myers	University of Minnesota	MB	Gr.
HM	Jordan	Taylor	University of Minnesota	MB	Fr.

Player of the Year:Julia Hanson, University of Minnesota, OH, Sr.
Freshman of the Year: Alanah Clemente, University of Oregon, RS
Coach of the Year: Keegan Cook, University of Minnesota

PACIFIC REGION


Team	First	Last	School	Pos.	Year
1st	Lizzy	Andrew	Stanford University	MB	So.
1st	Nemo	Beach	University of San Diego	OH	Jr.
1st	Julia	Blyashov	Stanford University	OH	RS-So.
1st	Noemie	Glover	Arizona State University	RS	Jr.
1st	Jordyn	Harvey	Stanford University	RS	Jr.
1st	Reese	Messer	University of Southern California	S	Fr.
1st	Bailey	Miller	Arizona State University	OH	Sr.
1st	Colby	Neal	Arizona State University	MB	Gr.
1st	Logan	Parks	Stanford University	S	Fr.
1st	Elia	Rubin	Stanford University	OH	Sr.
1st	Lola	Schumacher	UCLA	L	So.
1st	Marianna	Singletary	UCLA	MB	RS-Jr.
1st	London	Wijay	University of Southern California	OH	RS-So.
1st	Jordan	Wilson	University of Arizona	OH	Sr.
HM	Leah	Ford	University of Southern California	MB	RS-So.
HM	Chloe	Leluge	Cal Poly	MB	So.
HM	Cheridyn	Leverette	UCLA	OH	Sr.
HM	Jade	Light	UC Davis	OH	Sr.
HM	Victoria	Marthaler	Sacramento State	OH	So.
HM	Kylie	Munday	University of San Diego	S	So.
HM	Erika	Sayer	Stanford University	MB	Fr.
HM	Hanah	Stoddard	Northern Arizona University	OH	RS-Jr.
HM	Eva	Travis	UC Santa Barbara	OH	RS-So.

Player of the Year: Elia Rubin, Stanford University, OH, Sr.
Freshman of the Year: Logan Parks, Stanford University, S
Coach of the Year: Kevin Hambly, Stanford University

SOUTH REGION


Team	First	Last	School	Pos.	Year
1st	Callie	Bauer	Western Kentucky University	S	RS-Sr.
1st	Kalyssa	Blackshear	University of Louisville	RS	Fr.
1st	Nayelis	Cabello	University of Louisville	S	So.
1st	Lizzie	Carr	University of Kentucky	MB	RS-Jr.
1st	Chloe	Chicoine	University of Louisville	OH	Jr.
1st	Cara	Cresse	University of Louisville	MB	RS-Sr.
1st	Brooklyn	DeLeye	University of Kentucky	OH	Jr.
1st	Lauren	Dreves	Auburn University	OH	So.
1st	Eva	Hudson	University of Kentucky	OH	Sr.
1st	Caroline	Kerr	University of Tennessee	S	RS-Jr.
1st	Hayden	Kubik	University of Tennessee	OH	Sr.
1st	Jackie	Moore	Vanderbilt University	MB	Sr.
1st	Kassie	O'Brien	University of Kentucky	S	Fr.
1st	Molly	Tuozzo	University of Kentucky	L	Jr.
HM	Makayla	Bays	East Tennessee State University	OH	So.
HM	Gulce	Guctekin	University of Tennessee	L	Sr.
HM	M.E.	Hargan	Morehead State University	OH	Sr.
HM	Emilee	Hill	Eastern Kentucky University	S	Jr.
HM	Jayden	James	Jackson State University	OH	Sr.
HM	Kaira	Knox	Western Kentucky University	RS	Fr.
HM	Lindsey	Mangelson	Mississippi State University	OH	Fr.
HM	Payton	Petersen	University of Louisville	OH	So.
HM	Gabi	Placide	University of Mississippi	OH	Jr.
HM	Alivia	Skidmore	Western Kentucky University	OH	So.

Player of the Year: Eva Hudson, University of Kentucky, OH, Sr.
Freshman of the Year: Kassie O'Brien, University of Kentucky, S
Coach of the Year: Craig Skinner, University of Kentucky

SOUTHEAST REGION


Team	First	Last	School	Pos.	Year
1st	Maria Clara	Andrade	University of South Florida	OH	Sr.
1st	Avah	Armour	University of Central Florida	OH	Jr.
1st	Jaela	Auguste	University of Florida	MB	So.
1st	Reagan	Barth	Georgia Southern University	OH	Jr.
1st	Jordyn	Byrd	University of Florida	OH	RS-So.
1st	Bianca	Garibaldi	Georgia Tech	MB	So.
1st	Lily	Hayes	University of Florida	L	Fr.
1st	Iane	Henke	Florida State University	OH	Sr.
1st	Flormarie	Heredia Colon	University of Miami	OH	Sr.
1st	Bianna	Muoneke	University of Georgia	OH	Jr.
1st	Ariana	Rodriguez	University of Miami	S	RS-So.
1st	Alec	Rothe	University of Florida	MB	So.
1st	Jalyn	Stout	Coastal Carolina University	S	Jr.
1st	Alexis	Stucky	University of Florida	S	RS-Jr.
HM	Anna	Fiedorowicz	Georgia Tech	OH	Fr.
HM	Kyleene	Filimaua	Florida State University	OH	Jr.
HM	Manu	Johnsen	Kennesaw State University	OH	Sr.
HM	Avery	Jolley	Winthrop University	OH	Sr.
HM	Marta	Lazzarin	Georgia State University	L	Fr.
HM	Dalia	Wilson	University of Miami	MB	Sr.
HM	Haley	Yount	Jacksonville University	MB	So.

Player of the Year: Flormarie Heredia Colon, University of Miami, OH, Sr.
Freshman of the Year: Lily Hayes, University of Florida, L
Coach of the Year: Heather Gearhart, Winthrop University

SOUTHWEST REGION


Team	First	Last	School	Pos.	Year
1st	Ayden	Ames	University of Texas	MB	So.
1st	Favor	Anyanwu	SMU	MB	So.
1st	Averi	Carlson	SMU	S	Sr.
1st	Ifenna	Cos-Okpalla	Texas A&M University	MB	Sr.
1st	Emma	Halter	University of Texas	L	Sr.
1st	Evan	Hendrix	TCU	OH	So.
1st	Malaya	Jones	SMU	RS	Gr.
1st	Logan	Lednicky	Texas A&M University	RS	Sr.
1st	Jadyn	Livings	SMU	OH	So.
1st	Ksenia	Rakhmanchik	Baylor University	OH	Fr.
1st	Cari	Spears	University of Texas	RS	Fr.
1st	Torrey	Stafford	University of Texas	OH	Jr.
1st	Kyndal	Stowers	Texas A&M University	OH	So.
1st	Maddie	Waak	Texas A&M University	S	Sr.
HM	Jade	Defraeye	Texas State University	MB	Sr.
HM	Torrance	Lovesee	University of Texas at El Paso	OH	Sr.
HM	Morgan	Perkins	Texas A&M University	MB	Sr.
HM	Taylor	Preston	Rice University	OH	Sr.
HM	Sara	Pustahija	University of Texas at El Paso	OH	Sr.
HM	Alice	Volpe	TCU	L	So.

Player of the Year: Torrey Stafford, University of Texas, OH, Jr.
Freshman of the Year: Cari Spears, University of Texas, RS
Coach of the Year: Sam Erger, Southern Methodist University

WEST REGION


Team	First	Last	School	Pos.	Year
1st	Rebekah	Allick	University of Nebraska	MB	Sr.
1st	Tierney	Barlow	Utah State University	MB	Sr.
1st	Ana	Burilovic	University of Colorado	OH	Jr.
1st	Laney	Choboy	University of Nebraska	L	Jr.
1st	Suli	Davis	Brigham Young University	OH	Fr.
1st	Kamryn	Gibadlo	University of Utah	OH	Jr.
1st	Andi	Jackson	University of Nebraska	MB	Jr.
1st	Brielle	Kemavor	Brigham Young University	MB	Jr.
1st	Kaylie	Kofe	Utah State University	S	So.
1st	Annalea	Maeder	Creighton University	S	Sr.
1st	Ava	Martin	Creighton University	OH	Sr.
1st	Harper	Murray	University of Nebraska	OH	Jr.
1st	Bergen	Reilly	University of Nebraska	S	Jr.
1st	Kiara	Reinhardt	Creighton University	MB	Sr.
HM	Virginia	Adriano	University of Nebraska	RS	Fr.
HM	Alex	Bower	Brigham Young University	S	So.
HM	Loryn	Helgesen	Utah State University	RS	So.
HM	Taylor	Landfair	University of Nebraska	OH	Sr.
HM	Claire	Little Chambers	Brigham Young University	OH	Jr.
HM	Avery	Page	Utah Valley University	OH	Sr.

Player of the Year: Bergen Reilly, University of Nebraska, S, Jr.
Freshman of the Year: Suli Davis, Brigham Young University, OH
Coach of the Year: Dani Busboom Kelly, University of Nebraska

2025 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 Kansas City on Dec. 18, at the 2025 AVCA Convention.

CENTRAL REGION COACH OF THE YEAR

Bobbi Petersen, University of Northern Iowa
2025 Record (as of Dec. 9): 26-6
Petersen was named the Missouri Valley Coach of the Year for a conference-record, fourth-straight season. She helped UNI win 20 or more matches for the 22nd time in her 26-year career, and the squad gave her a 13th MVC regular-season championship and a third-consecutive undefeated conference season.

EAST COAST REGION COACH OF THE YEAR

Dan Fisher, University of Pittsburgh
2025 Record (as of Dec. 9): 28-4
Pittsburgh has been a force again this season under Fisher, who is in his 13th season on the sidelines for the Panthers. Fisher guided his 2025 squad to the school's fourth-straight ACC title, and they are 28-4 heading into the regional round of this year's NCAA Championship. He picked up his 400th win as a head collegiate coach in early September.

MIDWEST REGION COACH OF THE YEAR

Dave Shondell, Purdue University
2025 Record (as of Dec. 9): 26-6
The 24-year coaching veteran is enjoying another very successful season. In addition to notching career coaching win No. 500, he weathered losing a number of key transfers and kept Purdue playing at an elite level in 2025. Among his squad's many accomplishments, they have recorded nine wins over ranked teams so far this season.

NORTH REGION COACH OF THE YEAR

Kelly Sheffield, University of Wisconsin
2025 Record (as of Dec. 9): 26-4
Another year, another stellar season for Sheffield and the Badgers. The veteran coach's team is finding its stride at the right time, as they rolled through the early rounds of the 2025 NCAA Championship with a pair of sweeps and head into this week's regional on an 11-match win streak. Early this season, he earned his 600th career coaching victory.

NORTHWEST REGION COACH OF THE YEAR

Keegan Cook, University of Minnesota
2025 Record (as of Dec. 9): 24-9
Cook has done a lot of impressive things in his career, but the fact that his team is in the Sweet 16 of the 2025 NCAA Championship is remarkable. His Gophers, who began the season ranked 12th, lost four starters to season-ending injuries early in the year. The team persevered, stayed in the poll all season, and got sixth in the Big Ten.

PACIFIC REGION COACH OF THE YEAR

Kevin Hambly, Stanford University
2025 Record (as of Dec. 9): 29-4
Despite losing a number of key players from last season, Hambly and the Cardinal have enjoyed a very successful campaign so far in 2025. His ninth season at Stanford included an Atlantic Coast Conference title and another NCAA Championship Sweet Sixteen appearance. Late this season, he earned his 400th career coaching victory.

SOUTH REGION COACH OF THE YEAR

Craig Skinner, University of Kentucky
2025 Record (as of Dec. 9): 27-2
Skinner more than earned his second-consecutive Region Coach of the Year award, as his team has taken no prisoners in 2025. They enter the Sweet 16 on a 24-match winning streak and ran the table in the Southeastern Conference, earning both the regular-season title—the school's ninth in a row—and SEC Tournament championship.

SOUTHEAST REGION COACH OF THE YEAR

Heather Gearhart, Winthrop University
2025 Record (as of Dec. 9): 18-7
Gearhart made her third season as the head coach at Winthrop a memorable one. She helped the Eagles take home the 2025 Big South Conference regular-season title, after they went 12-2 in league play and closed the regular-season with a 10-match winning streak. The team had five players on the 2025 All-Big South teams.

SOUTHWEST REGION COACH OF THE YEAR

Sam Erger, Southern Methodist University
2025 Record (as of Dec. 9): 27-5
Erger and the Mustangs have solidified their place in the upper echelon of Division I volleyball in 2025. The fourth-year SMU coach has her team is in the Sweet Sixteen for the first time in program history. In the NCAA Championship second-round sweep of Florida over the weekend, she picked up her 100th career win at SMU.

WEST REGION COACH OF THE YEAR

Dani Busboom Kelly, University of Nebraska
2025 Record (as of Dec. 9): 32-0
Replacing a legend is never easy, but Busboom Kelly has proven that she's up to the challenge in her first year as head coach at Nebraska. Her 2025 team has made history with a 30-0 regular-season record and 20-0 mark in Big Ten play. How dominant have the Huskers been? They enter the Sweet 16 having dropped only seven sets this season.