Five Longhorns earn AVCA All-America honors

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. – No. 2 Texas Volleyball placed five players on the 2014 American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) All-America teams, the organization announced on Wednesday.

Senior Haley Eckerman and sophomore Chiaka Ogbogu garnered first-team honors, senior Khat Bell earned second-team honors, junior Molly McCage was named to the third team and junior Amy Neal received honorable mention recognition.

This marks the 12th-straight season that UT has secured at least two players on All-America teams, fourth-straight with three or more and third-straight with four or more.

To date, Texas has 40 players named All-American, earning a total of 70 All-America honors.

With her first-team selection, Eckerman becomes the 26^th player in AVCA history to earn the award four times and the first player in Texas Volleyball history to earn AVCA First-Team All-America honors three times. She is also just the third player in school history to earn a total of four All-America honors, joining Demetria Sance (1995-98) and Destinee Hooker (2006-09)

As a freshman in 2011, Eckerman was named to the AVCA Second Team en route to earning National Freshman of the Year honors.

It marks Bell's third honor after earning honorable mention honors in 2012 and 2013.

For McCage and Ogbogu, it is their second honor. McCage was named All-America honorable mention, while Ogbogu was named to the second team in 2013.

It is Neal's first All-America honor.

Each of the three AVCA All-America Teams are comprised of 14 athletes. The Division I AVCA National Player of the Year will be announced on Dec. 19 at the AVCA All-America/Players of the Year Banquet presented by Northwestern Mutual.

2014 AVCA Division I First-Team All-America

First Name	Last Name	School	Position	Year
Inky	Ajanaku*	Stanford University	MB	Jr.
Madi	Bugg^	Stanford University	S	Jr.
Jordan	Burgess	Stanford University	OH	Jr.
Lauren	Carlini^	University of Wisconsin	S	So.
Haley	Eckerman!$*	University of Texas	OH	Sr.
Nia	Grant	Penn State University	MB	Sr.
Jennifer	Hamson$	Brigham Young University	RS	Sr.
Micha	Hancock$*	Penn State University	S	Sr.
Briana	Holman	Louisiana State University	MB	So.
Alex	Holston	University of Florida	RS	So.
Karsta	Lowe	UCLA	OH	Sr.
Chiaka	Ogbogu^	University of Texas	MB	So.
Taylor	Simpson	University of Colorado	OH	Sr.
Krista	Vansant@*	University of Washington	OH	Sr.

2014 AVCA Division I Second-Team All-America

First Name	Last Name	School	Position	Year
Rhamat	Alhassan	University of Florida	MB	Fr.
Khat	Bell	University of Texas	MB	Sr.
Morgan	Bergren	University of Kentucky	S	Jr.
Jocelynn	Birks#	University of Illinois	OH	RS Jr.
Samantha	Bricio^	University of Southern California	OH	Jr.
Ali	Frantti	Penn State University	OH	Fr.
Alexa	Gray#	Brigham Young University	OH	Jr.
Savanah	Leaf	University of Miami	OH	Sr.
Merete	Lutz	Stanford University	MB	RS Fr.
Taylor	Morey	University of Wisconsin	L	Jr.
Chaniel	Nelson	University of North Carolina	RS	RS Sr.
Courtney	Thomas	University of Wisconsin	RS	Sr.
Nicole	Walch	Florida State University	OH	Jr.
Aiyana	Whitney	Penn State University	RS	RS Jr.

2014 AVCA Division I Third-Team All-America

First Name	Last Name	School	Position	Year
Martenne	Bettendorf	University of Oregon	RS	Jr.
Kelli	Browning	Creighton University	MB	Sr.
Mackenzie	Dagostino	University of Florida	S	Jr.
Deedra	Foss	Colorado State University	S	Sr.
Macey	Gardner	Arizona State University	OH	Jr.
Madi	Kingdon	University of Arizona	OH	Sr.
Mary-Kate	Marshall	Oregon State University	OH	Fr.
Molly	McCage	University of Texas	MB	Jr.
Kaleigh	Nelson#	University of Washington	RS	Sr.
Caitlin	Nolan	Iowa State University	L	Jr.
Krystal	Rivers	University of Alabama	RS	RS So.
Kadie	Rolfzen#	University of Nebraska	OH	So.
Lianna	Sybeldon	University of Washington	MB	Jr.
Paige	Tapp	University of Minnesota	MB	So.

2014 Division I AVCA Freshman of the Year: Ali Frantti, Penn State, OH
2014 Division I AVCA Player of the Year: To be announced at the AVCA All-America/Players of the Year Banquet on Friday, December 19th.

AVCA Division I Honorable Mention All-America

First Name	Last Name	School	Position	Year
Avery	Acker	SMU	S	Jr.
Stephanie	Aiple	Texas A&M University	S	Fr.
Chelsea	Albers	University of Kansas	RS	Sr.
Kaye	Alese Green	UCF	MB	RS Sr.
Jordan	Anderson	West Virginia University	OH	So.
Simone	Antwi	University of Florida	MB	Jr.
Nikki	Attea	West Virginia University	RS	Jr.
Jazzmin	Babers	Texas A&M University	MB	So.
Autumn	Bailey	Marquette University	OH	So.
Edina	Begic	UALR	OH	Sr.
Savannah	Blinn	Gonzaga University	OH	RS Jr.
Dajana	Boskovic	UTSA	OH	So.
Amy	Boswell	Brigham Young University	MB	So.
Morgan	Boukather	Stanford University	RS	Sr.
Katie	Brand	Kansas State University	S	RS So.
Kia	Bright	UCF	OH	So.
Brianna	Brink	Texas A&M-Corpus Christi	OH	Sr.
Sarah	Burrington	Florida State University	MB	RS So.
Elizabeth	Campbell	Ohio State University	OH	Jr.
Alyssa	Cavanaugh	Western Kentucky University	OH	Fr.
Nakeyta	Clair	Ole Miss	MB	Jr.
Tess	Clark	University of Louisville	MB	Fr.
Abby	Cole	University of Michigan	MB	So.
Adrianna	Culbert	Colorado State University	RS	Jr.
Julia	Doyle	University of Oklahoma	S	Jr.
Annie	Drews	Purdue University	RS	Jr.
Katie	Dutchman	Northwestern University	MB	RS Sr.
Kaitlyn	Early	Illinois State University	S	Sr.
Kelsey	Fien	University of Nebraska	OH	Jr.
Lauren	Ford	Lipscomb University	OH	Sr.
Tessa	Fournier	Seton Hall University	L	So.
Katie	George	University of Louisville	S	Jr.
Kyle	Gilbert	Stanford University	L	Sr.
Abby	Gilleland	Ohio University	S	Jr.
Ashton	Gregory	Furman University	MB	So.
Isolde	Hannan	University of Dayton	MB	Sr.
Payton	Harris	Mississippi State University	L	Fr.
Ainise	Havili	University of Kansas	S	Fr.
Meredith	Hays	University of Arkansas	OH	Sr.
Marion	Hazelwood	University of Oklahoma	MB	Fr.
Kaitlyn	Hickey	IUPUI	OH	Jr.
Casey	Hinger	CSUN	MB	Sr.
Kierra	Holst	University of Oklahoma	OH	Jr.
Katie	Horton	Florida State University	OH	So.
Gillian	Howard	University of the Pacific	MB	Sr.
Jillian	Humphrey	Rice University	MB	Sr.
Kat	Hutson	University of Alabama	OH	Fr.
Lily	Johnson	Missouri State University	OH	Fr.
Carly	Kan	University of Missouri	OH	So.
Jaelyn	Keene	Illinois State University	MB	Fr.
Litara	Keil	Loyola Marymount University	MB	Sr.
Kendall	Kritenbrink	University of South Dakota	OH	Sr.
Kadi	Kullerkann	University of Houston	OH/RS	RS Jr.
Abbie	Lehman	Wichita State University	MB	RS Fr.
Arielle	Love	Duquesne University	MB	Sr.
Jessica	Lucas	Western Kentucky University	S	Fr.
Bre	Mackie	Long Beach State University	RS	Sr.
Olivia	Magill	University of Hawai'i	MB	Jr.
Shelbey	Manthorpe	Seton Hall University	S	Sr.
Liz	McMahon	University of Illinois	RS	Sr.
Victoria	McPherson	University of North Carolina	MB	Jr.
Rachel	Minarick	Michigan State University	S	Fr.
Katie	Mosher	Florida State University	L	RS Sr.
Kori	Moster	Michigan State University	L	Sr.
Jackie	Napper	University of Kentucky	L	Sr.
Amy	Neal	University of Texas	OH	Jr.
Haleigh	Nelson	University of Wisconsin	MB	So.
Paige	Neuenfeldt	University of North Carolina	MB	Jr
Val	Nichol	Purdue University	S/RS	Sr.
Lauren	O'Conner	University of Kentucky	OH	Sr.
Jeme	Obeime	Duke University	OH	Sr.
Belle	Obert	Butler University	OH	Sr.
Chisom	Okpala	Long Beach State University	MB	Sr.
Amanda	Orchard	University of Pittsburgh	MB	Jr.
Emily	Orrick	Illinois State University	L	Sr.
Chidima	Osuchukwu	George Washington Univ.	MB	So.
Mary	Pollmiller	University of Nebraska	S	Sr.
Chloe	Reinig	Michigan State University	OH	So.
Chantale	Riddle	University of New Mexico	RS	RS Sr.
Mackenzie	Roddy	Northern Illinois University	OH	Sr.
Mollie	Rogers	Yale University	OH	Sr.
Taylor	Sandbothe	Ohio State University	MB	So.
Daly	Santana	University of Minnesota	OH	Jr.
DeLaina	Sarden	UCF	MB	Sr.
Markie	Schaedig	Arkansas State University	L	So.
Heather	Schnars	University of Central Arkansas	OH	Jr.
Lillian	Schonewise	University of California, Berkley	MB	RS Jr.
Briana	Sharratt	UT Arlington	MB	So.
Taylor	Sherwin	Ohio State University	S	Sr.
Emani	Sims	University of Miami	MB	RS Sr.
Emily	Sklar	Duke University	OH	Jr.
Monika	Smidova	American University	S	Jr.
Aubree	Smith	Xavier University	S	Sr.
Penina	Snuka	University of Arizona	S	So.
Emily	Spencer	IPFW	OH	Sr.
Vendula	Strakova	Hampton University	RS	Sr.
Shelby	Sullivan	Texas A&M University	MB	Jr.
Ece	Taner	University of North Carolina	L	Sr.
Hannah	Tedrow	Loyola Marymount University	S	Jr.
Anni	Thomasson	University of Kentucky	OH	So.
Dominique	Thompson	University of Wisconsin	MB	RS Sr.
Alaina	Turner	University of Dayton	OH	Jr.
Jessica	Waldrip	UTSA	S	So.
Taylor	Whittingham	University of Southern California	L	So.
Kelsey	Williams	Duke University	S	Sr.
Kelsie	Wills	Hofstra University	OH	Sr.
Sierra	Wilson	University of Alabama	S	Jr.
Caroline	Young	SMU	OH	Sr.
Kylee	Zumach	Kansas State University	OH	Fr.

AVCA First-Team All-America

Inky Ajanaku, Stanford, MB
Stats: 3.52 K/S, .438 hitting percentage, 1.16 B/S
Two-time AVCA First-Team All-American (2013)…Alongside two teammates become the 47^th, 48^th and 49^th Stanford players to earn AVCA First-Team All-American honors….Eight more than Nebraska for most all-time in Division I.

Madi Bugg, Stanford, S
Stats: 12.11 A/S, .316 team hitting percentage, 2.79 D/S, 0.55 B/S
Two-time AVCA All-American (second team in 2013)…Alongside two teammates become the 47^th, 48^th and 49^th Stanford players to earn AVCA First-Team All-American honors.

Jorgan Burgess, Stanford, OH
Stats: 3.10 K/S, .268 hitting percentage, 3.16 D/S
First-time AVCA All-American…21^st different Stanford player (including Bugg) to earn AVCA First-Team All-American honors.

Lauren Carlini, Wisconsin, S
Stats: 11.23 K/S, .275 team hitting percentage, 3.03 D/S, 0.70 B/S
Two-time AVCA All-American (second team in 2013)…Fourth player in Badgers history to earn multiple AVCA All-American honors…Wisconsin's first First-Team All-American since Sherisa Livingston in 2001.

Haley Eckerman, Texas, OH
Stats: 3.21 K/S, .262 hitting percentage, 1.22 D/S
Four-time AVCA All-American (second team in 2011, first team in 2012 and 2013)…26^th player in AVCA Division I history to be a four-time AVCA All-American…Second in Texas history (Demetria Sance from 1995-1998).

Nia Grant, Penn State, MB
Stats: 2.34 K/S, .442 hitting percentage, 1.11 B/S
First-Time AVCA All-American…19^th player in program history to earn AVCA First-Team All-American honors.

Jennifer Hamson, BYU, RS
Stats: 3.75 K/S, .329 hitting percentage, 1.46 D/S, 1.35 B/S
Two-time AVCA All-American (First Team in 2012)…Took last year off to focus on BYU's basketball team…Second player in program history to earn multiple AVCA First-Team All-American honors.

Micha Hancock, Penn State, S
Stats: 11.53 A/S, 1.16 K/S, .399 hitting percentage, .348 team hitting percentage
Three-time AVCA First-Team All-American (2012, 2013)…Alongside fellow first-teamer Haley Eckerman, become the 28^th and 29^th players in AVCA Division I history to earn First-Team honors three times…Deja McClendon, Bonnie Bremner, Blair Brown, Nicole Fawcett, Megan Hodge are the other Nittany Lions to accomplish the same feat.

Briana Holman, LSU, MB
Stats: 3.94 K/S, .383 hitting percentage, 1.47 B/S
First-time AVCA All-American…Sixth ever player from LSU to earn AVCA All-American honors, and the first since 2009 (Britnee Cooper).

Alex Holston, Florida, RS
Stats: 3.83 K/S, .350 hitting percentage, 0.73 B/S
First-time AVCA All-American…10^th different player in program history earn AVCA First-Team All-American.

Karsta Lowe, UCLA, OH
Stats: 5.96 K/S, .304 hitting percentage, 2.04 D/S, 0.66 B/S
First-time AVCA All-American…28^th different player in UCLA history to earn AVCA All-American honors…18^th different player to make earn First-Team honors.

Chiaka Ogbogu, Texas, MB
Stats: 2.02 K/S, .416 hitting percentage, 1.32 B/S
Two-time AVCA All-American (second team in 2013)…15^th different player in Longhorns history to earn AVCA First-Team honors.

Taylor Simpson, Colorado, OH
Stats: 4.65 K/S, .398 hitting percentage, 2.71 D/S, 0.57 B/S
First-time AVCA All-American…Second every AVCA All-American in program history (Ashley Nu'u, Third-Team in 2006).

Krista Vansant, Washington, OH
Stats: 4.67 K/S, .320 hitting percentage, 2.59 D/S, 0.71 B/S
Three-time AVCA All-American (second team in 2012 and first team in 2013)…Fifth player in program history to be a three-time AVCA All-American honoree.

AVCA Second-Team All-America

Rhamat Alhassan, Florida, MB
Stats: 2.66 K/S, .458 hitting percentage, 1.32 B/S
First-time AVCA All-American…Alongside teammates Alex Holston and Mackenzie Dagostino become the 21st, 22^nd and 23^rd players to earn AVCA All-American accolades while a Florida Gator.

Khat Bell, Texas, MB
Stats: 2.38 K/S, .300 hitting percentage, 0.95 B/S
First-time AVCA All-American…26^th player in Longhorns history to earn AVCA All-American honors…Third team All-American and teammate Molly MCage marks the 27^th.

Morgan Bergren, Kentucky, S
Stats: 10.94 A/S, .272 team hitting percentage, 1.81 D/S, 0.77 B/S
First-time AVCA All-American…Ninth player in UK history to earn AVCA All-American honors.

Jocelynn Birks, Illinois, OH
Stats: 4.05 K/S, .233 hitting percentage, 2.59 D/S, 0.64 B/S
Two-time AVCA All-American (third team in 2013)…Sixth player in Illinois history to earn AVCA All-American honors multiple times.

Samantha Bricio, Southern California, OH
Stats: 4.28 K/S, .257 hitting percentage, 0.70 Aces/S, 2.88 D/S
Two-time AVCA Second-Team All-American (2012)...This is the school's 19^th AVCA Second-Team All-America certificate.

Ali Frantti, Penn State, OH
Stats: 3.21 K/S, .313 hitting percentage, 1.31 D/S
First-time AVCA All-American.

Alexa Gray, BYU, OH
Stats: 3.63 K/S, .288 hitting percentage, 0.81 B/S
Two-time AVCA All-American (third team in 2013)…Alongside teammate Jen Hamson, become the 10^th and 11^th players in program history to earn AVCA All-American honors multiple times.

Savanah Leaf, Miami, OH
Stats: 4.65 K/S, .312 hitting percentage, 2.46 D/S, 0.77 B/S
First-time AVCA All-American…Third AVCA All-American in program history (Lane Carico in 2011 and 2012, Emani Sims in 2012).

Merete Lutz, Stanford, MB
Stats: 2.53 K/S, .445 hitting percentage, 1.21 B/S
First-time AVCA All-American…Stanford is tied for most AVCA All-Americans in this year's class with Penn State and Texas (4).

Taylor Morey, Wisconsin, L
Stats: 5.12 D/S, .969 reception percentage
First-time AVCA All-American…Alongside teammate Courtney Thomas, become the 16^th and 17^th Wisconsin players to earn AVCA All-American honors.

Chaniel Nelson, North Carolina, RS
Stats: 2.93 K/S, .300 hitting percentage, 1.04 B/S
First-time AVCA All-American…She is the second UNC player ever to earn AVCA All-American honors (Laura Greene, 2002).

Courtney Thomas, Wisconsin, RS
Stats: 2.84 K/S, .338 hitting percentage, 2.19 D/S, 0.76 B/S
First-time AVCA All-American…Alongside teammate Taylor Morey, become the 16^th and 17^th Wisconsin players to earn AVCA All-American honors.

Nicole Walsh, Florida State, OH
Stats: 3.93 K/S, .267 hitting percentage, 2.50 D/S
First-time AVCA All-American. Fourth AVCA All-American in Seminoles history.

Aiyana Whitney, Penn State, RS
Stats: 2.95 K/S, .364 hitting percentage, 0.81 B/S
First-time AVCA All-American…Penn State is tied for most AVCA All-Americans in this year's class with Stanford and Texas (4).

AVCA Third-Team All-America

Martenne Bettendorf, Oregon, RS
Stats: 3.52 K/S, .309 hitting percentage, 0.73 B/S
First-time AVCA All-American…Becomes eighth player in Ducks history to earn AVCA All-American accolades.

Kelli Browning, Creighton, MB
Stats: 3.15 K/S, .339 hitting percentage, 1.41 B/S
First-time AVCA All-American…First ever player in Creighton history to earn AVCA All-American honors.

Mackenzie Dagostino, Florida, S
Stats: 11.50 A/S, .319 team hitting percentage, 1.94 D/S
First-time AVCA All-American…Alongside teammates Alex Holston and Rhamat Alhassan become the 21st, 22^nd and 23^rd players to earn AVCA All-American accolades while a Florida Gator.

Deedra Foss, Colorado State, S
Stats: 11.65 K/S, .280 team hitting percentage, 1.99 D/S, 0.73 B/S
First-time AVCA All-American…12^th player in Rams history to earn AVCA All-America honors.

Macey Gardner, Arizona State, OH
Stats: 4.34 K/S, 2.65 D/S, 4.89 Pts/S
First-time AVCA All-American...First Sun Devil to be named All-American since Amanda Burbridge in 2000 (Second-Team)…Gardner is the sixth overall.

Madi Kingdon, Arizona, OH
Stats: 5.33 K/S, 3.54 D/S,
First-time AVCA All-American…Eighth overall All-American in Wildcats history, with the most recent coming in 2005.

Mary-Kate Marshall, Oregon State, OH
Stats: 4.22 K/S, 2.39 D/S
First-time AVCA All-American…Second Beaver to earn AVCA All-American honors (Rachel Rourke, second team in 2009).

Molly McCage, Texas, MB
Stats: .334 hitting percentage, 1.38 B/S
First-time AVCA-American…Alongside teammate Khat Bell, mark the 26^th and 27^th Longhorns to earn AVCA All-American honors.

Kaleigh Nelson, Washington, RS
Stats: 2.42 K/S, .339 hitting percentage, 0.87 B/S
Two-time AVCA Third-Team All-American…11^th player in Huskies history to earn multiple AVCA All-American honors.

Caitlin Nolan, Iowa State University, L
Stats: 5.74 D/S, .967 reception percentage
First-time AVCA All-American…The seventh player in Iowa State history to earn AVCA All-American honors.

Krystal Rivers, Alabama, RS
Stats: 4.19 K/S, .292 hitting percentage, 1.99 D/S, 0.71 B/S
First-time AVCA All-American…Alabama's first ever AVCA All-American.

Kadie Rolfzen, Nebraska, OH
Stats: 3.55 K/S, .244 hitting percentage, 2.77 D/S, 0.64 B/S
Two-time AVCA Third-Team All-American…The 27^th player in Huskers history to earn multiple AVCA All-American honors.

Lianna Sybeldon, Washington, MB
Stats: 1.76 K/S, .392 hitting percentage, 1.55 B/S
First-time AVCA All-American…The 19^th different player to in UW history to earn AVCA All-American honors.

Paige Tapp, Minnesota, MB
Stats: 2.02 K/S, .354 hitting percentage, 1.55 B/S
First-time AVCA All-American…The 15^th player in Minnesota history to earn AVCA All-American honors.

The University of Texas at Austin Athletics

Related News

Players Mentioned

Molly McCage

Chiaka Ogbogu