18 from Pac-12 named to AVCA Region Volleyball Teams
SAN FRANCISCO - A combined 18 Pac-12 volleyball players were named to the AVCA Pacific North and Pacific South Regional teams, the American Volleyball Coaches Association announced on Tuesday. STANFORD’s Kathryn Plummer was tabbed the Pacific North Region Freshman of the Year.
The Pac-12 Freshman of the Year and a member of the All-Pac-12 team, Plummer is the seventh Cardinal to ever be named the region freshman of the year. Plummer ranks eighth in the Conference in kills (3.31) and points per set (3.97), leading the Cardinal to the NCAA Tournament’s regional semifinal.
The Pacific North team includes 10 players from the Pac-12 of the 14 named. STANFORD Inky Ajanaku makes her fourth appearance on the all-region squad, while teammate Merete Lutz was named to the squad for the third time. OREGON STATE’s Mary-Kate Marshall makes her second appearance on the Pacific North Team.
Joining the trio on the All-Pacific North squad are OREGON’s Amanda Benson and Lindsey Vander Weide, WASHINGTON STATE’s Kyra Holt, WASHINGTON’s Crissy Jones, Pac-12 Player of the Year Courtney Schwan and Bailey Tanner. Earning honorable mention status are the Ducks’ Taylor Agost and the Cardinal’s Audrianna Fitzmorris.
Eight Pac-12 players were named to the 14-member Pacific South squad, including UTAH’s Adora Anae, UCLA’s Taylor Formico, Jennie Frager and Torrey Van Winden, USC’s Khalia Lanier and Elise Ruddins, and ARIZONA’s Kalei Mau and Penina Snuka. A two-time Pac-12 Libero of the Year, Formico was named to the squad for the second time, as was Snuka. On the honorable mention list are Bruins’ Jordan Anderson and Reily Buechler, and COLORADO’s Gabby Simpson.
Four of the eight Pac-12 teams that earned NCAA Tournament berths are still alive in the postseason, with sixth-seeded Stanford, eighth-seeded Washington, 10th-seeded UCLA and Arizona preparing for the regional semifinal which takes place on Friday. For a full NCAA Tournament bracket, visit ncaa.com. For the full list of AVCA region teams, visit avca.org.