On Friday, Dec. 20, between the very exciting semifinal matches on Thursday night and Saturday’s championship match, the AVCA hosted their annual All-America Banquet in the ballroom of the Seattle Sheraton. Like a fashion show, the honored players were introduced and paraded across the stage, for once missing their spandex and volleyball shoes, and recognized for their exceptional performances throughout the 2013 season.
The AVCA announced the first, second, and third teams a few days before the event but revealed Krista Vansant of the University of Washington as the National Player of the Year at the banquet. The junior outside hitter thanked her family, coaches, and teammates, leaning casually on the podium.
Ebony Nwanebu received the AVCA Freshman of the Year award, and Kerri Walsh Jennings and national team setter Courtney Thompson made appearances to help hand out awards and interview honorees for the crowd’s entertainment.
Division II, III, NJCAA, and NAIA National Players of the Year were also recognized (Kate Lange, Megan Rietema, Annie Mitchem, and Danika Markovich, respectively).
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AVCA First Team All-Americans
(Name | School | Year | Position)
Inky Ajanaku | Stanford | So. | MB
Tori Dixon | Minnesota | Sr. |MB
Haley Eckerman | Texas | Jr. | OH
Natalie Hagglund | USC | Sr. | L
Micha Hancock | Penn State | Jr. | S
Emily Hartong | Hawai’i | Sr. | OH
Lisa Henning | Missouri | Sr. | OH
Molly Kreklow | Missouri | Sr. | S
Chloe Mann | Florida | Sr. | MB
Ebony Nwanebu | USC | Fr. | OH
Kelsey Robinson | Nebraska | Sr. | OH
Ariel Scott | Penn State | Sr. | Opp.
Krista Vansant | Washington | Jr. | OH
Carly Wopat | Stanford | Sr. | MB
Keep an eye out for VBM‘s All-American lists in the February issue or online next week.
