Akopova Named AVCA National Player of the Year; 14 SSC Players Recognized as All-Americans
Akopova becomes the third SSC player named National Player of the Year
By: Phil Wood | Sunshine State Conference
MELBOURNE, Fla. - Fourteen Sunshine State Conference volleyball athletes earn AVCA All-America honors, and Diana Akopova of Barry University has been named the National Player of the Year. The SSC's 14 awards from the AVCA stand as the most in conference history.
In her first season with the Buccaneers, Akopova leads all of Division II in kills (634), kills per set (5.66), points (710.5), and points per set (6.34). She is the third SSC player named National Player of the Year, joining Berkley Whaley (2014) and Danielle Selkridge (2012) of the University of Tampa.
Full Listing: AVCA All-Americans from the SSC
Akopova is joined on the All-America First Team by Kalli Cors of Tampa and Emily Edwards of Lynn University. Tampa's Claudia Rivera earns a spot on the All-America Second Team for the second consecutive season. She is joined on the Second Team by Barry's Marija Borcic. Lynn's Nadia Lindner earns Third Team honors after being an Honorable Mention last season.
2022 AVCA All-Americans from the SSC
Bios courtesy of the AVCA
First Team: Diana Akopova, Barry, OH, So.
Stats: 6.35 P/S, 635 Kills, 5.67 K/S, .292 Hitting %, 85 Blocks
As if things couldn't get any better! Akopova, who leads the nation in kills, kills per set, points, and points per set, took things up a notch in the 2022 South Regional. On the way to helping 28-5 Barry reach the NCAA quarterfinals, the sophomore had 95 kills in 13 sets and averaged 8.0 points per set in the Buccaneers' three regional victories.
First Team: Kalli Cors, Tampa, OH, So.
Stats: 3.8 P/S, 347 Kills, 3.07 K/S, 187 Digs
Cors was part of a potent offense that played a key role in the Spartans going 29-4 this season. The sophomore led the team in points and kills and, late in the regular season, had a five-game stretch when she recorded 68 kills and averaged 4.2 points per set.
First Team: Emily Edwards, Lynn, S, Jr.
Stats: 1,140 Assists, 10.96 A/S, 64 Blocks, 1.25 D/S
Edwards guided a Lynn offense that ranks 10th in the nation in assists per set and 11th in kills per set. Individually, the senior setter stands 14th in Division II in assists-per-set average (10.96), and her 1,140 assists place her seventh on the Fighting Knights' single-season assists list.
Second Team: Marija Borcic, Barry, S, Sr.
Stats: 1,216 Assists, 10.67 A/S, 43 Aces, .264 Team Hitting %
Borcic was an excellent addition to the Buccaneers' roster in her super senior season. The setter topped 40 assists in 14 matches this season and she stands in the top 25 in assists and assists per set. Under her guidance, Barry advanced to the Elite Eight by sweeping defending champ Tampa in the South Region final.
Second Team: Claudia Rivera, Tampa, L, Sr.
Stats: 570 Digs, 5.09 D/S, 114 Assists, .150 Opponent Hitting %
Rivera enjoyed a strong senior season for Coach Chris Catanach's Spartans. The anchor of the team's stingy defense, which held opponents to a .150 hitting percentage, she ranks in the top 35 in across Division II this season in both digs and dig-per-set average.
Third Team: Nadia Lindner, Lynn, OH, Jr.
Stats: 3.91 P/S, 361 Kills, 3.41 K/S, 269 Digs
Lindner picks up her second AVCA All-America honor, as she was an honorable mention pick a year ago. She was in the top five in the Sunshine State Conference in kills per set (3.41), points per set (3.91), and total kills (361) and led Lynn in double-doubles with 11.
Honorable Mention:
OH - Paige Barash, Lynn (Jr.)
MB - Mackenzie Dufresne, Tampa (Jr.)
S - Krysten Garrison, Eckerd (Sr.)
MB - Anna Jungjohann, Eckerd (Jr.)
MB - Monica Mazzoleni, Lynn (Jr.)
OH - Djuly Schmorantz, Barry (Sr.)
OH - Tess Schrenger, Tampa (Fr.)
RS - Taylor Stockman, Nova Southeastern (Fr.)