SEWARD, Neb. – Concordia University volleyball standouts Jocelyn Garcia and Alayna Kavanaugh picked up additional postseason honors on Thursday. The Omaha World-Herald placed both on its NAIA All-Nebraska volleyball team. The news outlet also named Annie Friesen and Claire White as honorable mention choices.
Kavanagh, a junior from Roca, Neb., is a two-time first team all-conference pick. The star setter has dished out a total of 1,296 assists this year (second best in the GPAC) while averaging 10.8 assists per set. Kavanagh quarterbacked a Bulldog attack that put together a season .226 hitting percentage. The Lincoln Christian High School product also recorded 113 kills, 245 digs and 22 aces. Kavanaugh was named the GPAC setter of the week four times this season and collected NAIA West Central Region and All-America honorable mention accolades in 2015.
Garcia, a sophomore from Brighton, Colo., received her first all-conference selection this year. The NAIA AVCA West Central Region Libero of the Year averaged 4.51 digs per set and amassed 559 total digs. The honorable mention All-American recorded 54 service aces and was named the GPAC defensive player of the week three times this season.
Friesen received first team all-conference laurels during a sophomore season in which she hit .374. Meanwhile, White surpassed a 1,000 career kills and garnered second team all-conference recognition in her final collegiate season.
The 2015 season saw head coach Scott Mattera’s program reach the national tournament for the first time ever. The Bulldogs finished the campaign with an overall mark of 26-9.
NAIA All-Nebraska Volleyball
H: Priscilla O’Dowd, Midland, Fr.
H: Katie Placke, Hastings, So.
H: Ashlee Harms, Midland, Sr.
H: Logan Drueppel, Hastings, Jr.
S: Beth Walker, Bellevue, Sr.
S: Jessica Peters, Midland, Fr.
S: Alayna Kavanaugh, Concordia, Jr.
L: Jocelyn Garcia, Concordia, So.
L: Shannon Liewer, Peru State, Sr.
Honorary captain: Jessica Peters, Midland University
Honorable mention: Taylor Holz, Shayla Scanlan, Rachel Wald, Bellevue; Mallory Babic, Cassidy Yong, Bailee Gofta, College of St. Mary; Annie Friesen, Claire White, Concordia; Breanna Fye, Haley Norvell, Shelbi Mlynczak, Doane; Chloe Corbett, Grace; Jill Bax, Sage Meyer, Hastings; KC Heimann, Midland; Malory Dahl, Kennedy Hegert, Nebraska Wesleyan; Nadja Janjevic, Rian Kirby, Jhessica Martins, Brooke Rudebusch, Peru State; Melanie Baxa, Nicole Gates, Kelsey Taylor, York.