White earns AVCA and Tachikara-NAIA Honorable Mention All-America
SEWARD, Neb. – Named to the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) West Central All-Region team last week, Concordia University junior Claire White was elevated to AVCA and Tachikara-NAIA Honorable Mention All-America status on Monday. White is one of 94 players in the NAIA to be placed on the first, second, third or honorable mention teams.
The native of Exeter, Neb., claimed first team all-conference honors in 2014 after posting 375 kills, 55 aces, 282 digs and 33 blocks while passing serve receive at a 93.6 percent clip over 118 sets. White has 714 kills over two seasons at Concordia and 729 in three collegiate seasons. She also has 584 digs in her two years as a Bulldog since transferring from NCAA Division II Washburn University.
In leading Concordia to a 20-12 overall record, White posted 13 matches with a double-double in kills and digs. Her 20-kill performance on Sept. 5 powered a four-set win over No. 14 Oklahoma Baptist, marking the program’s first victory over a ranked opponent in seven years. White equaled a career high with 21 kills in a home win over Dakota Wesleyan on Oct. 4.
Since White’s arrival, third-year head coach Scott Mattera’s Bulldogs own a two-year mark of 37-26. The 2014 Bulldogs placed fourth in the GPAC for the program’s first top-four league finish since 2001. Concordia also won a GPAC tournament match for the first time since 2008 and reached the conference semifinals.
