LEXINGTON, Ky. -- The American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) announced the 2017 Division III All-America teams Tuesday and six Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference players were recognized. AVCA Release
Colorado College's Lizzy Counts earned first team honors, while Southwestern University's Kate Mitchell and Trinity University's Kirby Smith were named to second team. Colorado College's Aria Dudley and Jordan Mullen and Southwestern University's Megan Grimes were honorable mention selections.
Counts, a sophomore from Oakland, Calif., is the second Tiger to be named to the AVCA's first team as sophomores in the 39-year history of the volleyball program at the college. She was named the SCAC player of the week four times this season and had one AVCA National Player of the Week recognition this season. Counts was also named the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference Player of the Year.
Dudley, a junior from Santa Ana, Calif., was the only player this season to be named both the SCAC Offensive and Defensive Player-of-the-Week. She ended her season with a .313 hitting percentage and 278 kills. Mullen, a sophomore from Parker, Colo., was named MVP of the conference championship after hitting .424 with 15 kills on 33 attacks with only one error. She led the Tigers and ranked fourth in the SCAC averaging 3.25 kills per set.
Mitchell bowed out of her senior season as a team leader in kills with 346. The Roseville, Calif. native led the conference in points (212.5) and points per set (4.1), and was third in service aces with 29. Mitchell was named to the NCAA Georgetown Regional All-Tournament team for her performance in the tournament and was also named to the All-SCAC first team and and All-Region selection.
Smith, a two-time selection, produced a team-leading 389 kills this season and was second on the team in digs with 361. The senior from Pilot Point, Texas ended her collegiate career with 1,414 kills and is ranked seventh on TU's all-time list.
Grimes, a junior setter from Carrollton, Texas led the SCAC in assists finishing with 1151 total and 10.01 assists/set this season.
