Rio duo named AVCA honorable mention All-American

Rio Grande Sports Information
     LEXINGTON, Ky. - Two of the University of Rio Grande's top women's volleyball players were among those named as honorable mention selections to the 2024 American Volleyball Coaches' Association (AVCA) NAIA All-America Team.
     Senior outside hitter Amanda Rarick (Canal Winchester, OH) and junior setter Elle McLoughlin (Zanesville, OH), who both were recently named to the AVCA's All-Mid-Central Region team, also represented the RedStorm on the national list.
     The All-American first-, second- and third teams, as well as the honorable mention selections, were chosen by the NAIA Selection Committee and announced earlier this week.
Rarick led the RedStorm - and the River States Conference - with 510 kills, a figure that ranked eighth nationally.
     An All-RSC First Team pick and the league's Attacker of the Year, Rarick finished her collegiate career in second place on the school's all-time kills list with 1,770.
McLoughlin finished second nationally with 1,389 assists.
     Also an All-RSC First Team honoree and the conference Setter of the Year, McLoughlin also led Rio with 53 service aces, was second in total blocks with 77 (16 solo, 61 assists) and ranked third on the team with 326 digs.
     The duo helped Rio Grande to a 28-9 record after a season-ending loss to Indiana University East in the semifinal round of the RSC Championship.
     The 28 wins were the most for the program in a single season since a 37-win campaign in 1992 when current head coach Billina Cooper Donaldson was a junior.
     The AVCA's NAIA All-America Team includes 42 players - 14 on the first, second, and third teams - from 28 schools and an additional 57 players were honorable mention selections.
     Northwestern College and the University of Jamestown led the way with three players each on the first three teams and 10 schools had two players chosen.
     Junior outside hitter Eva Joldersma from national champion Indiana Wesleyan University was named the national Player of the Year, while Bellevue University head coach Trish Siedlik was named Coach of the Year.
     Indiana Wesleyan's Dan Bergren was tabbed the national Assistant Coach of the Year, while Indiana University Kokomo outside hitter was picked as the Freshman of the Year.