ELMHURST, Ill. - Four members of the Elmhurst volleyball team have been named All-Americans by the American Volleyball Coaches Association.
Megan Reynolds earned second-team honors while
Marci Novak was tabbed as a third-team selected.
Kaitlyn Wilks and
Sam Szarmach both earned honorable mention All-America recognition.
Reynolds, a senior middle hitter, picked up the fourth consecutive all-America honor of her career. A four-time all-region honoree, she led the Bluejays and ranked among the national leaders in blocks (189) and blocks per set (1.32). She also led the squad and was nationally ranked in hitting percentage (.381). The first Elmhurst player in school history to earn four consecutive first-team all-CCIW honors, she ranked fourth on the squad in total kills (311) and kills per set (2.17). Named a CCIW Offensive and Defensive Player of the Week this season, Reynolds led the CCIW in blocks (1.39 per set) while ranking second in hitting percentage (.382). Reynolds ranks second all-time in Elmhurst history in total blocks and fourth in hitting percentage. She is the only player in school story to total over 1,300 kills and 600 blocks for her career.
Novak, a senior right side hitter, earned the first all-America honor of her career as a third-team selection. A first-team all-region honoree this season, Novak become the 10th Bluejay to be named the CCIW's Most Outstanding Player earlier this season. A first-team all-conference honoree in 2013 and a second-team all-conference selection in 2012, Novak played all the way around for the Bluejays, ranking second on the squad in kills (397), kills per set (2.84), digs (428) and digs per set (3.06). She also leads the squad in aces (51) while ranking third on the team in hitting percentage (.254) and fourth in blocks (59) and blocks per set (0.42). Named to the all-tournament team at the Elmhurst Invitational, she was also named the MVP of the CCIW Tournament and finished the conference season as the only CCIW player ranked among the league's top-10 in hitting percentage, kills, aces and digs. She was named to the all-tournament team at the NCAA Division III Volleyball regional.
Wilks, a senior middle hitter, garnered the second straight honorable mention All-America honors of her career after receiving first-team all-region honors for the second consecutive season. She ranked second on the squad in hitting percentage (.321), blocks (108) and blocks per set (0.76) while also ranking third on the squad in kills (344) and kills per set (2.44). Wilks was named to the all-tournament teams at the Elmhurst and CCIW Tournaments. Wilks led the CCIW in hitting percentage (.390 in conference games) while also ranking in the league's top-10 in kills.
Szarmach, a junior outside hitter, earned honorable mention All-America honors after earning first-team all-region honors last week. A three-time all-conference honoree, including first-team honors this season, Szarmach led the Bluejays in kills (433), and kills per set (3.03) while ranking fourth on the team in digs (310) and digs per set (2.17) and third in block (66) and blocks per set (0.46). Szarmach was twice named the CCIW's Offensive Player of the Week and was named to the all-tournament teams at the Elmhurst, Chicago, Washington, Wartburg and NCAA Regional tournaments. In league play, she ranked fourth in kills and fifth in hitting percentage.
Elmhurst finished the 2013 season with a 37-5 overall record. Ranked no lower than sixth in the NCAA Division III poll for the entire season, the Bluejays won their second straight CCIW Championship and advanced to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament.
