LEXINGTON, Ky. – A day after earning D2CCA All-Region accolades, the standout trio of Rachel Burts, Emily Conlin and Marissa Mitter continued to build on their growing list of honors, as they were named All-Southeast Region by the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA), as announced late Wednesday morning.
Burts earned the honor after being named First-Team All-South Atlantic Conference earlier this month. She stands among national leaders in both hitting percentage and blocks and has posted at least five total blocks in six matches, including a season-high seven in the final regular-season win at Mars Hill. She reached double-digit kills in 14 matches and is second on the team with 253 kills on the season. A native of Anderson, S.C., Burts is 14th nationally in hitting percentage and is 10th in the conference with 83 total blocks on the season.
Mitter is a two-time First-Team All-South Atlantic Conference honoree and garnered South Atlantic Conference Player of the Week accolades on four occasions this season. She currently leads the conference in points and ranks second in kills per set and points per set. The Redondo Beach, Calif., native is one of only three players in the in the SAC to have at least 300 kills and 300 digs on the season and has posted 14 double-doubles this season, while reaching double-figure kills in 23 matches.
Conlin has 17 double-doubles to her credit and has recorded at least 40 assists in 15 contests. In less than two full seasons, she already ranks sixth in the school record books for assists in a single season and fifth in career assists.
The Glendale, Ariz., native is sixth in the NCAA D-II ranks in assists per set and was named First-Team All-Conference this year after earning SAC Freshman of the Year and Second-Team All-SAC honors following last season. The sophomore captured SAC Specialist of the Week twice this season, marking the fourth time in her brief career. She leads the conference in assists per set, is second in total assists and third in service aces.
2017 AVCA All-Southeast Region Teams
Rachel Alles Wingate S So.
McKenzey Beck Augusta S Jr.
Katie Bludau Wingate OH Sr.
Kayla Brockway Georgia College S Jr.
Rachel Burts Anderson MB RS-Sr.
Rebecca Cochran Queens OH Sr.
Emily Conlin Anderson S So.
Sara Davis*** Flagler MB Sr.
Phoebe Havenaar Wingate MB RS-So.
Anna Holmquist Wingate MB Jr.
Sydney Kunz Queens S Sr.
Rebecca Martinez USC-Aiken L So.
Marissa Mitter Anderson OH Sr.
Taja Valmyr Flagler OH Sr.
Honorable Mention
Morgan Ballard Carson Newman L So.
Kaytlin Elkins Barton OH Fr.
Hannah Hritz Lander RS Fr.
Karlie Redfern Flagler OH Fr.
Tara Savisky Flagler S Jr.
Alie Smith USC-Aiken OH Fr.
Region Player of the Year: Katie Bludau, Wingate, OH
Region Freshman of the Year: Karlie Redfern, Flagler, OH
Region Coach of the Year: Matt Affolder, Flagler
