LEXINGTON, Ky. – Anderson University volleyball standout Noelle Knutsen has earned Honorable Mention All-America honors from the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA), as announced on Wednesday.
Knutsen also captured AVCA and D2CCA All-Region accolades earlier this month and garnered First-Team All-South Atlantic Conference honors after helping lead the Trojans to a 21-win season for the eleventh time in program history and AU's fifth consecutive appearance in the NCAA Tournament.
The Trojans wrapped up their regular season by winning nine of their last 11 decisions and 12 of their last 15, while becoming the eleventh team in program history - and the fifth straight team in five full seasons - to win at least 21 matches in a season. Knutsen helped lead AU to more than 100 wins, five conference tournament appearances and four NCAA Tournament Appearances during her stellar career.
Knutsen paced the South Atlantic Conference during the regular season with a .393 hitting percentage, while finishing the year ranking third in the league with a career-best 325 kills. A native of Parker, Colo., Knutsen was also third in the league in points, points per set and in total blocks. She ranked fourth in the conference in kills per set.
She reached double-digit kills in 19 matches during the 2022 campaign, including eight straight to close the regular season and nine of the final 10 matches and recorded a season-high 20 kills – just four shy of her career-best - in the Trojans' 3-0 win over Texas A&M International in early September.
Knutsen wrapped up her career third in the school record books with 357 total blocks and ranks fifth all-time the record books with a .317 career hitting percentage.
In addition to the All-America and All-Southeast Region recognition, Knutsen earned All-South Atlantic Conference accolades in each of the last three seasons.
The 2022 AVCA class includes 42 players—14 on the first, second, and third teams - from 29 schools. Alaska Anchorage, Concordia-St. Paul, and Wayne State (NE) each had two First-Team All-Americans, and Northwest Missouri State led all schools with three players on the first three teams. This year's National Freshman of the Year is Iane Henke of Cal State LA.
Joining Knutsen from the Southeast Region were Shannon Kasprak (2nd Team, Wingate), Molly Lambillotte (3rd Team, Wingate), Sarah Goddard (HM, Mars Hill), Emily Johnson (HM, Wingate), Julia Wheeler (HM, Carson-Newman), Jazmyn Wheeler (Augusta, HM), Maggie Young (HM, Wingate).
Click HERE for the Complete AVCA All-America Teams
