Gray Earns AVCA all-America Honors
[Courtesy: NWAC]
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Six NWAC volleyball players were named to the American Volleyball Coaches Association All-America teams for Two-Year Colleges, while Linn-Benton head coach Jayme Frazier was selected West Region Coach of the Year.
The All-America teams were selected by the Two-Year College Volleyball All-America Selection Committee. Forty-two student-athletes representing the three NJCAA Divisions, the NWAC, and the CCCAA made the three, 14-member All-America teams for the 2021 fall season.
NWAC Baden Player of the Year Shalyn Gray of Linn-Benton was named to the first team along with Pierce outside hitter Moeshana Maiava. Bellevue outside hitter Arianna Bilby and Skagit Valley setter Brooklyn Johnson were named to the second team while Lane outside hitter Cassidy Herbert and Skagit Valley libero Libby Miller placed on the third team.
Shalyn Gray • Linn-Benton • Freshman • Outside Hitter • First Team
Gray was not only one of the conference's best hitters, but she also played all six rotations on the floor. The freshman finished the year ninth in the NWAC with 287 kills and a hitting percentage of .227. She also had 301 digs, ranking 22nd in the conference. She was the only player in the NWAC with 200+ kills and 300+ digs. She also added 34 service aces and 22 total blocks to her overall outstanding season.
Jayme Frazier • Linn-Benton • West Region Head Coach
Frazier has been one of the greatest head coaches in NWAC volleyball history, and now has a championship title to her name. Frazier won her first NWAC Championship with a dominant team, finishing 32-2 overall.
Under Frazier, the Road Runners won their final 25 matches in a row. On the season, the team won 98 sets and dropped just 20, needing five sets to win in only two of matches over the winning streak. One of the team's two losses came in the season opener against Bellevue as they went on a 31-1 run to finish the year.
As a team, Linn-Benton ranked second in the NWAC in total kills with 1,460. They were first with 1,389 assists, third with 207 total blocks and sixth with 1,726 digs.
To view the complete AVCA All-American list, CLICK HERE.