Ball State University Athletics
Benson Earns AVCA All-Midwest Region Honorable Mention
December 09, 2014 | Women's Volleyball
MUNCIE, Ind. - - Ball State women's volleyball junior middle hitter Hayley Benson (Hilliard, Ohio/Hilliard Bradley) has been named to the 2014 American Volleyball Coaches Association All-Midwest Region Honorable Mention Team as announced today by the AVCA office.
A two-time All-Mid-American Conference First Team honoree and a 2014 Capital One Academic All-District V Second Team selection, Benson finished the 2014 campaign ranked first in the league and 44th nationally with a .368 (341-77-717) attack percentage. As an AVCA All-Region Honorable Mention, Benson's name will now move forward for consideration on the AVCA All-American Honorable Mention team.
“Hayley evolved into the top middle attacker in the Mid-American Conference this season,” Ball State head coach Steve Shondell said. “She can score anywhere along the net, and is equally effective attacking in front of the setter as she is behind the setter attacking off one leg as a slide hitter. Through continued hard work in the weight room, she has the potential to evolve into one of the premier middle attackers in the entire nation next season.”
A four-time MAC West Division Offensive Player of the Week honoree in 2014, Benson also paced all league players with a .433 (205-33-397) attack percentage in conference-only matches to become the first player to finish league play hitting above .400 since the 2011 season. Benson led the Ball State offense with 341 kills and a 2.87 kills-per-set average. She also paced the Cardinals at the net with 105 total blocks for a 0.88 blocks-per-set average.
Benson smashed double-digit kills in 20 matches, including a career-high 19 kills in a five-set win over Western Michigan (Nov. 1). She hit a career-best .667 (12-0-18) versus Kent State (Oct. 18), as part of 15 matches she hit .400-or-better during the season. Benson was also named to the VCU Invitational and UniWyo Cowgirl Classic All-Tournament teams over the course of the 2014 campaign.
Benson is the first Ball State player to be honored by the AVCA since the 2005 season, when both Amanda McCormick and Rachel Refenes earned AVCA All-Mideast Region First Team and AVCA All-America Honorable Mention accolades.
For the most up-to-date news on Ball State women's volleyball, follow @BallStateSports, @BallStateWVB and @SteveShondell on Twitter.
2014 AVCA All-Midwest Region Selections
|
First Team |
|
|
|
|
Name |
School |
Position |
Year |
|
Chelsea Albers** |
University of Kansas |
RS |
Sr. |
|
Jordan Anderson |
West Virginia University |
OH |
So. |
|
Nikki Attea |
West Virginia University |
RS |
Jr. |
|
Katie Brand |
Kansas State University |
S |
RS So. |
|
Isolde Hannan |
University of Dayton |
MB |
Sr. |
|
Ainise Havili |
University of Kansas |
S |
Fr. |
|
Lily Johnson |
Missouri State University |
OH |
Fr. |
|
Kendall Kritenbrink** |
University of South Dakota |
OH |
Sr. |
|
Abbie Lehman |
Wichita State University |
MB |
RS Fr. |
|
Arielle Love |
Duquesne University |
MB |
Sr. |
|
Caitlin Nolan |
Iowa State University |
L |
Jr. |
|
Mackenzie Roddy |
Northern Illinois University |
OH |
Sr. |
|
Alaina Turner |
University of Dayton |
OH |
Jr. |
|
Kylee Zumach |
Kansas State University |
OH |
Fr. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Honorable Mention |
|
|
|
|
Name |
School |
Position |
Year |
|
Ball State University |
MB |
Jr. |
|
|
Jane Emmenecker |
University of Dayton |
S |
Fr. |
|
Kayla Haneline |
University of Northern Iowa |
MB |
So. |
|
Victoria Hurtt |
Iowa State University |
OH |
Sr. |
|
Taryn Miller |
UMKC |
L |
Jr. |
|
Katie Reininger |
Kansas State University |
MB |
RS So. |
Freshman of the Year: Kylee Zumach, Kansas State, OH
Coach of the Year: Tim Horsmon, Dayton
