Ferris State's Katie O'Connell Tabbed As 2021 AVCA First Team All-America Selection!
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Big Rapids, Mich. - Ferris State University senior hitter Katie O'Connell (Evergreen Park, Ill.) has been named to the 2021 American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) All-America First Team for the 2021 season as announced by the national coaches' organization.
This year represents the third time in which O'Connell has received AVCA All-America accolades in her collegiate career.
The 40th annual AVCA All-America squads were voted on by head coaches from across the country as part of the AVCA Division II All-America Committee. O'Connell was previously named to the 2021 AVCA All-Midwest Region Team.
Overall, a total of 21 different Bulldog student-athletes in history have earned AVCA All-America honors. This year represents the 10th time in 11 years, outside of the 2021 spring COVID season, in which FSU has had at least one All-America student-athlete in volleyball. Former Bulldog Arielle Goodson was a second-team recipient in 2010 while Ashley Huntey achieved third team status in 2011 and Lisa Tobiczyk was an honorable mention choice the same year. Middle Hitter Anne Sutton claimed honorable mention accolades in 2012, outside hitter Megan Vander Meer garnered recognition in 2014 and in 2015 the Bulldogs had three honorees in Vander Meer (1st), middle hitter Caroline Heitzman (2nd) and setter Stephanie Sikorski (HM). In 2016, both Sikorski (3rd) and Allyson Cappel (HM) were honored while Cappel (HM) and middle hitter Ayanna Buckley (HM) were named in 2017. In 2018, Cappel (2nd) and O'Connell (HM) were both honored with both also named to the squad in 2019 along with setter Maeve Grimes.
By earning All-America honors this year, O'Connell becomes only the third Bulldog player ever to earn the distinction three times in her career. Cappel became FSU's only four-time honoree in 2019 and former standout Patty Theis (1985-87) was also a three-time recipient. FSU's two-time honoree group includes Kathy O'Connor (1993), Karla Fairbanks (2003-04), Vander Meer (2014-15) and Sikorski (2015-16).
This season, O'Connell helped lead the Bulldogs to an impressive 27-5 overall record and a spot in the NCAA Division II Midwest Region Championship match. The Bulldogs also claimed the GLIAC South Division Championship and won the GLIAC Tournament in a memorable postseason run that included FSU serving as the top seed and the host of the Midwest Regional Tournament.
O'Connell ranks as one of the top players in school history, compiling more than 1,000 career kills and digs. This season, she led FSU with 400 kills and 404 digs in 33 matches, averaging 3.57 kills and 3.61 digs per set. She also totaled 32 service aces and 66 total blocks for the Bulldogs.