COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo -- Highlighted by Region Player of the Year Olivia Galas, four Bruins were named to the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) all-North Central Region team announced today. Joining Galas on the first team was sophomore outside hitter Sierra Athen, junior outside hitter Andrea Carson, and sophomore middle blocker Coree Lipovsky.
Galas became the Bruins' first Region Player of the Year since 2011 when Maureen Wardian won the honor. The North Star Athletic Association Player and Setter of the Year, Galas led the team with 1,519 assists (10.77 aps) and was second with 36 service aces and 19 double-doubles. She was third on the team with 58 total blocks. Galas ranked first in the nation in total assists and was eighth in assists per set.
A nine-time NSAA Setter of the Week, Galas ended the season with six-straight double-doubles. In the Bruins' second pool play match at Nationals against fifth-ranked Southern Oregon, Galas collected a triple-double with 12 kills (on .647 hitting), 44 assists, and 13 digs.
Athen earned first-team all-NSAA honors this season, leading the Bruins with 490 kills and 23 double-doubles. She was second on the team with 422 digs and third with 30 service aces. Her 490 kills ranked 12th nationally and second in the NSAA. She finished the season with five-straight double-doubles.
Carson, who earned first-team all-NSAA recognition, was second on the team with 331 kills and is just eight kills shy of the 1,000-kill milestone for her BU career. She had the highest regular-season hitting percentage of any outside hitter in the conference at .252. Carson recorded 16 double-digit kill totals in 2019, including a career-high 23 kills in BU's five-set loss to Dakota State on Oct. 9.
A first-team all-NSAA selection, Lipovsky led the Bruins with a .288 hitting percentage and 114 total blocks. She finished third on the team with 281 kills. Her .288 hitting percentage ranked second in the NSAA. Lipovsky pounded a season-high 15 kills on .357 hitting in BU's five-set loss to 11th-ranked Grand View University on Aug. 23.
The Bruins finished the 2019 season with a 28-10 overall record, making their 12th appearance in the NAIA National Tournament after finishing second in the NSAA regular-season standings.