SIOUX CITY, Iowa -- Senior outside hitter Allie Kerns and sophomore rightside hitter Kealy Kiviniemi earned American Volleyball Coaches Association all-North Central Region honors in an announcement made today by the AVCA.
In addition, redshirt sophomore outside hitter Eve Fountain and junior middle blocker Haley Fleischman garnered Honorable Mention accolades.
Kerns earned first-team all-NSAA accolades this season and was second on the team with 344 kills and 79 total blocks. She registered 114 digs and eight service aces on the season. Kerns recorded double-figure kill totals in 19 matches and produced a season-high 17 kills in the Bruins' five-set loss to Indiana Tech on Aug. 26. She collected a double-double with 12 kills and 11 digs, along with six blocks in Bellevue's 3-1 win over No. 18 Central Methodist on Sept. 1.
Kiviniemi garnered first-team all-NSAA honors during her first season with the Bruins. She led the Bruins with 368 kills and was second with a .291 attacking efficiency. She is fourth on the team with 66 total blocks. Kiviniemi was named the NSAA Attacker of the Week on two occasions (Sept. 25, Oct. 30). She recorded double-figure kill totals in 23 matches, including 16 straight from Sept. 20 through Nov. 10. Kiviniemi recorded a season-high 16 kills in BU's five-set loss to fifth-ranked Viterbo on Sept. 20.
Fountain earned first-team all-NSAA honors for the third time in her BU career. She was third on the team with 323 kills and second on the squad with 361 digs. Fountain leads the Bruins with 41 service aces. Earlier this year, she became the ninth player in school history to record 1,000 kills and 1,000 digs in a career. Fountain recorded double-figure kill totals in 17 matches and registered seven double-doubles on the season, including a season-high 20 kills along with 22 digs in Bellevue's five-set win over St. Ambrose in NAIA National Championship Pool Play action on Nov. 30.
Fleischman produced first-team all-NSAA honors for the second time in her BU career. She led the team with a .297 attack percentage and 100 total blocks. Fleischman has recorded 205 kills and 41 digs on the year. She tallied a season-high 11 kills on .625 hitting, along with three blocks in BU's three-set loss to Viterbo in the NSAA Tournament championship match. Fleischman collected nine kills on 15 errorless swings along with four blocks in the Bruins' 3-1 win over Indiana-East in the NAIA Opening Round.
The Bruins (26-9) will complete pool play action at the NAIA Volleyball National Championship on Friday (Dec 1) when they battle No. 1-ranked Northwestern (Iowa) College at 10 a.m. at Tyson Events Center.
