AVCA Awards Three Wildcats with All-Region Honors
Dec 05, 2023 | Volleyball
MANHATTAN, Kan. – For just the second time in program history, K-State had three players receive First Team All-Region honors as Sydney Bolding, Aliyah Carter and Mackenzie Morris were each tabbed American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Midwest All-Region selections, the organization announced Tuesday.
The three selections mark just the fourth time K-State had three all-region honors in the same season, and second with all first team accolades. Carter earned her third career all-region nod and Bolding her second consecutive while Morris collected the first award of her respective career.
Bolding, a native of Pickens, S.C., led the Big 12 Conference during the regular season with 134 total blocks. The Second Team All-Big 12 selection had a season block average of 1.40, which was good for second in the league as she finished 12th in the nation in the category.
The 6-foot-5 middle blocker was third on the team with 157 kills and second with 28 service aces. Bolding ranks second in program history during the rally-scoring era (since 2001) with a 1.30 career block average while her 354.0 total career blocks rank seventh.
Carter led the Wildcats' offense in the regular season with 390 kills and 4.06 kills per set. The Dubuque, Iowa product finished fifth in the Big 12 and 37th in the country in kills per set while her 4.43 kills a set during conference play ranked third in the league.
A three-time unanimous All-Big 12 selection, Carter now stands as the program's career kills average leader at 3.79 in the rally-scoring era and is third all-time in school history. Carter recorded her 1,000th career kill in the Cats' season opener as she became the 19th player in program history to reach the milestone.
Morris was one of three players to see action in all 97 sets this season. The Second Team All-Big 12 honoree led the league in digs per set (4.82) and total digs (468), finishing 33rd and 35th nationally in both categories. Her 4.82 digs average also ranked first among all Power 5 programs.
The Dallas, Texas product collected double-digit digs in all but two matches this season, reaching a season-best 34 in a five-set thriller against KU. The Cats' starting libero totaled 22 aces on the year to become the 22nd player in school history to reach 100 career aces. Morris also finished the year with a career-best 107 assists.
K-State finished 16-11 overall and 10-8 in Big 12 action in its first season under first-year head coach Jason Mansfield. The Wildcats registered a program record five Top 25 victories, including a historic straight-set victory over defending national champion Texas at Morgan Family Arena.
More than 200 student-athletes who made All-Region represent 103 different schools. A full list of the 2023 AVCA region award winners and all-region teams can be found HERE.
The three selections mark just the fourth time K-State had three all-region honors in the same season, and second with all first team accolades. Carter earned her third career all-region nod and Bolding her second consecutive while Morris collected the first award of her respective career.
Bolding, a native of Pickens, S.C., led the Big 12 Conference during the regular season with 134 total blocks. The Second Team All-Big 12 selection had a season block average of 1.40, which was good for second in the league as she finished 12th in the nation in the category.
The 6-foot-5 middle blocker was third on the team with 157 kills and second with 28 service aces. Bolding ranks second in program history during the rally-scoring era (since 2001) with a 1.30 career block average while her 354.0 total career blocks rank seventh.
Carter led the Wildcats' offense in the regular season with 390 kills and 4.06 kills per set. The Dubuque, Iowa product finished fifth in the Big 12 and 37th in the country in kills per set while her 4.43 kills a set during conference play ranked third in the league.
A three-time unanimous All-Big 12 selection, Carter now stands as the program's career kills average leader at 3.79 in the rally-scoring era and is third all-time in school history. Carter recorded her 1,000th career kill in the Cats' season opener as she became the 19th player in program history to reach the milestone.
Morris was one of three players to see action in all 97 sets this season. The Second Team All-Big 12 honoree led the league in digs per set (4.82) and total digs (468), finishing 33rd and 35th nationally in both categories. Her 4.82 digs average also ranked first among all Power 5 programs.
The Dallas, Texas product collected double-digit digs in all but two matches this season, reaching a season-best 34 in a five-set thriller against KU. The Cats' starting libero totaled 22 aces on the year to become the 22nd player in school history to reach 100 career aces. Morris also finished the year with a career-best 107 assists.
K-State finished 16-11 overall and 10-8 in Big 12 action in its first season under first-year head coach Jason Mansfield. The Wildcats registered a program record five Top 25 victories, including a historic straight-set victory over defending national champion Texas at Morgan Family Arena.
More than 200 student-athletes who made All-Region represent 103 different schools. A full list of the 2023 AVCA region award winners and all-region teams can be found HERE.
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