Plummer named top freshman, 10 tabbed volleyball All-Americans

SAN FRANCISCO - The American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) announced today that STANFORD’s Kathryn Plummer was named the 2016 Division AVCA National Freshman of the Year, while 10 players from the Pac-12 earned AVCA All-American honors making it the eighth time in 11 seasons the Conference has had at least 10 All-Americans.

A native of Aliso Viejo, Calif., Plummer is the second-straight Cardinal to earn the national honor and the third Pac-12 freshman in four years. She ranks ninth in the Pac-12 in kills (3.29) and points per set (3.92) to lead Stanford. She is also the team’s leader with 10 double-doubles, recording a team-high in kills in 21 of the 32 matches. Plummer earned Madison Regional all-tournament honors and is one of only two freshmen to be named first team AVCA All-American.

Three Cardinal were named All-Americans, including Plummer. Senior Inky Ajanaku earned her third All-American citation and was named to the first team. Fellow Cardinal Merete Lutz was named to the third team.

WASHINGTON’s Courtney Schwan, the Pac-12 Player of the Year, earned her first All-American nod and was named to the first team. Teammates Crissy Jones and Bailey Tanner were second-team honorees. All three Huskies are juniors. UTAH's Adora Anae, also a junior, was selected to the second team.

ARIZONA seniors Kalei Mau and Penina Snuka were named to the third team, as was OREGON sophomore Lindsay Vander Weide

Five more players were honorable mention All-Americans: Oregon’s Amanda Benson, Stanford’s Audrianna Fitzmorris, WASHINGTON STATE's Kyra Holt, USC’s Khalia Lanier, OREGON STATE's Mary-Kate Marshall and the Trojans’ Elise Ruddins.

Stanford plays in the semifinal of the NCAA Tournament in Columbus, Ohio, marking the 31st time in 36 years of the event the Pac-12 has had at least one team in the national semifinal. The sixth-seeded Cardinal take on second-seeded Minnesota on ESPN. For a full NCAA Tournament bracket, visit ncaa.com. For the full list of AVCA All-America teams, visit avca.org.