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Four Incoming Beach Bruins Earn All-America Acclaim

by uclabruins.com
Sep 11, 2022
Four incoming Bruins, Ensley Alden, Maggie Boyd, Macey Butler, and Ky Vaickus, were named 2022 AVCA Junior Beach All-Americans.

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LEXINGTON, Ky. – The AVCA announced the 2022 Junior Beach All-Americans and four incoming Bruins were named, which was tied for second-most among all colleges. The Bruins landed three on the First Team, which led the nation.

Ensley Alden (Vista, Calif./San Marcos HS/Tamarack BVC), Maggie Boyd (Flower Mound, Texas/Madsand BVC) and Macey Butler (Austin, Texas/Westlake HS/AJV Sand) were all named First-Team AVCA Junior Beach All-Americans. Ky Vaickus (San Diego, Calif./La Jolla HS/Wave VBC) garnered Honorable Mention All-American honors.

This marks the ninth season of the awards, and there were 26 athletes recognized in 2022, eight on both the First- and Second-Teams, as well as 10 Honorable Mention selections.

The 2022 list includes players from eight states. California again led the way with 10, followed by Texas with seven and three from Florida. Rounding out the list are two from Georgia and one All-American each from New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Washington. USC led the pack in commitments from the top 26 with six, while Florida State and UCLA had four apiece.

The Junior Beach All-America Committee, who selected the teams, included Jeff Smith (chairperson; 692 Beach – West Coast), Wayne Gant (Great American Volleyball – East Coast), Steve Bishop (USA Volleyball-Florida Region – East Coast), Andrew Bennett (Tamarack Beach Volleyball Club – West Coast), Ryan Mariano (RPM Sand – West Coast), Bryan Jones (Southern Sand Select – Southeast), Marlee Rice (AAU – West Coast), Jason Kaiser (210 Beach Volleyball – Central), and Ashley Ivy (Austin Juniors – Central).

ENSLEY ALDEN (SAN MARCOS HS / TAMARACK BVC)

Notable Tournament Finishes: 2022 ISF World High School Championships (1st), 2022 AVP Nationals (5th), 2022 BVCA Junior Nationals (5th), 2022 AAU Junior Nationals (9th)

  • Represented the U.S. in May at the ISF World High School Championships in France and took first place.
  • Captain of the Tamarack Beach Volleyball Club

Andrew Bennett, Tamarack Volleyball Director
"Ensley is truly an amazing young lady. She epitomizes the work ethic, drive, and class it takes to be an elite athlete, leader, and teammate. We can't wait to see where her path takes her at UCLA and beyond."

MAGGIE BOYD (MADSAND BVC)

Notable Tournament Finishes: 2022 AVP Nationals (1st), 2022 BVCA Pairs Nationals (1st), 2022 BVCA Nationals Club Challenge (1st), 2022 USAV National Team Trial (1st)

  • She and fellow-first team All-American Gabby Walker have been a dynamic duo, rarely dropping a single set in their three years at the national level.
  • Earned four major tournament wins each of the past two summers.

TJ Staples, Madsand Director:
"Maggie Boyd been a force among junior beach volleyball athletes over the past four-plus years. Her ability to adapt to any challenge that has come her way through comes in no small part to the amount of effort she applies to every aspect of her game and practice."

MACEY BUTLER (WESTLAKE HS / AJV SAND)

Notable Tournament Finishes: 2022 U19 Beach World Championship Trials (3rd), 2022 AAU Nationals (3rd), 2022 P1440 Futures Tour: San Antonio (2nd), 2022 AVP Junior Nationals (9th)

  • Has been a force since joining Austin Juniors, competing in both U18 and Women's Open events.
  • Posted consistent top-five finishes in nearly every major tournament she's played in over the past two years.

Ashley Ivy Swift, Austin Juniors Volleyball Sand Director
"Macey has been an instrumental part of the AJV Sand program; she has been a strong leader and inspirational teammate. I feel so fortunate that I had the opportunity to be a part of her journey. She will be missed here at AJV Sand but we all know that she is destined for greatness in the next chapter of her life at UCLA."
 

KY VAICKUS (LA JOLLA HS / WAVE VBC)

Notable Tournament Finishes: 2022 AAU Nationals (3rd), 2021 AAU Nationals (3rd), 2022 CBVA Women's Open (3rd), 2022 BVCA National Championships (5th), 2021 BVCA National Championships (9th), 2018 BVCA National Championship (2nd), 2021 BVCA Pac Beach Pairs (2nd)

  • Was a four-year varsity starter at outside hitter for La Jolla HS indoor team.
  • Earned AAA Rating in 2022 after being AA in 2021.
  • Earned BVCA Best Offensive Player Award (2021), JVA Best in Beach Award (2021), CBVA AA Tournament MVP (2022), JVA Beach Watch List (2020, 2021, 2022), AVCA Phenom Watchlist (2022).

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