Following the upset loss to Arizona in the second round of the NCAA Tournament, the MSU volleyball team announced Tuesday juniors Alyssa Garvelink and Autumn Bailey have been selected to the American Volleyball Coaches Association, AVCA, All-North team, and senior Alyssa Fitterer was an honorable mention pick, according to a press release.
Garvelink statistically had her best season yet, averaging 1.40 blocks per set, which ranks third in the Big Ten and 14th in the nation. The average is also the seventh highest mark by a Spartan in a single season. Garvelink amassed a total of 160 blocks on the season, which ranks sixth all-time in the single season annals for the Spartans. Aside from the blocks, Garvelink averaged 2.39 kills per set while hitting .359, which was the seventh-best in the Big Ten and 56th in the nation. Garvelink also named to the First Team All-Big Ten squad.
Following an injury that kept her out for the entire 2015 season, Bailey has seen much success this season. Bailey led the Spartans in kills per set with 3.15, good for 10th in the Big Ten. She was second in the conference with 2.68 digs per set and ranked fourth in service aces with .27 per set. Before coming to MSU, Bailey was a Marquette Golden Eagle, while there she was a two-time Honorable Mention All-American in 2013 and 2014. With the AVCA pick, she will now be under consideration for All-American honors this season.
Fitterer is now a three-time Honorable Mention All-Region pick. Along with Garvelink, she also had her best statistical season. She finished the season with a .361 hitting percentage, putting her sixth in the Big Ten. The senior also contributed 2.06 kills per set and .75 blocks per frame.
Being selected by the AVCA now allows the players to move on to the national All-American ballot. These selections will be announced during NCAA Championship weekend, Dec. 15-17 in Columbus.
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