LEXINGTON, Ky. – West Liberty University volleyball standout Madison Clayton made history on Tuesday when she became the first Hilltopper to earn NCAA Division II All-America honors from the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA).
Clayton, a 6-5 middle blocker and graduate student from Roseville, Ohio, was one of only five players from the Atlantic Region to attain All-America status when she was selected as an Honorable Mention All-American on the AVCA's 40th annual NCAA Division II All-America Team.
"I'm so happy for Maddie Clayton," Hilltopper head coach Riley Schenk said. "Hard work pays off when you push yourself to be the best and that's what Maddie has done from the day she arrived on campus. She has put in countless hours of time and effort and has been so dedicated to this program on and off the court.
"To be one of just two NCAA Division II All-Americans from our conference is a huge accomplishment but it is also incredibly well deserved. Maddie deserves every bit of recognition she receives as a fitting conclusion to a record-setting career. We will miss having her on the court for us next year but we're absolutely thrilled to be able to keep Maddie around as a graduate assistant coach."
A first-team AVCA and D2CCA All-Region selection this fall, Clayton earned her third consecutive first-team All-MEC honor after leading the conference and ranking No. 6 nationally with 148 total blocks. A dominant force at the net, Clayton also ranked among the Top 10 in the conference in kills, hitting percentage and points scored and etched her name in the WLU record books as the school's all-time leader in career hitting percentage (.313).
Helping lead Coach Schenk's Hilltoppers to a 21-win season and the highest regional ranking in school history, Clayton stood tall in some of the biggest matches of the season. She had a career-high 21 kills with 8 blocks in a 4-set win over NCAA Division II Atlantic Region qualifier East Stroudsburg (Pa.). Clayton had a career-high 12 blocks in a narrow 5-set loss to MEC champion and Atlantic Region finalist Wheeling and followed that up with a 15-kill, 9-block night in the rematch with the Cardinals.
Wheeling senior Audrey Francis joined Clayton as the MEC's two representatives on the AVCA All-America Team. Francis was a third-team selection at libero. Gannon's Lauren Sampson and Cassidy Snider along with London Fuller of Clarion were the only Atlantic Region picks, all of whom earned honorable mention.
The 2021 NCAA Division II National Championship tournament gets under way Thursday in Tampa, Fla. Atlantic Region champion Gannon is the No. 5 seed and will take on No. 4 seed Hillsdale, Mich. in a 5 p.m. quarterfinal.
VOLLEYBALL
2021 AVCA All-America Team
First Team
Name School Pos. Yr.
Alexis Cardoza Cal State-San Bernardino OH Sr.
Laura De Marchi Michigan Tech S Sr.
Audrey Fisher Central Missouri MH Sr.
Megan Flom Winona State MB/OH Sr.
Kenzie Foley St. Cloud State OH R-Fr.
Kailyn Gilbreath Angelo State S/R Sr.
Gabby Gunterman Western Washington OH Jr.
Rylee Hladky MSU-Denver OH Jr.
Allison Maxwell Washburn MH Sr.
Katie O'Connell Ferris State RS Sr.
Charlotte Richards Missouri-St. Louis OH Sr.
Maddy Torve St. Cloud State S Sr.
Taylor Vaneekeren West Florida S Jr.
Veresia Yon West Florida MB So.
Second Team
Name School Pos. Yr.
Genna Berg Washburn OH Sr.
Jayln Hayes Cal State-San Bernardino MB R-Jr.
Anna Jonynas Michigan Tech OH Sr.
Payton Kirchhoefer NW Missouri State OH R-Fr.
Avaline Lai MSU Denver R Sr.
Taylor Prall Lenoir-Rhyne OH Sr.
Claudia Rivera Tampa L Jr.
Faith Rottinghaus Washburn L Sr.
Karla Santos Cal State-Los Angeles OH Sr.
Jasmine Schmidt Palm Beach Atlantic S/RS Sr.
Madison Squiers Nebraska-Kearney S Sr.
Eve Stephens Alaska-Anchorage OPP Jr.
Drew Stokes Colorado School of Mines S Sr.
Allyssa Van Wienen Hillsdale MB Sr.
Third Team
Name School Pos. Yr.
Baleigh Allen Angelo State MB Sr.
Tia Andaya Central Washington S/OH So.
Madi Cooler West Florida OH Jr.
Brooke Dexter Simon Fraser OPP Fr.
Amanda Donais Colorado School of Mines OPP Sr.
Mariah-Daisy Duke Cal Poly-Pomona OPP So.
AUDREY FRANCIS WHEELING L SR.
Erin Krupar Ashland OH Sr.
Ally Offerdahl Central Missouri S Sr.
Jamie Poppen Lewis L Sr.
Alexandra Psoma Nova Southeastern OH Sr.
Karoline Shelton Hillsdale OH Jr.
Anna Squiers Nebraska-Kearney MH Sr.
Averey Yaksich Sioux Falls OH Sr.
HONORABLE MENTION ALL-AMERICANS
(Atlantic Region)
Name School Pos. Yr.
MADISON CLAYTON WEST LIBERTY MB Sr.
London Fuller Clarion S Jr.
Lauren Sampson Gannon OH Sr.
Cassidy Snider Clarion OH Fr.