Utah senior outside hitter Adora Anae was named a first-team all-American by the American Volleyball Coaches Association, while senior middle blocker Tawnee Luafalemana and junior middle blocker Berkeley Oblad both earned honorable mention. The AVCA announced its all-American team Wednesday.
Anae, named the AVCA All-Pacific South Region Player of the Year this past week, became the Utes’ first-ever first-team all-American selection.
This season marks the second time that three Utah players have earned AVCA all-America honors in the same year. Airial Salvo (second team), Whitney Webb (third team) and Emillie Toone (honorable mention) were all honored in 2006.
The Utes now have had 13 all-American selections in program history. Anae became the second player in school history to earn all-American honors in multiple seasons. Toone also was named an honorable mention all-American in 2006 and 2008.
Anae, a native of Punaluu, Hawaii, led the team with 547 kills (4.38 kills/set) and ranked second on the team in digs (395) and service aces (22) this season. She registered 10 kills or more in 32 of 33 matches this season. She set Utah’s all-time career kills record midway through the season, surpassing former all-American Kim Turner.
Anae finished her career ranking first on the program’s all-time list for kills (1,920) and attempts (4,915). She tied for the most sets played (483) and ranks third all-time in digs (1,319).
Luafalemana, who was an AVCA first-team All-Pacific South Region selection, led the Utes with 152 blocks and team-best a .368 hitting percentage this season, the third-best single-season hitting percentage in program history.
Oblad, who earned honorable mention All-Pacific South Region accolades, ranked second on the team with 142 blocks and a .318 hitting percentage.
The Utes finished their season last week with a 24-10 overall record (13-7 Pac-12). The 24 wins are the most in a season since 2008 (26 wins), and 13 conference wins are the most since joining the Pac-12.
UTES ALL-AMERICANS <br>2003 • Kim Turner, third team <br>2004 • Lyndsey Henderson, honorable mention <br>2005 • Shelly Sommerfeldt, honorable mention <br>2006 • Airial Salvo, second team <br>2006 • Whitney Webb, third team <br>2006, 2008 • Emillie Toone, honorable mention <br>2008 • Lori Baird, third team <br>2013 • Shelby Dalton, honorable mention <br>2016 • Adora Anae, second team <br>2017 • Adora Anae, first team <br>2017 • Tawnee Luafalemana, honorable mention <br>2017 • Berkeley Obald, honorable mention
