Wheeling, W. Va. - The American Volleyball Coaches' Association (AVCA) announced their All-Region team last Wednesday, and the Wheeling University Volleyball team had four players make the list. On Tuesday, they narrowed that down to the 2021 AVCA All-American list, and one Cardinal made the list after putting together an outstanding season in her senior year, and an overall outstanding collegiate career at Wheeling University.
Senior Libero Audrey Francis received the honor, being named an AVCA Third Team All-American for the second time in her career. She last earned the honor after the 2019 season, where she was named an AVCA All-American Honorable Mention. The award is just another rlist added to the senior's extensive accolades this season, that include a fifth straight Mountain East Confere (MEC) Libero of the Year Award, a Conference Commissioner's Association All-Region Award, and spots on both the MEC and the NCAA Division II Atlantic Regional All-Tournament Teams.
It has been an impressive year for the senior, who led the nation in digs with 882 and finished second in digs/set with 6.63. The only player who averaged more digs/set than Francis was Bloomsburg's Alyssa Canciulli, who had 7.00 digs/set. Francis was great throughout the regular season, but she really turned it on when her team needed her most in both the MEC Tournament and the Atlantic Regional Tournament on her home floor.
In three games during the MEC Tournament, Francis managed 72 digs in three games, with her biggest effort coming against West Virginia State in the MEC Championship game. She dug the ball out 30 times in that contest, and fell just short of her season high of 38, which was set against West Liberty on October 12th. Similarly, in the NCAA Division II Atlantic Regional Volleyball tournament, as the games got bigger Francis got stronger. In the three games in Wheeling, the senior totaled 54 digs over the three-game span, with her biggest effort coming in the form of a 21-point attack in the semifinal round against Edinboro.
For Wheeling, the award marks the 11th consecutive season that the Cardinals have had atleast one player be named an AVCA All-American. The award was not handed out during the 2020 COVID year, but prior to that, the Cardinals had three AVCA All-Americans back during the 2019 season. As Francis gets ready to move on from her playing career, Wheeling will look to continue to grow from their experience this season, and use it as momentum heading into the off-season.
The future is still looking as bright as ever for the Wheeling University Volleyball team as they prepare to head into the off-season with their sites set towards 2022.
