Three Husker volleyball players earn All-America honors

Senior middle blocker Lauren Stivrins was named to the AVCA All-American first-team while junior setter Nicklin Hames was a second-team selection. Lexi Sun, a senior outside hitter, was a third-team pick. 

LINCOLN, Neb. (Husker Athletics) — Three Nebraska volleyball players have been named to the American Volleyball Coaches Association All-America Team, the AVCA announced on Wednesday. Lauren Stivrins earned first-team honors, Nicklin Hames earned second-team honors, and Lexi Sun garnered third-team accolades. Additionally, Madi Kubik received honorable mention.

The Huskers’ three AVCA All-America selections improved their total to 95 all-time, which leads the nation. A nation-leading total of 47 players have combined for the Huskers’ 95 awards. The Nebraska volleyball program has had multiple All-Americans six years in a row.

Stivrins is a three-time AVCA All-American and a three-time All-Big Ten First-Team selection. She earned All-America first-team accolades for the second time in her Husker career. She becomes the first Husker to earn three AVCA All-America selections since Kadie Rolfzen (2013-16) and the first NU middle blocker to do so since Melissa Elmer (2003-05). Stivrins posted 3.19 kills per set, 1.03 blocks per set and a team-best .468 hitting percentage. Stivrins’ hitting percentage was the best in the Big Ten and the second-best in school history for a season. The middle blocker from Scottsdale, Ariz., had double-digit kills in 11 of 18 matches played and hit .400 or better 14 times. In her four seasons at Nebraska, Stivrins owns a school-record .396 career hitting percentage in the NCAA Tournament. She led the Huskers to a .270 season hitting average and .168 opponent hitting percentage, both of which ranked second in the conference.

Hames was named an AVCA All-American for the first time in her career, as she received honorable mention the last two years. The junior setter was an All-Big Ten First-Team and AVCA All-North Region Team selection as well this season. Hames led the Big Ten in assists at 10.91 per set. The Maryville, Tenn., native posted 10 double-doubles in 19 matches, and she served 16 aces. Hames set the Huskers to a .270 hitting percentage, the second-best mark in the Big Ten.

Sun earned AVCA All-America honors for the second time in her career. The All-Big Ten First-Team selection led the Huskers in kills with 3.64 per set. She also added 2.21 digs per set with 43 blocks and a team-high 26 aces on the season, and she recorded five double-doubles. Sun, who hit .242 for the season, was a two-time Big Ten Player of the Week during the 11-week regular season. An AVCA third-team All-American in 2019, Sun reached double-digit kills in 15 of 19 matches. She ranked fifth among all Big Ten Players in kills per set and was a unanimous choice to the All-Big Ten First Team.

Kubik, a sophomore, received All-America honorable mention for the second straight year. She was the AVCA North Region Freshman of the Year in 2019, and this year she made the All-North Region Team again after putting up 2.83 kills and 2.36 digs per set with 25 blocks and 13 aces. A six-rotation hitter for the Big Red, Kubik posted double-doubles in six matches and had 11 matches with at least 10 kills. In the NCAA Regional Final against Texas on Monday, Kubik tied her season high with 15 kills.

Spring 2021 AVCA DIVISION I FIRST-TEAM ALL-AMERICA

Spring 2021 AVCA DIVISION I SECOND-TEAM ALL-AMERICA

Spring 2021 AVCA DIVISION I THIRD-TEAM ALL-AMERICA