TOWSON, MD – After winning their ninth straight Landmark Conference title and recording a 31-2 overall record to date, the Juniata women's volleyball team earned several conference honors Tuesday.
Kelly Reynolds (Upper Saint Clair, PA / Upper Saint Clair) was named Player of the Year, Katie Byrne (Annapolis, MD / Broadneck) was named Rookie of the Year and head coach Heather Pavlik was recognized as Coach of the Year. This is the third straight Landmark coaching honors for Pavlik.
Reynolds totals 1,128 assists and ranks fifth in Division III in assists per set at 11.17. On Oct. 17, she broke into an elite class of Juniata setters when she recorded 33 assists against Scranton to break 3,000 plus career assists. With a current total of 3,279 assists, she is 68 assists away from ranking eighth all-time at JC.
Byrne has played a critical part in Juniata's success this season. She averages 4.47 digs per set for a total of 496. Byrne has recorded 41 service aces this season, including the championship-winning ace against Susquehanna last Saturday.
The recognition for the Eagles continued with the announcement of the All-Conference teams.
Reynolds was joined on the First Team All-Landmark by middle hitters Megan Moroney (Mentor, OH / Mentor) and Nakita Gearhart (Waynesboro, PA / Greencastle-Antrim). Moroney has put up impressive numbers in her sophomore season. She averages 2.95 kills per set, is hitting .366 on the season and totals 89 blocks. Gearhart earned back-to-back Landmark Tournament MVP honors with her impressive play last week and is averaging 2.63 kills per set and hitting .325 on the season. This is the third time Reynolds and Gearhart have received First Team honors and the first for Moroney.
Mar-Jana Phillips (Carson, CA / Rolling Hills Preparatory), Kristin Collins (Freedom, PA / Ambridge) and Byrne were named to the Second Team All-Landmark. Phillips averages 2.96 kills per set this season and totals 234 kills and 35 blocks. This is her third time receiving Second Team honors. This is the first time Collins is receiving All-Conference honors in her career at Juniata. The senior totals 123 kills, 50 digs and 49 blocks on the season.
