6 AU Pro Volleyball players earn PVF season honors
The Pro Volleyball Federation has announced eight of its 10 season awards, with Athletes Unlimited Pro Volleyball players earning a fair share of the honors.
Outside Hitter of the Year: Leah Edmond
The Outside Hitter of the Year Award went to no other than the reigning AU Pro Volleyball Champion Leah Edmond. Her 2023 AU numbers mirrored the success of her first season on the Atlanta Vibe.
- AU: 45 sets, 224 kills, 4.98 k/s, .305 attack efficiency
- PVF: 89 sets, 381 kills, 4.28 k/s, .322 attack efficiency
Edmond was second in the league in kills, only behind Claire Chaussee who fashioned 395 kills in 96 sets.
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Middle Blocker of the Year: Kaz Brown
Kaz Brown’s impact on the Orlando Valkyries was felt not only on offense as one of the most productive athletes on the team but also on defense. She had 68 blocks in 102 sets which was second in the league.
Brown had the third-best hitting percentage in the league with .333. Her efficiency was also impressive; she logged .443 — the highest of all athletes with 100 or more attempts.
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Setter of the Year: Nootsara Tomkom
Nootsara Tomkom continues to shine wherever she goes, earning Setter of the Year honors. She was also named to the 2023 AU Pro Volleyball All-Position Team.
The international volleyball star dished 932 assists and averaged 10.59 per set. She commanded the offense to a .217 hitting percentage.
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Libero of the Year: Morgan Hentz
Morgan Hentz is the first-ever back-to-back winner of an end-of-season award in AU Pro Volleyball history and has continued to garner recognition in the PVF. She was named the Libero of the Year for her 373 digs and her league-best average of 4.19 digs/set.
The two-time AU Pro Volleyball Defensive Player of the Year contributed to the Vibe’s league-low opponent hitting percentage of .178.
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Server of the Year: Bethania de la Cruz
Bethania de la Cruz’s wicked serve hasn’t slowed down one bit and earned her Server of the Year honors in the PVF.
The speed and spin on her jump serve makes it one of the most difficult to receive in the sport. She led the PVF with 32 aces during the inaugural campaign. She also led AU in the category the previous two seasons.
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Most Inspirational Player: Alisha Glass Childress
Alisha Glass Childress was recognized as the Most Inspirational Player in the PVF for the 2024 season.
Glass Childress competes with AU and the Vegas Thrill while raising her three daughters Maya, Mina, and Amara who are all six years old and younger. She represented the Childress Family Foundation through the Athlete Causes program while competing with AU. She is an outspoken advocate of maternal health and the importance of having representation for moms in sport at the professional level.
She is featured in AU’s Impact Series: A Conversation Around Moms in Sport.
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Upcoming
Two awards have yet to be announced; League MVP and Coach of the Year will be revealed later this week during postseason competition.
The inaugural PVF playoffs begin at CHI Health Center with two semifinal matches on Wednesday, May 15 with the title contest slated for Saturday, May 18. The Atlanta Vibe, Omaha Supernovas, San Diego Rise, and Grand Rapid Rise will all contend to be the first-ever PVF Champion.
Savanna Collins is the Senior Reporter at Athletes Unlimited. You can follow her on Twitter @savannaecollins.
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