AVCA RELEASE

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Following standout seasons from sophomores Ali Bastianelli and Jordyn Poulter and junior Brandi Donnelly, the trio was named American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Honorable Mention All-America, the organization announced on Wednesday (Dec. 14) morning.

The Illini's three honorees marks the most selections to the AVCA All-America teams/honorable mention list since 2010, when the Orange and Blue also garnered three All-America accolades in second-team honoree Colleen Ward and third-team recipients Hillary Haen and Michelle Bartsch. 

The trio also earned AVCA All-Region honors, with Bastianelli and Poulter named to the All-Northeast Region Team and Donnelly collecting All-Northeast Region Honorable Mention accolades.

One of the premier blockers in the nation, Bastianelli finished the regular season as the NCAA and Big Ten Conference leader with 1.79 blocks per set and 201 total blocks on the year, while also pacing the league in conference matches with 1.79 stuffs per set and 129 total blocks. An All-Big Ten selection this season, Bastainelli ranked 12th in the Big Ten and was second on the Illini with a .326 hitting percentage in overall action and was tied for 15th with 17 service aces in conference play. The Marysville, Mich., native started in all 31 matches for the Illini, totaling 197 kills and 30 digs and earned Billiken Invitational All-Tournament Team honors as well as FloVolleyball Player of the Week and Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week accolades this season.

An All-Big Ten honoree earlier this season, Poulter averaged 10.63 assists per set to rank sixth in the Big Ten and 51st in the NCAA after totaling 1,190 assists on the season and leading the Illini to a .251 hitting percentage, which ranked 47th in the nation following the conclusion of regular season. She upped her game in league play and finished fifth with 10.89 assists per set in Big Ten matches. One of the most consistent players for the Illini, Poulter ranked second on the team with 112 blocks, was fifth with 166 digs and was efficient in the attack with 79 kills in 164 swings and only 22 errors for a .348 hitting percentage. The Preseason All-Big Ten honoree also garnered all-tournament accolades at the Illini Classic and the Nike Invitational and earned Big Ten Setter of the Week honors on Oct. 17.  

Donnelly, who earned All-Big Ten Honorable Mention accolades, paced the Big Ten in both overall and conference matches with an overall 4.46 digs per set mark during the regular season and a 4.63 clip in league play. The MVP of the Billiken Invitational, Donnelly's passing allowed the Illini to hit at a .251 percentage, while also tying for the team-lead with 17 service aces and ranking second on the team with 76 assists. She totaled seven matches with 20 digs or more and was named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week on Oct. 17.

A Big Ten record-tying 16 conference volleyball players were selected as AVCA All-Americans, with seven of 14 first-team selections coming from the Big Ten. The league also holds six of the 14 second-team selections, with three players named to the third-team and 10 players chosen as AVCA Honorable Mention All-America recipients. 

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