The AVCA is proud to announce its 2023 Division II Women’s Volleyball All-Region teams and award winners.

There are 14 All-Region team members and six honorable mention selections for each of the eight regions. Additionally, a Player of the Year, Freshman of the Year, and Coach of the Year were selected for each region.

The 160 student-athletes who made All-Region represent 79 different schools, and leading the way with five selections apiece are Adelphi, Concordia-St. Paul, and West Texas A&M.

 

ATLANTIC REGION

Atlantic Region Player of the Year: Cassidy Snider, PennWest Clarion University, OH, Jr.
Atlantic Region Freshman of the Year: Catie Flohr, Seton Hill University, MB
Atlantic Region Coach of the Year: Jonathan Paulk, Shaw University

 

CENTRAL REGION

Central Region Player of the Year: Kenzie Foley, St. Cloud State University, OH, Sr.
Central Region Freshman of the Year: Leah Jones, Southwest Minnesota State University, OH
Central Region Coach of the Year: Scott Kneifl, Wayne State College (NE)

 

EAST REGION

East Region Player of the Year: Jamie Yonker, Adelphi University, L, Sr.
East Region Freshman of the Year: Hailey Jessen, University of Bridgeport, OH
East Region Coach of the Year: Danielle MacKnight, Adelphi University

 

MIDWEST REGION

Midwest Region Player of the Year: Jordan Gates, Grand Valley State University, S-H, Jr.
Midwest Region Freshman of the Year: Madelyn Hensley, Cedarville University, OH
Midwest Region Coach of the Year: Ryan Young, University of Missouri-St. Louis

 

SOUTH REGION

South Region Player of the Year: Nadia Lindner, Nova Southeastern University, OH, Gr.
South Region Freshman of the Year: Mia Saavedra, Spring Hill College, S-H
South Region Coach of the Year: Chris Catanach, University of Tampa

 

SOUTHEAST REGION

Southeast Region Player of the Year: Jazmyn Wheeler, Augusta University, OH, Sr.
Southeast Region Freshman of the Year: Lauren Dow, Lander University, S
Southeast Region Coach of the Year: Sharon Quarles, Augusta University

 

SOUTH CENTRAL REGION

South Central Region Player of the Year: Delaney Fuller, Dallas Baptist University, OH, Sr.
South Central Region Freshman of the Year: Shaye Koski, University of Texas at Tyler, OH
South Central Region Coach of the Year: Joel List, Regis University

 

WEST REGION

West Region Player of the Year: Emily Elliott, Cal State University, Los Angeles, RS, Jr.
West Region Freshman of the Year: Leilani Ama, Chaminade University, S
West Region Coach of the Year: Jason Rhine, Seattle Pacific University

 

 

2023 AVCA DIVISION III REGION COACHES OF THE YEAR

The following coaches have been selected as this year’s AVCA Region Coaches of the Year. Each of the honorees can be considered for the AVCA National Coach of the Year, and the awards will be presented at the Coaches Honors Luncheon in Tampa on Dec. 14, at the 2023 AVCA Convention.

ATLANTIC REGION COACH OF THE YEAR

Jonathan Paulk, Shaw University
2023 Record (as of Nov. 28): 30-5
Paulk picks up his first AVCA Region Coach of the Year award after leading Shaw to one of the most successful seasons in program history. The Lady Bears, who are currently 30-5, barreled through the CIAA regular season with an unblemished 18-0 mark that included 14 sweep wins.

CENTRAL REGION COACH OF THE YEAR

Scott Kneifl, Wayne State College (NE)
2023 Record (as of Nov. 28): 28-2
Kneifl’s squad, which was ranked No. 1 most of the season, enters NCAA play with an impressive 28-2 record. His team was 18-0 with 14 sweeps—dropping only six sets—in NSIC regular-season play against a daunting schedule that featured six teams ranked in the top 10 of the AVCA Poll.

EAST REGION COACH OF THE YEAR

Danielle MacKnight, Adelphi University
2023 Record (as of Nov. 28): 25-6
After leading her 2022 team to the program’s first NCAA Sweet Sixteen appearance, MacKnight has kept things rolling again in 2023. This year’s squad earned the regular-season Northeast 10 title and didn’t lose a match from October until the conference tourney final—a span of 15 matches.

MIDWEST REGION COACH OF THE YEAR

Ryan Young, University of Missouri-St. Louis
2023 Record (as of Nov. 28): 30-1
Young’s Tritons have had an enjoyable past 12 months of volleyball. The 2022 team closed the season with a run to the national semifinals, and this year’s team opened the new season by winning its first 30 matches. Along the way, the team achieved a program-best No. 2 ranking in the AVCA DII Poll.

SOUTH REGION COACH OF THE YEAR

Chris Catanach, University of Tampa
2023 Record (as of Nov. 28): 28-1
It has been another banner season for Tampa volleyball, which enters the NCAA postseason ranked first in the AVCA Division II Poll with a 28-1 record. Catanach led his team to wins in its first 24 matches, and the Spartans went 19-1 in conference play to the program’s third-straight league title.

SOUTHEAST REGION COACH OF THE YEAR

Sharon Quarles, Augusta University
2023 Record (as of Nov. 28): 27-4
Quarles has made her 15th season as the Augusta head coach a memorable one. Her Jaguars enter the NCAA postseason on a 13-match winning streak after claiming their fifth Peach Belt Tournament title in the past six seasons. In the tourney semifinals, Quarles earned her 300th win at Augusta.

SOUTH CENTRAL REGION COACH OF THE YEAR

Joel List, Regis University
2023 Record (as of Nov. 28): 23-6
Regis is coming off a highly successful RMAC Tournament run, in which it beat a pair of top-10 teams in the last two rounds to claim the 2023 championship. But playing tough competition is old hat for List-coached teams, as the 23-6 Rangers they have faced 11 ranked teams so far this season.

WEST REGION COACH OF THE YEAR

Jason Rhine, Seattle Pacific University
2023 Record (as of Nov. 28): 22-4
Rhine has made an immediate impact since taking over at Seattle Pacific’s head coach before the 2022 season. His team is making the school’s first NCAA Championship appearance since 2011, which was the same season the Falcons claimed their last GNAC title before turning the trick this year.