The AVCA is proud to announce its 2023 Division III 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 10 regions. Additionally, a Player of the Year, Freshman of the Year, and Coach of the Year were selected for each region. The 200 student-athletes who made All-Region represent 105 different schools. Leading the way with five selections apiece are Berry, Claremont-Mudd-Scripps, Juniata, New York University, and Springfield.
REGION 1
Region 1 Player of the Year: Sophia Lindus, OH, So., Wesleyan University (CT)
Region 1 Freshman of the Year: Skye LaMendola, OH, Bowdoin College
Region 1 Coach of the Year: Ben Somera, Wesleyan (CT)
REGION 2
Region 2 Player of the Year: Riley Donahue, OH, Jr., Springfield College
Region 2 Freshman of the Year: Tori Colosimo, S, Springfield College
Region 2 Coach of the Year: Moira Long, Springfield College
REGION 3
Region 3 Player of the Year: Jamie Koopman, MB, Sr., Ithaca College
Region 3 Freshman of the Year: Gabriela Gonzalez-Abreu, OH, Ithaca College
Region 3 Coach of the Year: Johan Dulfer, Ithaca College
REGION 4
Region 4 Player of the Year: Haley Holz, OH, Sr., New York University
Region 4 Freshman of the Year: Grace Nelson, OH, New York University
Region 4 Coach of the Year: Andrew Brown, New York University
REGION 5
Region 5 Player of the Year: Olivia Foley, S, Sr., Juniata College
Region 5 Freshman of the Year: Sarah Hart, OH, Messiah University
Region 5 Coach of the Year: Heather Pavlik, Juniata College
REGION 6
Region 6 Player of the Year: Deborah Hong, L, Jr., Emory University
Region 6 Freshman of the Year: Reagan Stoop, OH, Bridgewater College
Region 6 Coach of the Year: Brianna Jones, Emory University
REGION 7
Region 7 Player of the Year: Addie VanderWeide, OH, Jr., Hope College
Region 7 Freshman of the Year: Natalie Dieball, OH, Ohio Wesleyan University
Region 7 Coach of the Year: Becky Schmidt, Hope College
REGION 8
Region 8 Player of the Year: Riley Kindt, MB, Sr., University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh
Region 8 Freshman of the Year: Sami Perlberg, OH, University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh
Region 8 Coach of the Year: Jon Ellmann, University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh
REGION 9
Region 9 Player of the Year: Abby Glanzer, OH, Jr., University of Northwestern-St. Paul
Region 9 Freshman of the Year: Peyton Howie, MB, Bethel University
Region 9 Coach of the Year: Beth Wilmeth, University of Northwestern-St. Paul
REGION 10
Region 10 Player of the Year: Georgia McGovern, S, Sr., Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Colleges
Region 10 Freshman of the Year: Malia Capistrano, S, University of La Verne
Region 10 Coach of the Year: Julie Jenkins, Trinity University (Texas)
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.
REGION 1 COACH OF THE YEAR
Ben Somera, Wesleyan University (CT)
2023 Record (as of Nov. 14): 22-1
Somera has enjoyed a successful run since taking over as the Wesleyan volleyball coach prior to the 2015 season. His Cardinals are back in the NCAA Championship for the sixth-consecutive season after going 22-1 this year and earning both the regular-season and tournament crowns in the NESCAC.
REGION 2 COACH OF THE YEAR
Moira Long, Springfield College
2023 Record (as of Nov. 14): 26-4
In her 13th season at the helm of the Pride, Long has led Springfield to a 26-4 record in 2023. Her team heads into NCAA Championship play for the ninth time across those 13 years following a memorable 2023 campaign that included a 16-match winning streak and going a perfect 11-0 in conference play.
REGION 3 COACH OF THE YEAR
Johan Dulfer, Ithaca College
2023 Record (as of Nov. 14): 25-4
Ithaca finds itself in a familiar place under Dulfer, back in the NCAA postseason. The Bombers punched their ticket to this year’s championship after winning the school’s second-straight Liberty League title over the weekend. Dulfer’s balanced squad has won 20 of its past 21 matches, with 14 of those victories being sweeps.
REGION 4 COACH OF THE YEAR
Andrew Brown, New York University
2023 Record (as of Nov. 14): 29-4
Since becoming the Violets’ head volleyball coach in 2018, Brown has placed the program among the nation’s elite. As a follow up to last season’s NCAA Championship semifinal appearance, NYU has recorded 29 victories in 2023. This year’s team won the UAA Tournament last weekend with a thrilling five-set victory at No. 4 Emory.
REGION 5 COACH OF THE YEAR
Heather Pavlik, Juniata College
2023 Record (as of Nov. 14): 29-0
Pavlik and the Eagles are in the midst of an incredible run. Winners of last year’s NCAA Division III title, Juniata picked up where they it off in 2023 and enters this week’s regional having won 50-consecutive matches. The record-setting 2023 team has dropped just five sets all season and is ranked first nationally in hitting percentage (.295).
REGION 6 COACH OF THE YEAR
Brianna Jones, Emory University
2023 Record (as of Nov. 14): 24-2
It has been quite a debut season at Emory for Jones. She took over as the school’s volleyball coach prior to the 2023 season, after serving as an assistant from 2017-20, and her Eagles have been soaring. The team opened the year with a 14-match winning streak, and after its first loss, won the next 10 heading into last weekend’s UAA Tournament.
REGION 7 COACH OF THE YEAR
Becky Schmidt, Hope College
2023 Record (as of Nov. 14): 27-2
Late this season, Schmidt picked up the 500th win as Hope’s volleyball coach. The Flying Dutch head into the NCAA postseason ranked second in the country with a head of steam after rolling through MIAA play with an undefeated record. This marks the 14th time in the past 15 years Schmidt’s teams have made the NCAA Championship.
REGION 8 COACH OF THE YEAR
Jon Ellmann, University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh
2023 Record (as of Nov. 14): 34-1
Ellman earned his second-straight AVCA Region 8 and WIAC Coach of the Year awards following a remarkable season. His Titans have been a force in 2023, as they compiled a WIAC-best 34-match winning streak to start the season, which include the school’s first unbeaten conference season since 2009.
REGION 9 COACH OF THE YEAR
Beth Wilmeth, University of Northwestern-St. Paul
2023 Record (as of Nov. 14): 29-4
The past two decades—with Wilmeth at the helm—have brought unprecedented success for Northwestern-St. Paul. She has guided the Eagles to another stellar season, which included them running the table in UMAC play. They own wins over five ranked teams and have been ranked no lower than sixth in every AVCA Division III poll in 2023.
REGION 10 COACH OF THE YEAR
Julie Jenkins, Trinity University (Texas)
2023 Record (as of Nov. 14): 28-4
Jenkins has made her 39th season as the Tigers’ volleyball coach a great one. Her 2023 squad heads into the regional having won 24 of its last 25 matches after earning the title at last weekend’s SCAC Tournament. Trinity looks to make another deep postseason run to duplicate last year’s appearance in the 2022 NCAA final.