The AVCA is proud to announce its 2024 Division I Women’s Volleyball All-Region teams and award winners.
There are 14 All-Region team members and 6-8 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 the regions.
The 211 student-athletes who made All-Region represent 108 different schools. Pittsburgh leads the way with seven selections, followed by Oregon with six. Creighton, Florida, Kansas, Louisville, Nebraska, Stanford, and Wisconsin all had five All-Region picks.
CENTRAL REGION
Player of the Year: Mychael Vernon, University of Missouri, OH, Gr.
Coach of the Year: Dawn Sullivan, University of Missouri
EAST COAST REGION
Player of the Year: Olivia Babcock, University of Pittsburgh, RS, So.
Freshman of the Year: Izzy Starck, Penn State University, S
Coach of the Year: Dan Fisher, University of Pittsburgh
MIDWEST REGION
Player of the Year: Eva Hudson, Purdue University, OH, Jr.
Freshman of the Year: Carson Tyler, Ball State University, OH
Coach of the Year: Tim Horsmon, University of Dayton
NORTH REGION
Player of the Year: Sarah Franklin, University of Wisconsin, OH, Sr.
Freshman of the Year: Charlie Fuerbringer, University of Wisconsin, S
Coach of the Year: Mike Gawlik, Central Michigan University
NORTHWEST REGION
Player of the Year: Mimi Colyer, University of Oregon, OH, Jr.
Freshman of the Year: Julia Hunt, University of Washington, MB
Coach of the Year: Dan Georgalas, South Dakota State University
PACIFIC REGION
Player of the Year: Kami Miner, Stanford University, S, Sr.
Freshman of the Year: Avery Scoggins, University of Arizona, S
Coach of the Year: JJ Van Niel, Arizona State University
SOUTH REGION
Player of the Year: Brooklyn DeLeye, University of Kentucky, OH, So.
Freshman of the Year: Nayelis Cabello, University of Louisville, S
Coach of the Year: Craig Skinner, University of Kentucky
SOUTHEAST REGION
Player of the Year: Kennedy Martin, University of Florida, RS, So.
Freshman of the Year: Jaela Auguste, University of Florida, MB
Coach of the Year: Matt Botsford, Florida Gulf Coast University
SOUTHWEST REGION
Player of the Year: Melanie Parra, TCU, OH, Sr.
Freshman of the Year: Ayden Ames, University of Texas, MB
Coach of the Year: Sam Erger, Southern Methodist University
WEST REGION
Player of the Year: Lexi Rodriguez, University of Nebraska, L, Sr.
Freshman of the Year: Alex Bower, Brigham Young University, S
Coach of the Year: Kirsten Bernthal Booth, Creighton University
2024 AVCA DIVISION I 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 Louisville on Dec. 19, at the 2024 AVCA Convention.
CENTRAL REGION COACH OF THE YEAR
Dawn Sullivan, University of Missouri
2024 Record (as of Dec. 9): 22-8
Sullivan has opened her career at Missouri with a bang. In her first season, she led the Tigers back to the NCAA Tournament, and she has her 2024 squad in the Sweet Sixteen via a four-set win at No. 10 SMU on Friday. Following a nine-match win streak, the Tigers moved into the AVCA coaches’ poll Nov. 11, and they’ve been ranked ever since.
EAST COAST REGION COACH OF THE YEAR
Dan Fisher, University of Pittsburgh
2024 Record (as of Dec. 9): 31-1
The hits just keep on coming for Fisher and the Panthers. Coming of three-consecutive NCAA semifinal appearances, Pittsburgh has been even more dominant in 2024. The veteran coach’s team has rolled to a 31-1 record against a schedule featuring 12 ranked opponents, and they didn’t drop a set in the first month of the season.
MIDWEST REGION COACH OF THE YEAR
Tim Horsmon, University of Dayton
2024 Record (as of Dec. 9): 31-2
Horsmon’s team added to the luster of an already great season over the weekend, as it took down Baylor on the road to earn the school’s first-ever regional appearance in the Division I Championship. He has led the Flyers to 31 wins heading into the 2024 Sweet Sixteen, and he picked up his 400th career victory at UD earlier this season.
NORTH REGION COACH OF THE YEAR
Mike Gawlik, Central Michigan University
2024 Record (as of Dec. 9): 24-7
The recently completed storybook season was Gawlik’s best at Central Michigan. His squad put together the school’s most successful campaign since 1983 by going 24-7 and finishing in second place in the Mid-American Conference with a 15-3 mark in league play. In addition, a record-tying five Chippewa players earned All-MAC honors.
NORTHWEST REGION COACH OF THE YEAR
Dan Georgalas, South Dakota State University
2024 Record (as of Dec. 9): 27-3
Georgalas guided SDSU to one of the nation’s most impressive turnarounds. His team went 9-20 a year ago and rebounded to finish the 2024 campaign with 27 victories, for an incredible 18-win swing. They opened the memorable season by winning their first 22 matches, which made them the last unbeaten team in Division I.
PACIFIC REGION COACH OF THE YEAR
JJ Van Niel, Arizona State University
2024 Record (as of Dec. 9): 30-3
Van Niel makes it two years in a row of earning AVCA Region Coach of the Year honors after leading Arizona State to the 2024 Big 12 title. The team’s 30 victories marked the second-most in program history and the Sun Devils tied a school record with 20 sweeps. They also were ranked No. 8 in the final regular-season AVCA Top 25 Poll.
SOUTH REGION COACH OF THE YEAR
Craig Skinner, University of Kentucky
2024 Record (as of Dec. 9): 22-7
Another year, another Southeastern Conference title for Skinner and the Wildcats. The veteran coach’s 20th squad at Kentucky picked up the school’s eighth-consecutive league crown, no small feat considering they faced a rugged schedule that included nine ranked teams. The Wildcats enter the NCAA regional on a 16-match win streak.
SOUTHEAST REGION COACH OF THE YEAR
Matt Botsford, Florida Gulf Coast University
2024 Record (as of Dec. 9): 27-5
Florida Gulf Coast enjoyed a great season, as Botsford’s 2024 squad tied for the most victories, 24, by an FGCU team in his 11-year tenure. The Eagles captured the A-Sun regular-season and tournament titles, earning an NCAA Championship bid for the fourth-straight season. Botsford also picked up his 250th career coaching win this season.
SOUTHWEST REGION COACH OF THE YEAR
Sam Erger, Southern Methodist University
2024 Record (as of Dec. 9): 25-8
It was a magical season of firsts for Erger and the Mustangs. Her 2024 team made the school’s first appearance in the top 10 in the AVCA Poll, received a program-best No. 2-seed in the NCAA Championship, and hosted an NCAA first- and second-round matches for the first time. SMU also had wins over No. 2 Nebraska and No. 1 Pittsburgh.
WEST REGION COACH OF THE YEAR
Kirsten Bernthal Booth, Creighton University
2024 Record (as of Dec. 9): 31-2
Booth’s Bluejays are enjoying a record-setting 2024 campaign. They moved into the top five of the AVCA Poll for the first time ever, set a record for consecutive home wins (currently 28), and have tied the highest win total (31) during Booth’s 22 years at Creighton. The coach picked up her 500th career win in last week’s NCAA first-round match.
Check out the Division I Awards Archives, which include the All-Region Teams and Award Winners history.