Three CAC Volleyball Players Earn AVCA All-Region Accolades

Three CAC Volleyball Players Earn AVCA All-Region Accolades

AVCA All-Region Teams

Christopher Newport's Katelyn Newsome and Josie Lucernoni and Mary Washington's Peyton Dunow have been named to the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) All-North Region Team. Newsome collected first-team accolades, while Lucernoni and Dunow were honorable mention team selections. It marks the first All-Region awards for all three players. 

Earlier this week, both Newsome and Lucernoni were also honored by the Capital Athletic Conference for their efforts. Newsome secured first-team All-League accolades, while Lucernoni was a second-team selection. Lucernoni is the first CNU libero to earn the honor since four-time All-American Abby Hogge was patrolling the court from 2009-12. Meanwhile, Newsome joins a long list of decorated middle blockers, including former teammate and three-time first-team honoree Hannah Miller. 

Newsome has been a dominant force on both sides of the ball for the Captains. On the defensive end, she currently ranks third in the CAC and 17th in the nation with a 1.02 blocks-per-set average. Overall, she has 108 total blocks, including a team-high 20 solo stops. Dominant throughout the year, she has registered at least five rejections on eight occasions, highlighted by an 11-stop showcase against Southern Virginia on October 20.
 
In addition to her work on the defensive side, Newsome leads the Captains with a .281 hitting percentage while averaging over 2.09 kills per set. The Newsoms, Virginia native has 10 double-digit kill showings this season, including back-to-back efforts during last week's CAC Tournament. She also clobbered a career-high 18 blasts at Stevens on September 16 and boasts a pair of double-doubles, including a 10-kill, 10-block masterpiece against Salisbury on November 2.
 
Lucernoni has been a stabilizing force on the back row. The junior libero has kept the court clean with a team-best 4.71 digs-per-set average. Her 447 total digs also place her fifth in the CAC. Just as effective on the serve-receive unit, she has compiled a .944 reception percentage while converting 436 of her 462 total attempts during the year.
 
One of the squad's most consistent contributors, Lucernoni has pocketed at least 10 digs during her last 24 appearances. That run is currently tied for the longest streak of double-digit efforts in program history. Her finest hour came during a 29-dig showing at Stevens on September 16, while she also contributed 27 in the CAC Championship against Mary Washington on November 4. Along with her defensive efforts, the Ashburn, Virginia native has also clubbed 26 aces and handed out 73 assists.

Dunow, a first team All-CAC selection for UMW, becomes the second Eagle in as many years to gain all-region honors, and the second in program history. Dunow led the Eagles to a 19-10 record this season, with 3.65 kills per game and 2.67 digs per game. She posted a career-high 25 kills in a win over nationally-ranked Eastern University this fall, and added 21 kills in a victory over Franklin & Marshall. She recorded nine double-doubles this season, registering double figures in kills and digs, including 17 and 17 in the CAC Championship against Christopher Newport.