LA GRANDE, Ore. — The NAIA and AVCA announced their respective 2023 Volleyball All-American Teams on Monday. Eastern Oregon University had two players earn honors as senior outside hitter Sade Williams was named a Third-Team All-American by both organizations. Freshman middle hitter Mylie Mills also earned an AVCA All-American Honorable Mention nod.
“I am incredibly proud of Sade,” Head Coach Kaki McLean Morehead said. “There isn’t a player like her, and she will be incredibly missed.”
The NAIA All-America teams are selected by the NAIA-VCA Executive Committee during the NAIA Championship. The pool of candidates comes from the All-Conference/CAC teams. AVCA All-America Teams (seperate from the NAIA All-American awards) are selected by the AVCA NAIA Volleyball All-America Selection Committee.
Williams, a dynamic senior outside hitter for the Mounties, put together an impressive all-around campaign while leading Eastern to the National Championship Semifinals for the second time in program history.
The senior was a force to be reckoned with on the offensive end. In her 37 matches played, she averaged 2.68 kills per set, accumulating a total of 340 kills on the year hitting at a .196 clip. Williams further made her mark on the service line, recording 21 aces throughout the season.
Not only an offensive powerhouse; she excelled defensively as well. Throughout her 127 sets played, Williams was a strong presence in the back row with 352 digs at an average of 2.77 per set. At the net she totaled 77 blocks at a rate of 0.61 per set.
This year’s selection for Williams is her first career All-American award adding to a long list of accolades over her five-year career with the Mountaineers.
Mills, a new addition to the Mountaineer squad, made an instant impact playing in the middle this season. The freshman put up big numbers finishing the year 14th in the nation in blocks averaging 1.21 per set. Offensively, the Nampa, Idaho native was the most efficient Mountie on the attack hitting .288 on the year while averaging 1.54 kills per set.
Williams Named Third-Team All-American
