University of Connecticut Athletics
Strawberry and Thomas Earn All-Conference Honors
12/1/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
PROVIDENCE, R.I. - Senior captain Erika Thomas (Ocoee, Fla.) and junior outside hitter Jade Strawberry (Tallahassee, Fla.) have been named to the All-American Athletic Conference Second Team, as announced by the league on Tuesday morning.
In her final season as a Husky, Thomas appeared in 31 matches and made 28 starts. The middle blocker/right side hitter was third on the team with 231 kills and 80 blocks. She posted a season-high 16 kills against Tulsa on Oct. 9 and tallied seven blocks when UConn hosted Bryant on Sept. 4. For her career, Thomas has totaled 405 blocks, which ranks fifth among UConn's all-time blocks leaders.
Strawberry had a breakout season for the Huskies, starting in all 31 matches and compiling a team-high 350 kills in 119 sets. She more than doubled her previous career output after entering the 2015 season with 307 kills in her first two seasons in Storrs. The Tallahassee native tallied a career-high 24 kills against East Carolina on Oct. 16 and posted a new personal best mark on Oct. 4 with 27 digs versus Memphis. Strawberry notched 12 double-doubles this season and double-digits kills in 17 contests. She had at least five kills in every appearance. Her 2.94 kills/set and 27 service aces topped the team.
It is the first career All-Conference laurels for both players under second-year head coach Kris Grunwald. UConn finished 16-15 in 2015, including a 10-10 conference mark in its third year as a member of The American.
2015 American Women's Volleyball Awards
Player of the Year
Avery Acker, S, SMU
Coach of the Year
Lisa Seifert, SMU
Freshman of the Year
Jordan Thompson, RS/OH, Cincinnati
Libero of the Year
Morgan Heise, L, SMU
Setter of the Year
Avery Acker, S, SMU
First-Team All-Conference
Jale Hervey, OH, UCF
Carly Nolan, OH, Cincinnati
Jordan Thompson, RS.OH, Cincinnati *
Brookah Palmer, OH, Houston *
Janelle Giordano, MB, SMU *
Morgan Heise, L, SMU *
Avery Acker, S, SMU *
Irem Asci, OH, Temple
Kirsten Overton, MB, Temple
Sandra Sydlik, S, Temple
Erica Bohannon, OH, Tulsa
Ashley Hooper, MB, Tulsa
* - Unanimous selection
Second-Team All-Conference
Abbie Fleener, OPP, UCF
Jade Strawberry, OH, UConn
Erika Thomas, MB/RSH, UConn
Olivia O'Dell, L, Houston
Dakota Hampton, OH, USF
Cailin Bula, OH, SMU
Abbey Bybel, OH, SMU
Izzy Rapacz, OH/RS, Temple
