LEXINGTON, Ky. – Chaminade University setter
Alexia Byrnes (Chicago/Youngstown State/Saint Francis HS), libero
Anna Dalla Vecchia (Vicenza, Italy/University of San Francisco/IIS S.B. Boscardin HS) and outside hitter
Brooklen Pe'a (Woods Cross, Utah/Youngstown State/Bountiful HS) were named to the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Division II All-America Honorable Mention team.
The trio helped the Silverswords set a program record with 27 wins, capturing their first Pacific West Conference title since 1996 and the team's fourth appearance in the NCAA Tournament.
Byrnes put together one of the top seasons by a setter in school history. Her 1,149 assists ranks 27th in Division II and broke the school's single-season mark while her decision-making to spread the attack resulted in five players averaging over 2.09 kills per set. Byrnes' ability to play the front row was vital with her 146 kills being the most by a CUH setter in the rally-scoring era which began in 2001. She also had 36 total blocks, 33 assisted.
Dalla Vecchia set two school records in digs (631) and digs per set (5.09) which ranks 14th and 44th, respectively, in D-II, while also leading the conference in aces (49), which is 27th in the nation, and aces per set (0.40). She recorded double-digit digs in all but one of the team's 33 matches this season while her 34 digs against Fresno Pacific set a program record in three-set matches which is also second-most in PacWest history. Including her three years at the University of San Francisco and one at Xavier University of Louisiana, she leaves with 2,290 digs in her collegiate career.
Pe'a put up consistent and solid numbers which led her to being named the PacWest Player of the Year, the first Silversword to earn the award since 1997. The junior averaged a team-high 2.95 kills and 3.44 points per set while also finishing the season second in aces (31), fourth in digs (266) and fifth in total blocks (43). Pe'a finished with eight double-doubles and recorded double-digits digs in seven of her last eight matches.
Byrnes, Dalla Vecchia and Pe'a are the fifth Silverswords in program history to earn AVCA All-America honors. Chaminade's other AVCA All-Americans are Keani Passi (2015) and
Rachel Reedy (2019), who were also named to the honorable mention teams.
The All-America teams were selected by AVCA Division II All-America Committee, one member for each of the eight regions in Division II. Sonoma State's Bear Grassl represents the West Region.
