Cole Earns AVCA All-America Second Team Selection
12/16/2015 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Dec. 16, 2015
LEXINGTON, Ky. -- University of Michigan junior outside hitter/middle blocker Abby Cole was named to the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) All-America Second Team, it was announced Wednesday (Dec. 16). Just last week, she received an AVCA All-North Region team selection.
The junior from Grand Haven, Michigan, played in 33 matches for the Maize and Blue, averaging a team-high 3.18 kills per set on a .318 attack average. She also led the Wolverines with 123 total blocks on 1.02 blocks per set, guiding her team to victories over top teams that included Penn State, Ohio State and Illinois.
Just a week prior, Cole was selected to the All-Big Ten Conference team and was the only player from Michigan to earn such an honor. She also began the 2015 season as one of four unanimous Preseason All-Big Ten team selections. This season marked her third-straight post-season Big Ten Conference honor, after being named to the 2013 All-Freshman team and the 2014 All-Conference Team.
After leading her team in multiple statistical categories during the 2015 campaign, Cole now ranks second all-time in Michigan's record books with a .317 career attack percentage. In addition, her .318 hitting percentage throughout this past season ranks eighth all-time for U-M, while last year's .359 average is the best in Michigan history. She finished the season leading her team in kills per set, attack average, total blocks, blocks per set and points per set.
During the 2015 regular-season schedule, Cole tallied a career-high 10 blocks in two matches, earning double-digit kills in 19 matches and recording two block-kill double-doubles. She also registered a career-high .688 attack average in a 3-0 sweep of Western Michigan, a number that ranks fourth all-time in Michigan's 43-year history. Cole was also a Big Ten Conference Player of the Week (Sep. 14), as well as the MVP of the Michigan Challenge and Michigan Invite tournaments, and she tallied two double-digit kill performances in NCAA Tournament matches against Santa Clara and UCLA.
Led by Cole, Michigan made its 15th trip to the NCAA Tournament this season, advancing to the second round with a first-round victory over Santa Clara. The Wolverines eventually fell to the UCLA Bruins in round two, ending their NCAA run.
Communications Contact: Katie Gwinn
