Skjodt, Kieffer-Wright Earn AVCA All-America Recognitions
12/13/2017 1:32:00 PM | Volleyball
KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- University of Michigan junior outside hitter Carly Skjodt was named to the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) All-America Third Team, while senior middle blocker Claire Kieffer-Wright received an All-America Honorable Mention, it was announced Wednesday (Dec. 13).
The All-America honor is a first for both Skjodt and Kieffer-Wright. Last week, both student-athletes captured AVCA All-North Region honors for the first time in their careers.
A junior from Indianapolis, Indiana, Skjodt recently garnered her first All-Big Ten Conference first-team selection, and was the only Wolverine to earn a selection this season. She also captured two Big Ten Player of the Week selections during the 2017 season and was named a Sports Imports/AVCA National Player of the Week (Nov. 21), becoming the second player in Michigan history to earn the national award. Additionally, Skjodt was named a CoSIDA Academic All-District first-team selection in 2017 and was voted the MVP of the Michigan Challenge Tournament.
A team co-captain, Skjodt started all 33 matches for Michigan during the 2017 season and played every set as a six-rotation outside hitter. She posted eight kill-dig double-doubles and led the Wolverines in kills 23 times. The junior also totaled four 20-plus kill matches on the year, including a season-high 24 kills through four sets at Michigan State (Oct. 18), and finished the season with a team-leading 433 kills at 3.67 kills per set. Skjodt finished the season with 273 digs, which ranked second best on the team behind libero Jenna Lerg.
In her final season with the Maize and Blue, Kieffer-Wright earned her first postseason conference honor as an All-Big Ten honorable mention and her first regional honor as an AVCA All-North Region honorable mention. A native of South Pasadena, California, she capped off a four-year career with five all-tournament team selections and earned her first Big Ten Player of the Week accolade during the 2017 campaign after totaling a career-high nine blocks in a 3-1 win over Ohio State (Sept. 29).
Also a team co-captain, Kieffer-Wright ended her volleyball career as a leader for the Wolverines on both offense and defense. She started and played every set for the Wolverines at her middle blocker position, and led Michigan with a .330 attack average in 2017, which ranks sixth best all-time for the Wolverines. She also added 114 total blocks this season and finished her career with 370 blocks, which ranks in the top-10 all-time at Michigan.
Led by Skjodt and Kieffer-Wright, Michigan made its 17th trip to the NCAA Tournament this season behind its 12th 20-win season under head coach Mark Rosen. The Wolverines also set a program record with three consecutive wins over top-25 opponents in late November.
