Jones, Welsh, Crocker Honored by American Volleyball Coaches Association
12/10/2019 2:45:00 PM | Volleyball
LEXINGTON, Ky. -- University of Michigan volleyball sophomore Paige Jones and senior MacKenzi Welsh were honored by the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) as All-Region members, the organization announced Tuesday (Dec. 10). In addition, fifth-year Cori Crocker earned an All-Region honorable mention nod.
"We are extremely proud to have three of our student athletes recognized by the AVCA for the All-Region awards this season," said head coach Mark Rosen. "Paige, MacKenzi and Cori worked extremely hard, and this is an example of it paying off."
The All-Region accolades are the first for both Jones and Welsh, who will now be considered for AVCA All-American honors.
Jones, who was a unanimous All-Big Ten first team selection this season, led the Wolverines in kills (3.92 per set) and total aces (39), and was third on the team in digs (2.22). A native of New Bremen, Ohio, Jones started all 32 matches this season and played every set as a six-rotation player, posting 10 kill-dig double-doubles and leading the Wolverines in kills 22 times. She also has totaled five 20-plus kill matches on the year, including a career-high 27 in against No. 16 Purdue (Nov. 27). The outside hitter earned Big Ten Player of the Week honors once (Nov. 11) and was one of nine players to earn a unanimous Big Ten first team distinction.
"There were high expectations for Paige after her strong freshman season in 2018," said Rosen. "Paige met those expectations head on and took her game to a completely different level in 2019. Her level of consistency improved immensely not only in her attacking, but in all facets of her game. She became a true six-rotation contributor for our team and brought a consistent level of production that we greatly needed. We are very excited to have two more years with Paige leading our program."
In her final season with the Wolverines, Welsh conducted one of the Big Ten's best offenses as the Wolverines had the fourth-best attack percentage in the league (.266). The Bolingbrook, Illinois, native divvied out the conference's third-best assists per set mark (11.03), and had eight 50-plus assist matches on the season. Thanks to Welsh, the Michigan offense was one of only three in the Big Ten to have five players averaging more than 1.85 kills per set. The setter tallied eight assist-dig double-doubles on the campaign, and set a new career high in kills with 95. Welsh also earned an All-Big Ten first team nod after being an All-Big Ten Freshman and All-Big Ten honorable mention honoree in 2016.
"I felt Mackenzi had the best season of her career in 2019" said Rosen. "She played at a consistently high level night in and night out, and our team benefited from her consistency. In my opinion, she is one of the best setters in collegiate volleyball, and we loved having her play in the Maize and Blue."
Crocker made her mark on the 2019 season with her efficient attack, finishing second in the Big Ten and fifth in the NCAA in attack percentage (.440), and breaking the all-time Michigan record for career attack percentage (.336) along the way. The fifth-year senior played in 28 matches (27 starts), had a 1.88 kill per set average and led the Wolverines in blocking with a 0.88 blocks per set average. The Brighton, Michigan, native set new single-game career highs in kills (14 at Northwestern) and attack percentage (12-1-15, .733 vs. Illinois) this season on her way to earning All-Big Ten second team recognition.
"Cori had the most complete season of her career in 2019, and to be awarded Honorable Mention All North Region is outstanding," said Rosen. "She was the ultimate playmaker for us this season, making everyone else around her better. The fact that she's getting recognition is well deserved."
