Quick set: Division I All-Americans

Today the AVCA unveiled the three Division I All-American teams. Let's take a quick look at each.

First Team
MB – Inky Ajanaku (SOPH, Stanford)
MB – Tori Dixon (SR, Minnesota)
OH – Haley Eckerman (JR, Texas)
L – Natalie Hagglund (SR, USC)
S – Micha Hancock (JR, Penn State)
OH – Emily Hartong (SR, Hawaii)
OH – Lisa Henning (SR, Missouri)
S – Molly Kreklow (SR, Missouri)
MB – Chloe Mann (SR, Florida)
OH – Ebony Nwanebu (FR, USC)
OH – Kelsey Robinson (SR, Nebraska)
OPP – Ariel Scott (SR, Penn State)
OH – Krista Vansant (JR, Washington)
MB – Carly Wopat (SR, Stanford)

Got to see most of these ladies play this season (I don't think I ever saw a Minnesota match this year, but I did see some of Dixon last season). Obviously a strong crop. My only real surprise is Nwanebu making first-team as a three-rotation freshman, but clearly the voters felt she was overwhelmingly good enough or she wouldn't have gotten this far. Nwanebu has also been named national Freshman of the Year, and that does not surprise me. Her biggest competitor for the award was named second-team, so in that respect she's a clear winner.

One of these players will be named national Player of the Year at the awards banquet held on the Friday between the national semifinals and the national championship match. Vansant is the clear front-runner, but there's hardly a bad choice to be had.

And here is the second team:

OH – Whitney Billings (SR, Kentucky)
OH – Liz Brenner (JR, Oregon)
OH – Samantha Bricio (SOPH, USC)
S – Madi Bugg (SOPH, Stanford)
S – Lauren Carlini (FR, Wisconsin)
MB – Chloe Ferrari (SR, San Diego)
L – Kristen Hahn (SR, Iowa State)
OPP – Christina Higgins (JR, California)
OH – Deja McClendon (SR, Penn State)
MB – Sallie McLaurin (SR, Oklahoma)
MB – Chiaka Ogbogu (FR, Texas)
OH – Bailey Webster (SR, Texas)
OH – Lauren Wicinski (SR, Michigan State)
OH – Ashley Wittman (SR, Minnesota)

I'll take this squad against just about any out there going. I was referring to Carlini above as Nwanebu's prime competitor for Freshman of the Year, though Ogbogu is an easy and close third place. Barring injuries, both have futures as first-teamers. McClendon is the only four-time honouree in this year's All-American selection, having been named second, first, and third-team respectively in her freshman, sophomore, and junior seasons. A track record you could very well see Ogbogu, Carlini, or both of them following.

Here's the third team:

OH – McKenzie Adams (SR, UTSA)
OH – Jocelynn Birks (SOPH, Illinois)
S – Chelsey Feekin (SR, Wichita State)
OH – Alexa Gray (SOPH, BYU)
MB – Caroline Jarmoc (SR, Kansas)
S – Elizabeth Koberstein (SR, Marquette)
L – Kori Moster (JR, Michigan State)
OH – Kaleigh Nelson (JR, Washington)
S – Val Nichol (JR, Purdue)
MB – Alexis Olgard (SR, USC)
OPP – Chantale Riddle (JR, New Mexico)
OH – Kadie Rolfzen (FR, Nebraska)
OH – Emily Sklar (SR, Duke)
MB – Katie Slay (SR, Penn State)

Good crop of talent here, too. Saw most of these players this year, though most only in the NCAA tournament. It's a more senior-heavy squad than I may have otherwise expected, so it means we'll see a lot of new players be stars of the show in 2014. I'm pleased to see Wichita State's Feekin make the selection, as that was a team I enjoyed following the last couple of years and she's certainly a skilled setter. In terms of ones to watch for next season, Val Nichol is a player with an exciting skillset, and of course practically all the time in the world remains for Nebraska's Rolfzen sisters.

For more detailed blurbs on each player and a complete list of Honourable Mention selections, check out the AVCA website.