COLUMBIA, Mo. – Redshirt sophomore Kira Larson (Fargo, N.D.) and freshman Alyssa Munlyn (Suwanee, Ga.) have each been named to the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) All-America Honorable Mention Team, as announced Wednesday by the AVCA.
The duo's All-America nods give Mizzou 16 All-America selections since Wayne and Susan Kreklow took over the program in 2000. It marks Larson and Munlyn's first career All-America awards.
"What an accomplishment by Kira and Alyssa as they both deserved this tremendous honor," head coach Wayne Kreklow said. "Both of these ladies came in as newcomers this season and made an instant impact to our program. I could count on maximum energy and effort on the court each night from both ladies. They turned in really special performances all season long and I can't wait to see them continue to get better in their Tiger careers."
Larson entered the 2015 campaign as one of six newcomers and quickly solidified herself as one of the Tigers' top performers. The Mizzou RS was a model of consistency throughout the year, posting double-digit points in 24 of 33 matches. Larson recorded 10-plus kills 14 times while hitting better than .300 in 16 matches.
The Fargo native reset career highs in every statistical category in 2015. Larson posted a career-high 17 kills on Nov. 25 vs. Texas A&M, hit better than .400 on 10 different occasions and tallied a season-high 19.5 points on Oct. 28 vs. Alabama. Larson joined teammate Carly Kan as Tigers to be named to all four All-Tournament Teams this season.
"Wow, I'm very honored as well as shocked to receive this award," Larson said. "I truly feel blessed to be a part of a team like this and there's no other place I'd want to be."
Munlyn joins Kan (2013) as the only Tigers to garner All-America honors in their freshman season. Overall in 2015, Munlyn placed in both the top-10 in conference hitting percentage (seventh / .357) and blocks per set (fourth / 1.16). In SEC play, Munlyn took her game to another level, recording 147 kills on .431 hitting with 89 total blocks (1.25 per set).
In SEC matches, Munlyn's .431 hitting percentage ranked third in the conference while her 1.25 blocks per set ranked fourth-best. The Suwanee native's 149 total blocks this season were the most in a single-season in program history. Additionally, her 1.16 blocks per set ranked eighth-highest in a single-season in Tiger history.
Munlyn has also received 2015 AVCA All-Southeast Region, 2015 AVCA Southeast Region Freshman of the Year, 2015 All-SEC, 2015 SEC Freshman of the Year, 2015 SEC All-Freshman Team and four SEC Freshman of the Week honors this season.
"I'm so blessed to have received this honor and to be able to compete at such a high level," Munlyn said. "It makes me extremely excited for what the future has in store."
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