Mizzou's Crow, Kan and Munlyn Named 2016 AVCA All-Americans
12/14/2016 10:57:00 AM | Volleyball
Tigers have tallied 19 total All-American awards since 2000
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Redshirt junior Melanie Crow (Wildwood, Mo.), senior Carly Kan (Honolulu) and sophomore Alyssa Munlyn (Suwanee, Ga.) have each been named to the 2016 American Volleyball Coaches Association All-America list, as announced Wednesday by the AVCA.
Crow was named Third Team All-America, while Kan and Munlyn garnered Honorable Mention All-America honors this season. Crow is the first Tiger to be named either a First, Second or Third Team All-American since 2013. Kan joins former Tiger great Lisa Henning (2011-13), as the only three-time AVCA All-Americans in Mizzou Volleyball history. Munlyn has now earned consecutive All-America honors to begin her outstanding career in Tiger black and gold.
For the complete list of 2016 AVCA All-Americans, click here.
For the seventh consecutive season, Mizzou has earned at least one AVCA All-America recognition. This year's three honorees are T-2nd most All-America accolades in a single season in program history. Additionally, Mizzou has tallied multiple All-America awards in a single season four times since 2005. The Tigers have now earned 19 AVCA All-America accolades by 12 individuals since the 2000 campaign.
Crow, a first-time AVCA All-America recipient, was sensational in her first year in Tiger black and gold. As a key member of Mizzou's Sweet 16 run this season, Crow led Mizzou in kills (445), kills per set (3.97), aces (48), aces per set (0.43) and points (532.0).
Wednesday's recognition concluded Crow's slew of 2016 postseason awards, as she also tallied AVCA Southeast First Team All-Region and All-SEC honors this year. It marked her first career accolades in each respective postseason awards category.
Crow had a season to remember in 2016, as she reset single-season career highs in kills (445), attacks (1,105), hitting percentage (.254), aces (48), digs (239), solo blocks (21) and points (532.0). Her 48 aces were T-6th most in a single season in Mizzou Volleyball history. With the 2016 NCAA Volleyball season entering its final week of competition, Crow currently ranks top 50 nationally in aces, aces per set, points and points per set.
"If I'm being honest, becoming an All-American has been one of my biggest dreams ever since I became a collegiate athlete," Crow said. "But, no matter the individual award, I think it's a true testament to the team and the entire Mizzou Volleyball program around me. Surrounding yourself with good people who are dedicated to working hard for each other is what leads to things like this year's Sweet 16 and SEC Championship. I'm just lucky and honored that another dream happened to come true along the way as well."
Kan, a three-time AVCA All-America recipient (2013, '15, '16), recently concluded one of the finest careers in Mizzou Volleyball history. She leaves the program ranked top 5 all-time in career kills (1,677), attacks (4,392), digs (1,445) and points (1,905). Kan also places top 10 all-time in career digs per set (2.92) and points per set (3.85).
In 2016, Kan once again played a pivotal role into Mizzou's overall success. She led the team with 14 double-doubles (sixth-most in SEC), including eight double-doubles in SEC action and two in NCAA Tournament play. Kan showed her versatility throughout the season, earning Week 5 SEC Co-Offensive Player of the Week and Week 14 SEC Defensive Player of the Week honors.
Earlier this month, Kan became the only player in Mizzou Volleyball history with four all-time First Team AVCA All-Region awards. Additionally, she was only one of six players in the nation to receive First Team All-Region honors in each of the past four years.
"Getting any form of this award is a great honor," Kan exclaimed. "I'm so grateful that I get to represent the University of Missouri."
Munlyn, a two-time AVCA All-America recipient, followed up her breakthrough 2015 AVCA All-American and SEC Freshman of the Year season with another outstanding effort in her sophomore campaign. Overall this season, she paced the Tigers in overall hitting (.424), solo blocks (36), block assists (117), total blocks (153) and blocks per set (1.25).
In current national statistic rankings, Munlyn ranks sixth in hitting percentage, 30th in total blocks and 54th in blocks per set. With four total blocks at Mizzou's Sweet 16 matchup at No. 2 Minnesota (Dec. 9), she broke her own single-season Mizzou Volleyball total blocks record.
Additionally, Munlyn's 36 solo blocks this year ranked T-4th most in a single season in Mizzou Volleyball history, while her 117 block assists ranked third. Despite only playing two years in Mid-Missouri, Munlyn already ranks top 10 in career blocks per set (1.21), solo blocks (61) and total blocks (302).
"Receiving this award is an absolute blessing," Munlyn said. "I'm honored to be recognized among some of the best athletes in the country and I'm extremely grateful for the opportunities Mizzou has given me."
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