BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Mizzou Volleyball was well represented in the annual Southeastern Conference Volleyball awards announcement Wednesday (Nov. 22), as four Tigers garnered honors following a vote from the league's coaches.
Redshirt senior Kira Larson (Fargo, N.D.) and junior Alyssa Munlyn (Suwanee, Ga.) were named All-SEC, while the first-year duo of Kayla Caffey (Chicago, Ill.) and Leketor Member-Meneh (St. Louis, Mo.) were tabbed SEC All-Freshman.
"I'm very pleased and happy for the recognition of our players by the other coaches in the conference," Mizzou Volleyball head coach Wayne Kreklow said. "I thought that both Kira and Alyssa have had great seasons and I attribute it to a lot of hard work over time. You don't get good overnight. It takes continuous, purposeful work over a long period of time. A lot of younger players still don't get that, but Alyssa and Kira have provided a great example."
"I'm equally as pleased for both Kayla and Leketor for being recognized as two of the top freshmen in the conference. I really believe that Dariana (Hollingsworth) was also worthy of a spot on the All-Freshman Team, but with only seven spots available, it gets really tough. We asked her to do a lot of things outside her comfort zone this year and she really responded well."
"These honors are also a reflection of the quality of our entire team and I know the players recognized would be the first to say that this recognition wouldn't be possible without the stellar performance of their teammates!"
Wednesday's announcement gives Mizzou Volleyball 15 all-time All-SEC honorees. The pair of All-Freshman accolades increases the Tigers' all-time total to four. Mizzou has garnered multiple All-SEC winners in five of six years since joining the conference in 2012.
Larson received her second career All-SEC award, following her first honor in 2015 in her first year with Mizzou. The Tiger right side hitter has been a model of consistency over her three years in Columbia, Mo., tallying 250-plus kills, .300-plus hitting, 25-plus aces, 115-plus digs, 80-plus total blocks and 330-plus points in each season.
In Larson's 2017 senior campaign, she tallied her 1,000th career point while also surpassing 800 all-time kills. The Fargo, N.D., native has particularly excelled in SEC action, producing 153 kills on .354 hitting.
Munlyn earned her third consecutive All-SEC honor, joining former Tiger Carly Kan as the only individuals in program history with three All-SEC recognitions. The Tiger middle blocker has been a force since coming to Mid-Missouri in 2015, already ranking second in all-time Mizzou career total blocks (475) and block assists (384).
Over Munlyn's 2017 junior campaign, she has reset the Mizzou individual single-season total block record for the third-straight year. Munlyn's 173 total blocks currently ranks fourth in the NCAA and first in the SEC, while her 1.54 blocks per set ranks sixth in the nation and second in the conference.
Following a redshirt season in 2016, Caffey has joined Munlyn at middle blocker this year to form one of the SEC's top duos. The Chicago, Ill., native's 111 total blocks and 19 solo blocks each rank second on Mizzou. In SEC play this year, Caffey has performed at a high level with 93 kills on .365 hitting.
The Tiger middle blocker's top performance this season occurred at home against Ole Miss (Oct. 8), as she tallied 10 kills on an incredible .909 hitting percentage. The astronomical hitting mark ranked T-2nd highest single-match individual hitting percentage in program history.
Member-Meneh opened eyes immediately after concluding a remarkable season-opening tournament for the Tigers. At the Culver's Governors Challenge (Aug. 25-26), the St. Louis, Mo., native led Mizzou in kills (70), kills per set (3.89) and points (75.5) over its four-match stretch.
Highlighted by a pair of 20-plus kill matches in Clarksville, Tenn., Member-Meneh carried her offensive firepower into conference action later in the season and added eight additional double-digit kill matches to her resume.
Visit MUTigers.com for the latest information on all things Mizzou Volleyball. You can also find the Tigers on social media by liking us on Facebook (Missouri Volleyball) and following us on Twitter and Instagram (@MizzouVB).
Redshirt senior Kira Larson (Fargo, N.D.) and junior Alyssa Munlyn (Suwanee, Ga.) were named All-SEC, while the first-year duo of Kayla Caffey (Chicago, Ill.) and Leketor Member-Meneh (St. Louis, Mo.) were tabbed SEC All-Freshman.
"I'm very pleased and happy for the recognition of our players by the other coaches in the conference," Mizzou Volleyball head coach Wayne Kreklow said. "I thought that both Kira and Alyssa have had great seasons and I attribute it to a lot of hard work over time. You don't get good overnight. It takes continuous, purposeful work over a long period of time. A lot of younger players still don't get that, but Alyssa and Kira have provided a great example."
"I'm equally as pleased for both Kayla and Leketor for being recognized as two of the top freshmen in the conference. I really believe that Dariana (Hollingsworth) was also worthy of a spot on the All-Freshman Team, but with only seven spots available, it gets really tough. We asked her to do a lot of things outside her comfort zone this year and she really responded well."
"These honors are also a reflection of the quality of our entire team and I know the players recognized would be the first to say that this recognition wouldn't be possible without the stellar performance of their teammates!"
Wednesday's announcement gives Mizzou Volleyball 15 all-time All-SEC honorees. The pair of All-Freshman accolades increases the Tigers' all-time total to four. Mizzou has garnered multiple All-SEC winners in five of six years since joining the conference in 2012.
Larson received her second career All-SEC award, following her first honor in 2015 in her first year with Mizzou. The Tiger right side hitter has been a model of consistency over her three years in Columbia, Mo., tallying 250-plus kills, .300-plus hitting, 25-plus aces, 115-plus digs, 80-plus total blocks and 330-plus points in each season.
In Larson's 2017 senior campaign, she tallied her 1,000th career point while also surpassing 800 all-time kills. The Fargo, N.D., native has particularly excelled in SEC action, producing 153 kills on .354 hitting.
Munlyn earned her third consecutive All-SEC honor, joining former Tiger Carly Kan as the only individuals in program history with three All-SEC recognitions. The Tiger middle blocker has been a force since coming to Mid-Missouri in 2015, already ranking second in all-time Mizzou career total blocks (475) and block assists (384).
Over Munlyn's 2017 junior campaign, she has reset the Mizzou individual single-season total block record for the third-straight year. Munlyn's 173 total blocks currently ranks fourth in the NCAA and first in the SEC, while her 1.54 blocks per set ranks sixth in the nation and second in the conference.
Following a redshirt season in 2016, Caffey has joined Munlyn at middle blocker this year to form one of the SEC's top duos. The Chicago, Ill., native's 111 total blocks and 19 solo blocks each rank second on Mizzou. In SEC play this year, Caffey has performed at a high level with 93 kills on .365 hitting.
The Tiger middle blocker's top performance this season occurred at home against Ole Miss (Oct. 8), as she tallied 10 kills on an incredible .909 hitting percentage. The astronomical hitting mark ranked T-2nd highest single-match individual hitting percentage in program history.
Member-Meneh opened eyes immediately after concluding a remarkable season-opening tournament for the Tigers. At the Culver's Governors Challenge (Aug. 25-26), the St. Louis, Mo., native led Mizzou in kills (70), kills per set (3.89) and points (75.5) over its four-match stretch.
Highlighted by a pair of 20-plus kill matches in Clarksville, Tenn., Member-Meneh carried her offensive firepower into conference action later in the season and added eight additional double-digit kill matches to her resume.
Visit MUTigers.com for the latest information on all things Mizzou Volleyball. You can also find the Tigers on social media by liking us on Facebook (Missouri Volleyball) and following us on Twitter and Instagram (@MizzouVB).