Stephens, Floyd earn All-America status for UAA volleyball team

A pair of sophomores garnered All-America recognition Wednesday for the UAA volleyball team, marking the 11th straight year one or more Seawolves gained national postseason honors.

Eve Stephens, a right-side hitter from Palmer, was a second-team pick and Ellen Floyd, a setter from Pensacola, Florida, earned honorable mention status from the American Volleyball Coaches Association.

Stephens is the first UAA player to garner All-America recognition as both a freshman and sophomore — she was an honorable mention pick last season.

A Colony High graduate, Stephens had a stellar season with a .260 hitting percentage and per-set averages of 3.9 kills, 2.27 digs and 0.9 blocks. Of the 14 players named to the first team and the 14 named to the second team, Stephens was one of four freshmen and sophomores honored. Another five freshmen and sophomores made the 14-player third team.

Floyd is the 12th player in school history to pick up All-America honors. She averaged 10.14 assists, 2.62 digs, 0.70 blocks and 0.44 aces per set to make the list of 69 honorable-mention selections.

The Seawolves last week wrapped up a 23-6 season at the NCAA Division II West Regional championships in San Bernardino, California, where they were eliminated in the second round by top-ranked and undefeated Cal State Bernardino.

Stephens and Floyd are part of a solid core expected to return next season. The only known departures are senior outside hitter Vanessa Hayes and junior defensive specialist Anjoilyn Vreeland, who is ending her playing career early to focus on academics.

UAA All-America players

2008 — Rhea Cardwell (2nd team, AVCA)

2009 — Calli Scott (honorable mention, AVCA)

2010 — Cortney Lundberg (honorable mention, AVCA)

2011 — Robyn Burton (2nd team, AVCA)

Jackie Matthisen (honorable mention, AVCA)

2013 — Katelynn Zanders (2nd team, AVCA)

2014 — Katelynn Zanders (honorable mention, AVCA)

Julia Mackey (honorable mention, AVCA)

2015 — Julia Mackey (1st team, AVCA)

Katelynn Zanders (3rd team, AVCA)

Morgan Hooe (3rd team, AVCA)

2016 — Morgan Hooe (1st team, AVCA)

Leah Swiss (2nd team, AVCA)

Diana Fa'amausili (honorable mention, AVCA)

2017 — Leah Swiss (honorable mention, AVCA)

2018 — Eve Stephens (honorable mention, AVCA)

2019 — Eve Stephens (2nd team, AVCA)

Ellen Floyd (honorable mention, AVCA)