LEXINGTON, Ky. -- Four student-athletes and one head coach represented The Summit League on the American Volleyball Coaches Association All-Regional awards announced by organization officials Tuesday. Omaha's McKenna Ruch and Shayla McCormick, South Dakota's Elizabeth Juhnke and North Dakota State's Syra Tanchin were each honored for their outstanding performances during the season.
Ruch and McCormick were named to the Midwest All-Region Team, Juhnke was named to the North All-Region Team for the second straight season while Tanchin garnered Midwest All-Region honorable mention honors.
Juhnke is the first Coyote in the Division I era to earn the honor four times. Williamson earns the coach of the year honor for the first time in her career.
Juhnke, a native of Lakeville, Minnesota, led the nation in kills (677), points (757.5), and total attacks (1,673) while leading the league in kills per set (5.33) and attacks per set (13.17).
She ended the season with 26 double-doubles as South Dakota posted a 29-4 overall record and finished 16-2 in the conference. The Coyotes made program history as they were the regular season champions and the Summit League Tournament champions in the same season for the first time.
Juhnke, named the Summit League Tournament MVP for the third-straight season, became the first Coyote in program history to reach 2,000 kills. She now holds the USD program records in all-time career kills (2,004) and single-season kills (677) as well as the league record for single-season kills. On Sept. 27, she set the mark for most kills in a match in the league with 39 kills against NDSU. The total also set the mark for most kills in a match this season in the NCAA.
Williamson led her squad to its fourth NCAA tournament berth in five years with the Coyotes' third-straight Summit League Tournament championship. South Dakota made program history in the first-round of the NCAA tournament when they won two sets in the five-set battle against Houston.
In her ninth year at the helm, Williamson led the Coyotes to their third regular season title and fourth Summit League Tournament title.
Ruch was one of the best blockers in the country, as well as one of the most efficient attackers this year. After reaching 100 total blocks quicker than anyone else in the Summit League, she ultimately finished the year with 145 blocks (1.24 blocks/set), including 17 solo blocks. On offense, she totaled 305 kills and a .341 hitting percentage. Ruch was named First Team All-Summit and made the Summit League All-Tournament team last month.
McCormick established herself as one of the top offensive players in the Summit League, recording 438 kills (3.74 kills/set), 43 service aces, and 517.5 points. She also had 370 digs and 65 total blocks on defense, and ended the year with 20 double-doubles. Like Ruch, McCormick was also named First Team All-Summit and made the All-Tournament Team.
Tanchin connected on a career-high 447 total kills this season, which ranked third in the Summit League. She also averaged a career-best 3.55 kills per set and reached double digits in 25 matches. The St. Michael, Minn., native added a career-high 300 digs with 48.0 total blocks and 31 service aces.
Tanchin, who earned All-Summit League First Team honors for the first time in her career earlier this season, finished her career with 1,209 kills, which ranks 18th all-time in NDSU history. She is one of only nine players to reach the 1,000 kills mark in the NDSU Division I era.
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