From Emory University Athletics

Four members of the No. 5-ranked Emory volleyball program have been recognized  for their outstanding play, culminating with recognition on the 2014 All-America Team as chosen by the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA).
The Eagles placed two players on the first team, and one each on the second and third teams.

Headlining the group is junior setter Sydney Miles (Oklahoma City, OK), who was tabbed as a First Team All-American for the third consecutive year after ranking first in the University Athletic Association, and among the top 20 nationally in assists (10.56 aps) while also averaging 2.11 digs and 1.12 kills per set.  Earlier this season, Miles was named to the All-University Athletic Association First Team for the third straight year, and her total of 1,436 assists ranks fourth on the school seasonal ladder.    Her deft setting skills have helped Emory post a league-best attack percentage of .273 with that mark good for the No. 3 position among all D-III programs.  Miles has seven outings of 50 or more assists this season including 52 against No. 7 Washington University in the title match of the St. Louis Regional.  Heading into this weekend's national quarterfinals, her 4,214 career assists ranks third all-time at the school. Miles becomes the program's first player to earn three first-team All-America berths.

Senior outside hitter Leah Jacobs (Linville, VA) earned her initial selection to the All-America First Team thanks to posting a team-leading 3.67 kills-per-set average that ranks second among University Athletic Association players.  Jacobs has produced a team-leading 25 matches of double-figure kills, including four outings of 20 or more, and has led or shared for team honors in that category in 23 matches.  A First Team All-UAA honoree, Jacobs has been tabbed as the league's Offensive Player of the Week on three occasions. Last weekend, she earned a spot on the NCAA St. Louis Regional All-Regional Team after chalking up a team-leading 3.45 kills per set.  In the championship match of the Regional, Jacobs led all players with 19 terminations while adding nine digs. Heading into the quarterfinals of the NCAA Championships, Jacobs holds down the No. 5 spot on the Eagles' seasonal chart with 496 kills while her 989 career terminations are 15^th all time.

Sophomore middle Jessica Holler (Roswell, GA) landed a second-team berth for the second straight season thanks to her formidable play at the net, both offensively and defensively.  The 6-foot-1 Holler leads the UAA and ranks seventh nationally with a .382 hitting percentage (296-66—602) with that mark 10^th on the school's seasonal chart.  A First Team All-UAA pick for the second straight season, Holler has hit .400 or better in 16 of her 31 matches while producing 13 efforts of 10 or more kills.  In addition to her hitting prowess, Holler is averaging a conference-best 1.17 blocks per set that places her 17^th nationally.  She has totaled eight matches of five or more blocks including two matches of a career-high tying 10 blocks vs. NCAA quarterfinalist Claremont-Mudd-Scripps (Sept. 6) and the University of Chicago (Oct. 19).  With the NCAA Championships approaching, Holler is No. 2 all-time at Emory in blocks per set (1.15 bps).

Senior Kate Bowman rounded out the honorees with a third-team selection.  The 5-foot-9 libero has been the anchor of the Emory defense throughout the year, topping team and and ranking fifth in the UAA with a 4.56 digs-per-set average.  Bowan has played in all 141 of the team's sets and her 643 assists are the second-highest seasonal total in school history.  She has 36 contests of 10 or more digs to her credit, including 12 of 20 or more, and her contributions have helped her earn UAA Defensive Player of the Week honors on three occasions.  Career-wise, she ranks first all-time at Emory with 1,428 digs.

"We are extremely excited that Kate, Leah, Jessica and Sydney were named as All-Americans," said head coach Jenny McDowell.  "Although individual awards, each represents the 19 players we have in the gym every day, pushing one another to get better, the unselfish nature of our players and the passion to be great.  These four had outstanding individual seasons but more importantly, they have been completely selfless in our pursuit of excellence."