Hentz named to AVCA All-America first team; Stanford, Penn State fall in NCAA Final Four

By Don Owen
NKyTribune reporter

While her Stanford volleyball team wasn’t able to repeat as national champions at the NCAA Final Four, sophomore libero Morgan Hentz earned a prestigious honor from the American Volleyball Coaches Association.

Hentz was named to the AVCA’s All-America first team, one of three Stanford players to be selected for that distinction. A native of Lakeside Park, Hentz also earned All-Pacific 12 Conference honors this season and was named Pac-12 Libero of the Year.

In Stanford’s national semifinal loss to Florida on Thursday night, Hentz recorded a match-high 25 digs. The Cardinal dropped the opening two sets against the Gators, rallied to win the next two only to fall short in the fifth stanza. Stanford finished with a 30-4 record.

Hentz registered double-digit digs in 27 of the team’s 34 matches this season, reaching the 20-dig plateau five times. The former Notre Dame Academy star led Stanford with 486 digs this season and also served up 20 aces. Hentz also joined Stanford’s 1,000-dig club this fall.

Stanford placed three on the All-America first team – Hentz, Jenna Gray and Kathryn Plummer – and two on the All-America second team – Audriana Fitzmorris and Merete Lutz. Stanford’s five players on the first and second teams are a program-best.

As a four-year letterwinner at Notre Dame Academy, Hentz helped the Pandas win four consecutive regional championships. Hentz was named Miss Kentucky Volleyball in 2015 and was a finalist for national player of the year.

CLICK HERE FOR 2017 AVCA ALL-AMERICA TEAMS

PENN STATE FALLS IN FIVE: Top-ranked Penn State and Edgewood native Heidi Thelen dropped a five-set thriller to Nebraska on Thursday night in the other national semifinal, 25-18, 23-25, 24-26, 28-26, 15-11. Mikaela Foecke had 19 kills, Annika Albrecht and Briana Holman added 13 kills apiece as Nebraska fought off match point in the fourth set and eventually rallied to upset Penn State.

Thelen, a senior right-side hitter and a Notre Dame Academy graduate, closed out her career at Penn State with nine kills and seven blocks. She finished with 201 kills this season and attacked a .360 clip. Thelen also collected 114 blocks as a senior.

Penn State finished the season with a 33-2 record, and both losses were to Nebraska. The Nittany Lions were aiming for their eighth national championship in volleyball. Penn State and Stanford have both won seven national titles, tied for the most in NCAA Division I history.

Contact Don Owen at don@nkytrib.com