LEXINGTON, Ky. – Elon University volleyball's Leah Daniel has been named an All-American Honorable Mention, as announced by the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) on Wednesday morning, April 21.

"We are extremely proud of Leah for being Elon's first AVCA All-American," said head coach Mary Tendler. "It is great to see her get rewarded for her dedication to the sport and determination to get better each day. We keep asking her to do more on the volleyball court and, with the help of her teammates, she continues to rise to the challenge each season. Congratulations, Leah!"

A junior from Zionsville, Ind., Daniel became the first student-athlete in program history to earn All-Region honors as she was named to the AVCA's East Coast All-Region team on April 13. The distinction came after she garnered CAA Player of the Year and First Team All-CAA honors on April 2. The first Phoenix to be named conference player of the year in the program's Division I history, she ranked first in the CAA in attacks per set (12.05), kills per set (4.43) and points per set (4.76) this spring. Through 10 matches started and 40 sets played, she finished the season with 190.5 points, 177 kills, a .232 hit percentage, two assists, seven service aces, 90 digs, a .917 reception percentage and 13 blocks. Daniel recorded four double-doubles and added conference Player of the Week honors on March 22 after helping the Phoenix to wins over UNC Greensboro and Davidson.

The AVCA is an organization of over 6,000 members, incorporated as a private non-profit educational corporation in 1981, that is headquartered in Lexington, Ky. Originally known as the Collegiate Volleyball Coaches Associations, the name was changed in 1986 to reflect the growing membership that included high school and club communities. The organization produces a number of publications as well as a weekly national poll for collegiate volleyball.

Each of the three AVCA All-America Team is comprised of 14 athletes and are selected in combination with all players named Conference Player of the Year and a group of 30 additional athletes identified by the All-America Committee. The Division I AVCA National Player of the Year and Freshman of the Year will be announced on April 22.

Spring 2021 AVCA Division I All-Americans
First Team
Brionne Butler, Texas
Grace Cleveland, Purdue
Samantha Drechsel, Washington
Dani Drews, Utah
Logan Eggleston, Texas
Sydney Hilley, Wisconsin
Madison Lilley, Kentucky
Ella May Powell, Washington
Yossiana Pressley, Baylor
Dana Rettke, Wisconsin
Stephanie Samedy, Minnesota
Avery Skinner, Kentucky
Lauren Stivrins, Nebraska
Alli Stumler, Kentucky

Second Team
Lauren Barnes, Wisconsin
T'ara Ceasar, Florida
Kylie Deberg, Missouri
Nicklin Hames, Nebraska
Claire Hoffman, Washington
Kenzie Koerber, Utah
Emily Londot, Ohio State
Kayla Lund, Pittsburgh
Lauren Matthews, Western Kentucky
Mac May, UCLA
Chinaza Ndee, Pittsburgh
Brooke Nuneville, Oregon
Anna Stevenson, Louisville
Azhani Tealer, Kentucky

Third Team
Mariana Brambilla, Georgia Tech
Gabby Curry, Kentucky
Tori Dilfer, Louisville
Kennedy Eschenberg, BYU
Lauren Forte, Florida
Jhenna Gabriel, Texas
Kaitlyn Hord, Penn State
Taryn Knuth, Florida State
Nicole Lennon, Rice
Caitlyn Newton, Purdue
Jamie Peterson, Dayton
Devyn Robinson, Wisconsin
Lexi Sun, Nebraska
Roxie Wiblin, San Diego

Honorable Mention
Rachel Ahrens, Pepperdine
Efronsini Alexakou, St. John's
Taylen Ballard-Nixon, BYU
Julia Bergmann, Georgia Tech
Rachel Bontrager, Western Michigan
Abby Bottomley, High Point
Whitney Bower, BYU
Melanie Brecka, Missouri - Kansas City
Edie Brewer, North Carolina A&T
Paige Briggs, Western Kentucky
Haley Bush, Drake
Hayley Bush, Purdue
Holly Carlton, Florida
Emma Clothier, Florida State
Katie Crowe, Purdue University Fort Wayne
Leah Daniel, Elon
Lauren Deaton, Samford
Anna DeBeer, Louisville
Nadia Dieudonne, Western Kentucky
Skylar Fields, Texas
Zoe Fleck, UCLA
Molly Haggerty, Wisconsin
Thayer Hall, Florida
Lauren Harrison, Baylor
Mariena Hayden, UNLV
Elizabeth Juhnke, South Dakota
Kamara Kelly, Albany
Lena Kindermann, Jacksonville State
Madi Kubik, Nebraska
Taylor Landfair, Minnesota
Grace Loberg, Wisconsin
Alli Lowe, Colgate
McKenna Melville, Central Florida
Marlie Monserez, Florida
Anet Nemeth, Coastal Carolina
Charley Niego, Notre Dame
Chiamaka Nwokolo, Pittsburgh
Asjia O'Neal, Texas
Jena Otec, Purdue
Jonni Parker, Penn State
Regan Pittman, Minnesota
Mac Podraza, Ohio State
Hannah Pukis, Washington State
Shannon Scully, Pepperdine
Erin Shomaker, Florida Gulf Coast
Madi Skinner, Kentucky
Kazna Tanuvasa, Utah Valley
Jaela Zimmerman, Creighton

2021 Division I AVCA Freshman of the Year: Announced on April 22
2021 Division I AVCA Player of the Year: Announced on April 22