BOWLING GREEN, Ky. - Western Kentucky University junior Jordyn Skinner and sophomore Melanie Stutsman added to their list of postseason honors Wednesday, being named to the American Volleyball Coaches Association Division I Honorable Mention All-America team.
"Anytime you have a special season like we had this year, there is usually a reason behind that and that is really good players," WKU coach Travis Hudson said. "Melanie and Jordyn both had terrific seasons and I think are very deserving of being named All-Americans."
The All-America honor is the first for Skinner and the second consecutive for Stutsman. This marks the third time in school history, and first since 2008, that two Lady Toppers have been named All-Americans in the same season. Both Skinner and Stutsman were recently named to the All-South Region first team.
Stutsman, who was a first-team All-Sun Belt selection, set her team to a .272 hitting percentage which ranks ninth in the nation. Stutsman saw action in all 119 sets this season at the setter position. On the season, Stutsman collected 1,324 assists for an average of 11.13 per set. This number ranks first in the conference and 30th in the nation in assists per set. She has recorded 30 assists in 30 of 35 matches this season. Stutsman, however, appeared on the stat sheets in more than one category. She ranks fifth in the conference with a .336 hitting percentage in league matches and led the team with 43 service aces. Stutsman collected six double-doubles as a sophomore, the last with 47 assists and 10 kill against Troy on November 5.
"I think it means we are in good hands for the next couple years," Hudson said. "For her to come back and put together another good, solid year I think speaks to her continued development."
Skinner, who earned first-team All-Sun Belt honors and was named the SBC Player of the Year, saw action in all 119 sets and is one of the top all-around players in the league and the only player in the Sun Belt to rank among the top 10 in kills, digs and service aces. Skinner recorded 21 double-doubles this season and had 30 matches with double-digit kills and 20 with double-digit digs. In a win against Xavier, Skinner finished one kill shy of the school record with a career-high 30 kills. She finished the season averaging 3.82 kills per set and 3.42 digs per set. She led WKU with 454 kills, was second with 407 digs and third with 87 blocks.
"It just caps off a tremendous year for her when you talk about conference player of the year, tournament MVP and now to be named an All-American," Hudson said. "She is special. There is no other way to say it and I think moving forward it is something that will continue to give her confidence that there is even more she can accomplish on the court and we're excited to see that."
Skinner is the fifth Lady Topper, and first outside hitter, to earn All-America honors, joining Stutsman, Megan Argabright, Caron Blotch and Julie Noe. Stutsman joins Argabright as the only Lady Toppers to earn multiple All-America honors.
