It was a banner night on Wednesday evening, as one-half of the Golden Eagles Volleyball Team were recognized as All-Americans on the eve of the USCAA National Championships in Uniontown, PA, on the campus of Penn State Fayette.
Freshman outside hitter, Makenzie Ailes led the way as she became KSU Tusc's second First Team All-American and its first since 2019 when Mya Blochlinger earned the award. The Massillon Washington Alum was sixth overall in hitting percentage at .267 and 10th in kills per set at 2.54.
Lizzy Keller (Fremont Ross), a sophomore and Cayla Shrimplin (River View), a freshman both earned Second Team All-American honors as they backed up Ailes feat and helped double the number of Golden Eagles volleyball players who have earned All-American status. KSU Tusc now has six volleyball All-Americans in their eight-year USCAA membership.
Keller plays all-around for the Eagles and recorded 213 digs, had 138 kills, was 16th in receiving with 264 chances to go along with 28 service aces. Shrimplin is ninth overall in the USCAA with 308 digs and eighth in digs per set with 4.89.
It was the second time on the evening that Keller was recognized, as she garnered an Academic All-American award for carrying a 3.840 cumulative GPA and is majoring in early childhood education. Nicole Simons (Philo), a psychology major also earned a spot on the national all-academic team with a 3.673 GPA.
A total of eight volleyball players have earned USCAA Academic All-American honors.
The Golden Eagles will have little time to celebrate their individual accomplishments as they open pool play in the USCAA Volleyball National Tournament on Thursday morning against top seeded Penn State Mont Alto.
Cayla Shrimplin and Lizzy Keller both earned USCAA Second Team All-American honors.
Nicole Simons was named a USCAA Academic All-American.