AVCA Recognizes Emani Sims for Second Time
OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. – Emani Sims is one of the most decorated volleyball players in University of Miami history, but the senior added one final AVCA honor on Wednesday.
Sims received AVCA All-America honorable mention, the second AVCA All-America recognition of her career after earning a third team selection in 2012. Sims learned of the news on the same day that fellow senior captain Savanah Leaf was selected as a member of the AVCA All-America Second Team.
“It’s great news,” Miami head coach Jose “Keno” Gandara said. ‘We are excited, but we are not surprised because we know they are great players and we believed in them and their ability.”
A leader on and off the court for Miami, Sims earned the second AVCA All-Region selection of her career this season. The senior captain led Miami with a .372 attack percentage that ranked third in the ACC and 41st in the country. Her 136 blocks are a team-best, while she finished second on the team in points (2.92) and fourth in kills (226) and service aces (16).
“Emani has been able to grow and improve year after year,” Gandara said. “Her understanding of the game and ability to see the game has allowed her to take full advantage of her athleticism. It is so rewarding to see someone work as hard as she does and get recognized amongst her peers.”
A Preseason-All ACC honoree, Sims earned her third consecutive First Team All-ACC honor in 2014. She was named All-Tournament at both the HotelRED Invitational and the TCU NIKE Invitational. This season, Sims had outstanding match-highs of .733 attack percentage (Nov. 26 at Georgia Tech), 16 kills, (Sept. 13 vs. Ball State), and 12 blocks (Nov. 23 at Boston College). The Glenview, Ill., native is one of the most decorated players in UM history, earning Third Team AVCA All-America honors in 2012.
“It’s an honor to be recognized, but a lot of it is because of my team,” Sims said. “I wouldn’t be in this position without the passers and servers and setters doing great things all season. It feels awesome to be able to get this towards the end of my college career and I am so happy for Savanah, as well.”
The awards will be presented Dec. 19, 2014, in Oklahoma City, Okla. at the AVCA All-America/Players of the Year Banquet. The event is held in conjunction with the 2014 AVCA Convention.
Each of the three AVCA All-America Teams is comprised of 14 athletes. The Division I AVCA National Player of the Year will be announced on Dec. 19 at the AVCA All-America/Players of the Year Banquet.
“We are so proud of Savanah and Emani,” Gandara said. “They both made great contributions for our program. It will be hard to replace them, but we are excited for their future and the future of our program.”
The Hurricanes (22-9, 14-4 ACC) reached the second round of the 2014 NCAA Tournament, falling to No. 8 Florida in a hard-fought four-set battle. Miami reached the second round for the third time in program history. The Canes, who are 4-7 all-time in the NCAA Tournament, earned their first NCAA Tournament victory since 2011 when they beat UCF in five sets on Dec. 5. The win was also the first NCAA Tournament victory in head coach Jose “Keno” Gandara’s head coaching career.
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