Strantzali Named All-America Honorable Mention
CORAL GABLES. Fla. – University of Miami outside hitter Olga Strantzali received honorable mention from the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) as they released their 2016 AVCA Division I All-America Teams, as announced by the AVCA Wednesday.
Strantzali is the 14th AVCA All-America honorable mention recipient in program history. She was one of 111 players to receive recognition from the AVCA, with 14 players appearing on each of the first, second and third teams and 69 more receiving honorable mention.
The junior was one of the top players in the country in 2016, earning one of the 14 spots the 2016 AVCA All-East Coast Region Team and an All-ACC First Team selection. Strantzali is happy with her accolades following the season, but motivated to strive for even more success in the future.
“As I have said before, my dream is to be an All-American and this showsthat I’m definitely on the right path and I need to keep pushing to get there,” Strantzali said. “I’m really happy and thankful for my teammates and coaches for helping me get here. I know me and my team will work hard during the spring to achieve our goals, both as a team and individually, next year.”
Strantzali was one of the best players in the NCAA, finishing the regular season ranked seventh in Division I with 4.76 kills per set and ninth with 5.37 points per set. Her 0.39 service aces per set sat 50th among Division I players at the conclusion of Miami’s regular season.
Among players from Power 5 conferences, Strantzali ranks third in kills per set and points per set and sixth in aces per set. She is the only player from the ACC to rank in the top 30 in Division I in kills per set and points per set and the only ACC player in the top 50 in service aces per set.
Strantzali entered the season as a Preseason All-ACC selection and she lived up to her billing. The Pylaia, Thessaloniki, Greece, native was arguably the top player in the ACC in 2016, leading the conference in kills per set, service aces per set and points per set.
“Olga had an amazing year and this national recognition shows that others took notice,” Miami head coach Jose “Keno” Gandara said. “We are so proud of her and this is a well deserved honor. She did so much for us this year and is poised for a great senior season in 2017. Olga is a great kid, a great teammate and one of our leaders. We are excited to see where she ends up this time next year.”
A standout player during her two seasons at Miami, Strantzali finished the season with 586 kills which ranks sixth in all of Division I. Her 586 kills are second-most in a single season in Hurricanes history and are 79 more than the second-highest total among ACC players.
Strantzali recorded 15 or more kills in 25 of Miami’s 32 matches in 2016 and eclipsed the 1,000-kill mark for her collegiate career with 1,145 kills over three seasons. She also set a new career-high with 30 kills in a five-set win at Louisville that is tied for second-most in a single match in program history.
Known for her powerful serve, Strantzali wrapped the 2016 season with an ACC-best 48 service aces, ranking 17th among NCAA Division I players and is tied for third among players from Power 5 conferences. She recorded a season-high five service aces in three matches during the 2016 campaign.
Strantzali received two all-tournament honors for her outstanding performances during non-conference play. She was selected to the 2016 Wildcat Classic All-Tournament Team and the 2016 Delaware Invitational All-Tournament Team.
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