COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Sophomore setter Susannah Kelley and sophomore middle attacker Zori Curry have been named National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) honorable mention All-Americans. The announcement came Thursday, Dec. 3, by NJCAA officials from their headquarters in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
“I couldn’t be happier for Sus, Zori and our team for the recognition they have received for the dedication, hard work and love they have put into this season,” Grizzly Volleyball Head Coach Paula Wiedemann said. “To be named an All-American gives credit where credit is due.”
Kelley, who came to the Grizzlies from Jonesboro High School in Jonesboro, Arkansas, recorded 91 kills on 212 attempts with 27 errors for an attacking percentage of .302, 1,200 assists (9.45 per set), 20 service aces, 315 digs (2.48 per set), 49 blocks and 139 points earned this season.
“Sus has been one of the most dedicated and selfless players I’ve ever coached,” Wiedemann said. “She’s a gym rat, and I say that with a lot of respect. The time she put in the gym working on becoming a better player is what every coach would love to have and is a testament to her competitiveness and love for the game. Her never-give-up attitude in pursuing every ball in the gym made everyone else around her better, and that’s a huge part of why receiving this honor is so much deserved. She wants to be the best but not at the expense of the teammates around her. That’s the beauty of watching a player make her team better by the example she sets.”
Curry, a graduate of Southeast High School in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, recorded 390 kills on 795 attempts with 155 errors for an attacking percentage of .296, 157 total blocks (1.03 per set), 43 solo blocks, 22 digs and 490 points earned this season.
“Zori has worked hard at becoming the player she is, and I appreciate the time, trust and effort she put into getting to where she is as a player and teammate,” Wiedemann said. “She has probably come further than anyone I have coached from start to finish, and it was a lot of fun to watch. One of the things I kept telling her is to stop being amazed at what she can do because what she can do is amazing, and she kind of ran with it. It’s not easy to be pushed out of your comfort zone as a player, but when you let it happen, it can lead to great things. Zori worked through the frustrations that can stop a lot of players from improving, and that’s why she’s being recognized.”
For a full list of this year’s NJCAA All-American honorees, visit www.njcaa.org. For more information about the Grizzly Volleyball team, visit the team’s website at http://wp.missouristate.edu/grizzly/vb/.