FOREST, Va. --- Randolph-Macon College outside hitter Courtney Lowers, Washington and Lee University middle Mackenzie Shand, and Randolph College outside hitter Jordan Templin lead the ODAC list of honorees from the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA).  The three were recognized as  Honorable Mention All-Americans.

In addition to the All-America laurels, the trio were named to the AVCA All-South Region.  Two others -- Virginia Wesleyan College outside hitter Tiffany Barrett and Bridgewater College middle Megann Grimes -- received honorable mention all-region honors.

AVCA All-America Release
AVCA All-Region Release

Lowers, a junior from Suffolk, Va., adds her AVCA awards to the ODAC Player of the Year accolade she receivered earlier this month.  Lowers led the ODAC in kills with 492, the third-highest single-season total in ODAC history. Only former Roanoke College standout Heather Cook (517 in 2004) and Mackenzie Parsio (508 in 2004) from Guilford College recorded more.  Lowers also led the ODAC kills per set (4.60), total attacks (1,353), total points won (553.5) and points per set (5.2).  She added 324 digs and 35 aces to her season stat line.  Lowers notched 20 or more kills in six matches and recorded double figures in 27-of-31 matches played.  She collected an ODAC season-best 34 kills in a five set win over Randolph College in early October, which tied for the fourth-most in one match in the conference record books.

Shand, a sophomore from Saline, Mich., is the eighth player in W&L program history to receive All-America recognition.  An All-ODAC First Team selection, Shand led the ODAC this year in hitting percentage (.391) and blocks (107). Her hitting percentage is also the fifth-best mark in Division III.  Playing in 33 of the team's 34 matches, Shand also totaled 261 kills, 69 digs and 38 assists. The 107 blocks are the eighth-most in a single-season in program history. Shand's hitting percentage is the fourth-best single-season mark in W&L history.  She helped lead the Generals to their third straight and 15th overall conference title, which resulted in W&L's 13th trip to the NCAA Division III Tournament.  The Generals fell to the University of Mount Union, 3-0, in the first round.

Templin, a senior from Ferrum, Va., recorded a season a firsts for the WildCats.  The All-ODAC First Team honoree became the program's first AVCA all-region, All-America and national player of the week recipient, with the latter earned for her efforts from October 13-19.  She helped lead Randolph to its winningest season since 1997 and first ODAC postseason appearance since 2006.  Templin, the programs all-time leader in kills in a match (29), season and career, finished second in the ODAC in kills (445) and kills per set (3.94) and third in hitting percentage (.299).  She will graduate having collected 1,273 total kills.

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