AVCA All-Americans

SAN DIEGO, Calif. -- Three members of the USD Volleyball team earned All-American accolades, the AVCA announced Wednesday morning. Senior setter Kristen Gengenbacher was named a Third-Team All-American while Jayden Kennedy and Addie Picha were honorable mention selections.

"Through Kristen's hard work, powerful leadership and dedication to the success of her teammates, she not only made her team better, but also left our program yearning for more," Head Coach Jennifer Petrie said. "She deserves to be an All-American because she is an extremely talented setter who always put the team first. Kristen loved the process and the results followed."

Gengenbacher (Quincy, Ill.) is just the second Torero setter to earn All-American honors. She finished the season 11th in the nation and first in the WCC with 11.46 assists per set. Her setting helped the Toreros average 14.92 kills per set, the fifth best rate in the nation. She also finished the season with 13 double-doubles, averaging 2.69 digs per set, second best on the team. Gengenbacher finishes her USD career with 3,729 assists, the third most in program history.

Gengenbacher has already been named the WCC Player of the Year and to the All-Pacific South Region Team. She has been honored for her work in the classroom as well, being named to the WCC All-Academic Team and to the CoSIDA All-District Academic Team. The Academic All-American Team will be revealed on Thursday.

Gengenbacher will attend the Final Four in Kansas City this weekend where she will be honored at the AVCA All-American Banquet and take part in the Under Armour All-American match Friday evening.

Kennedy (Oshawa, Ontario) finished first on the team and third in the conference with 3.84 kills per set. The senior had a career-best .309 hitting percentage and has already been named to the All-WCC and All-Region Team.

Picha (Puyallup, Wash.), also an All-WCC and All-Region selection, finished 10th in the nation and first in the conference with a .413 hitting percentage, which is the second best single-season rate in program history. She also averaged a team-best 1.32 blocks per set.

This is the third time USD has had three All-Americans in one year (2004 & 2013). The Toreros have now had 16 total All-Americans, including nine honorees in the past five years.

USD ALL-AMERICANS

1ST TEAM
Petia Yanchulova - 1998, 99

2ND TEAM
Chloe Ferrari - 2013
Ali Troost - 2009
Devon Forster - 2004

3RD TEAM
Kristen Gengenbacher - 2017
Kristen Carlson - 2006
Lindsey Sherburne - 2004

HONORABLE MENTION
Jayden Kennedy - 2017
Addie Picha - 2017
Lisa Kramer - 2015, 2016
Lauren Schad - 2016
Alaysia Brown - 2013
C'era Oliveira -2013
Chloe Ferrari - 2011
Ali Troost - 2010
Amy Mahinalani DeGroot - 2008
Christie Dawson - 2005
Kristen Hurst - 2004