Kepler Earns AVCA First-Team All-America Honors

By: Laura Chapman
Assistant Sports Information Director
chapmal@juniata.edu • juniatasports.net

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Junior Amelia Kepler (Kane, Pa./Kane Area) of the Juniata College women's volleyball team earned American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) First-Team All-America honors, the organization announced Tuesday morning. This is the first All-America award for Kepler.

"Amelia did a great thing this year in making the move from opposite to outside," said head coach Heather Pavlik. "I think it paid off for us in a lot of different ways. Her game continues to get better. She continues to develop the parts of her game that maybe at one point were weaknesses and aren't so much any more. Having someone on the outside, a big hitter, who can put some balls away, just allows everyone else's job to be a little easier. I think she was a little bit of a safety valve for Kelly [Reynolds] as a freshman [setter] this year and I think that helped in Kelly's development as well."

Earlier this month, Kepler earned Landmark Conference Player of the Year honors and AVCA first-team all-region. One of the major workers for the Eagles, Kepler led the team in kills (303), kills per set (2.94), and total attempts (869). She also proved to be a threat from the line, finishing with the team's fifth highest total in service aces (28). Kepler is the first Juniata women's volleyball player to be named to the all-America first team since 2010.

"This is an honor Amelia deserves very much," said Pavlik. "She works very hard. She's one who works hard in the weight room, who plays more over the summer, and does all of the things you would want from one of your team leaders."

For the full AVCA release, click here.

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