TOPEKA, KAN. – Senior outside hitter Averey Yaksich, who had a record-setting year for the University of Sioux Falls Volleyball Team, has been named to the 2021 second team All-D2CCA All-Region Team, according to an announcement today by the Division II College Commissioners Association (D2CCA).

 

A senior from Omaha, Neb., Yaksich recently completed one of the best seasons by a volleyball player at USF. In 2021, Yaksich set six game and season marks at USF with 19 total game, season and career top-10 marks. As a result, she becomes USF's second-ever all-region honoree, joining Brian Barfnecht, who was named in 2018 to the AVCA all-region squad.

Yaksich, a psychology major who was named Academic All-NSIC twice, earned her first all-region honor. Early she was named first-team All-NSIC, which was her second all-league honor (2^nd team, 2018). Yaksich ranked first in the NSIC in total kills with 442, which was 10^th in DII. She was sixth in DII and first in the league with a school record 4.46 kills/set and ranked first in the NSIC and fourth in DII in points per set at 5.09 with a NSIC-best 503.5 points. She set school records for points in a season (503.5), points/set (5.09), kills/season (442), kills/set (4.46) with a game record 30 kills (five sets) and 32 points against Grand Valley State in a five-set win to open a season. In addition, she led USF to a sweep of nationally-ranked Wayne State with a school record 22 kills in a three-set match.

During 2021, she helped USF to a 17-11 overall record and 12-8 in league play. She hit .289 on 1,082 total attacks, which ranks second ever at USF. Yaksich had 13 assists, 27 service aces, 243 digs, and 61 total blocks. This year, she registered 25 matches with double-digit kills, six matches with 20 or more kills and 11 double-doubles (kills/digs).

"We're really proud of what Averey was able to accomplish on the court this year.  Her point scoring ability was incredible.  Impressively, her highest-scoring matches came against our best opponents.  She is one of those rare players who can turn on their game at the flip of a switch," said USF Head Coach Dan Mathews. "We relied heavily on Averey this year and she shouldered that burden with grace.  She never sought credit for what she gave us, and this is what we appreciate and value most about Averey.  She is a truly selfless player.   

From a career standpoint, Yaksich has totaled 950 career kills for sixth all-time at USF. In 306 sets across 87 matches, she has the second-best kills per sent mark of 3.1, which is just behind Emily Johnson at 3.18 in 2012-14 (342 sets). Yaksich ranks second all-time at USF with 3.6 points per set with her 1,107 career points ranking sixth at USF. Other USF top-10 marks include third all-time with 2,617 total attacks as well as seventh in service aces with 78; seventh in digs with 644, ninth in hitting percentage at .231, ninth in blocks assists with 123 and total blocks with 140.  

Mathews also noted how his senior outside hitter was a tremendous and "real success story."

"Not only did she maintain her level of fitness and determination throughout COVID; but she also made a full comeback from a very challenging hamstring injury in 2019.  She is a testament to hard work and perseverance. In order to understand Averey's success, we also must understand the quality of our team.  She played next to some dominant middle blockers
who occupied a lot of the opponent's attention.  She also ran very fast tempo from a really good setter.  Averey would be the first person to point out that her success is a reflection of everyone's effort," Matthews said.
 
2021 D2CCA Volleyball Central Region Team
Player of the Year
Audrey Fisher, Central Missouri – MH/B – 6-0, Senior, Lenexa, Kan.
 
2021 1^st Team D2CCA All-Region Team
Faith Rottinghaus, Washburn – DS/L – 5-6, Senior, Berryton, Kan.
Audrey Fisher, Central Missouri – MH/B – 6-0, Senior, Lenexa, Kan.
Allison Maxwell, Washburn – MH/B – 6-1, Senior, Jefferson City, Mo.
Payton Kirchhoefer, Northwest Missouri – OH – 5-10, RS-Freshman, Omaha, Neb.
Kenzie Foley, St. Cloud State – OH – 6-1, Sophomore, Sergeant Bluff, Iowa
Genna Berg, Washburn – OH – 5-9, Senior, Blue Springs, Kan.
Maddy Torve, St. Cloud State – S – 5-11, Senior, Loretto, Minn.
 
2021 2nd Team D2CCA All-Region Team
Tori Hanson, Concordia-St. Paul – DS/L – 5-8, Senior, Lakeville, Minn.
Megan Flom, Winona State – MH/B – 6-2, Graduate Student, Kenyon, Minn.
Hannah Engelken, Central Missouri – MH/B – 6-1, Junior, Overland Park, Kan.
Linsey Rachel, St. Cloud State – OH – 5-8, Senior, Maple Lake, Minn.
Averey Yaksich, Sioux Falls – OH – 6-0, Senior, Omaha, Neb.
Kersti Nix, Central Missouri – OH – 6-1, Sophomore, Overland Park, Kan.
Ally Offerdahl, Central Missouri – S, 5-8, Senior, Prairie Village, Kan.