Eight Liberty League women’s volleyball players were named to the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) All-Region teams following the 2024 season and a pair of those honorees were also recognized with Region 3 awards (Player of the Year, Freshman of the Year).
All eight honorees represent Region 3 for New York, six were selected to the first team and otwo were recognized with honorable mention accolades. Three Liberty League schools had honorees on the teams—Ithaca College, the 2024 Liberty League Champions, William Smith College, and Clarkson University. Ithaca headlined the list with four honorees for the second consecutive year, William Smith had three honored and Clarkson had one selection.
Ithaca’s Wesley Slavin, the 2024 Liberty League Player of the Year, garnered Region 3 Player of the Year accolades and William Smith’s Delainy Williams, the 2024 Liberty League Rookie of the Year, was tabbed Region 3 Freshman of the Year.
AVCA Region 3 Player of the Year: Wesley Slavin, Sophomore, Setter, Ithaca College
Slavin played in 29 matches for the Bombers this season and paced the team in assists as well as assists per set with 925 and 9.95 per set, respectively. Among league leaders, she was second in assists per set and third in total assists. Nationally, she was ranked among the top 30 in assists per set (22nd). Slavin tallied 20 or more assists in 27 matches and boasted a season-high 58 assists in a match against Trinity (Texas) in early October. The two-time Liberty League Performer of the Week honoree also registered a .234 hitting percentage and averaged 1.87 digs per set.
AVCA Region 3 Freshman of the Year: Delainy Williams, Setter, William Smith College
Williams started 29 matches and played in all 109 sets. She closed out the 2024 campaign with a league-best 1,134 and 10.40 assists per set. Williams was 10th in Division III in assists per set and tallied 30 or more assists in 27-of-29 matches. She became the first Heron in program history to surpass the 1,000-career assist mark as a rookie. Williams also recorded 200 digs (1.83 per set), 51 service aces (0.53 per set), and 47 kills (0.43 per set). She was recognized as Liberty League Rookie of the Week seven times this season and led the Herons to their first NCAA Tournament appearance in program history.
AVCA Region 3 All-Region First Team
Naomi Clauhs, So., OH, Ithaca
Gabriela Gonzalez-Abreu, So., OH, Ithaca
Malya Sayre, Jr., OH, William Smith
Wesley Slavin, So., S, Ithaca
Hope Von Dohlen, Jr., RS, William Smith
Delainy Williams, Fr., RS, William Smith
AVCA Region 3 All-Region Honorable Mention
Ellie Benedict, Sr., L, Ithaca
Abigail Spector, Sr., L, Clarkson