IRVING, Texas – East Carolina graduate student and right side Fran McBride has been named to the 2024 All-American Athletic Conference First Team according to a release of the league’s postseason awards Thursday morning. Junior outside hitter Angeles Alderete was also tabbed to the All-AAC Second Team while setter Taryn Gilreath earned All-Freshman Team accolades.
McBride, who becomes the fourth Pirate to earn All-AAC First Team recognition since East Carolina joined the league prior to the 2014 season, currently ranks seventh in the conference in hitting percentage (.308) and leads ECU in total blocks (80). She also slots second on the squad in total kills (250), kills per set (2.66) and blocks per set (0.85). McBride has produced double-digit kills in 13 matches this campaign, including nine times in league play, logging a career-high 18 at Tulane.
Alderete, selected the AAC Preseason Player of the Year back in August, has proven one of the top six-rotation outside hitters in the conference as she averages 2.66 kills and 3.23 digs per set. Heading into the AAC Volleyball Championship, Alderete is eighth on the circuit in aces per set (0.34) and digs per set (3.23). Her 10 double-doubles this season are a team high and give her 39 in three years of collegiate volleyball. Alderete is also just 11 digs away from etching her name into the program’s record book as the seventh Pirate to register 1,000 career kills and 1,000 career digs.
Gilreath, who helps run the East Carolina offense out of a 6-2 rotation, currently averages 4.66 assists and 1.33 digs per set. She posted her first career double-double in the Pirates’ five-set win over North Texas with 24 assists and 12 digs while also notching 15 assists and nine digs in the victory over Charlotte that completed the season series sweep of the 49ers.
No. 3 seed ECU opens play at the American Athletic Conference Volleyball Championship Friday afternoon with a quarterfinal match against sixth-seeded Florida Atlantic. First serve inside Wichita State University’s Koch Arena is scheduled for 12 p.m. The contest will stream live through ESPN+.
2024 American Athletic Conference Volleyball Postseason Awards
Player of the Year
Maria Clara Andrade, Jr., OH, South Florida
Libero of the Year
Marta Pecalli, Sr., Tulsa
Setter of the Year
Caroline Dykes, Sr., South Florida*
Freshman of the Year
Sydney Jones, OH, Temple
Coach of the Year
Jolene Shepardson, South Florida
First Team All-Conference
Jorda Crook, So., OPP, UAB
Fran McBride, Gr., RS, East Carolina
Samarah Hill, Gr., OH, Rice
Lademi Ogunlana, Jr., MB, Rice
Maria Clara Andrade, Jr., OH, South Florida*
Caroline Dykes, Sr., S, South Florida
Naiya Sawtelle, Gr., OH, South Florida
Taylor Davenport, Gr., OH, Temple
Tytiana Johnson, Sr., MB, Tulsa
Marta Pecalli, Sr., L, Tulsa*
Morgan Stout, R-Sr., MB, Wichita State
Izzi Strand, 5th, S, Wichita State
Second Team All-Conference
Angeles Alderete, Jr., OH, East Carolina
Victoria Hensley, Jr., S, Florida Atlantic
Katelynn Robine, Sr., OH/RS, Florida Atlantic
Hannah Jones, So., OH, Memphis
Savannah Skopal, Fr., S, Rice
Lia Schneider, So., L, South Florida
Sydney Jones, Fr., OH, Temple
Mia Soerensen, Jr., OPP, UTSA
All-Freshman Team
Abby Jones, OH, UAB
Taryn Gilreath, S, East Carolina
Tiffany Snook, MB, Memphis*
Ryann Vik, MB, North Texas
Savannah Skopal, S, Rice*
Christiana Greene, OH, Temple
Sydney Jones, OH, Temple*
*denotes unanimous selection
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