ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFKnights.com) – The American Volleyball Coaches Association announced the 2019 All-American selections on Wednesday, with sophomore outside hitter McKenna Melville being named All-America Honorable Mention for the second straight season.
Melville's selection marks the 11th All-American Honorable Mention in program history and is just the second time one athlete has earned the recognition in multiple seasons (DeLaina Sarden; 2012-2014). UCF has had at least one student-athlete selected All-America in six of the last nine seasons.
"McKenna put up some pretty impressive numbers this year," UCF Volleyball Head Coach Todd Dagenais said. "We're thrilled to have another All-American in the UCF family. Both she and the program have nowhere to go but up, and hopefully there are more conference, regional, and All-American awards to be achieved in the future. Our entire program is very proud of McKenna and everything she accomplished this year."
In just her second season in The Black and Gold, Melville has already established herself as one of the greatest attackers in UCF Volleyball history. Playing in all 122 sets this season, Melville had one of the best sophomore campaigns in program history, posting a team-high 4.49 kills per set mark after scorching 548 kills on the year, nearly a third of UCF's total production. In just her second year at the collegiate level, Melville tallied her 1000th career kill. Defensively, the Eagan, Minn. native recorded 3.13 digs per frame and .46 blocks per set, including a team-high 13 solos.
Melville was a thorn in the side of opposing AVCA top-50 teams this season, posting 4.62 kills per set and tallying seven service aces in eight matches.
Melville posted 22 double-doubles on the season, including a 20-20 performance in UCF's monumental win over FSU in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Nationally, she ranked 13th in total kills, 17th in points, 11th in total attacks and 23rd in both kills and points per set. In total on the season, she notched a 4.49 kills per set average at a .258 attack percentage. The outside hitter was named the American Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Week twice over the course of the season and she was also named AAC All-Conference First Team and was the tournament MVP in the AAC Championship, where the Knights defended their title.
Melville's efforts were instrumental in guiding the Knights to their second straight NCAA Tournament, their first time making it in back-to-back seasons since 2003. She was the backbone of a Knights' attack that advanced them to the second round of the tournament for the first time in the Todd Dagenais era. All-in-all, the Knights went 25-8 on the year and earned their second straight American Athletic Conference Championship.
UCF VOLLEYBALL ALL-AMERICANS
McKenna Melville Honorable Mention 2019
Jordan Pingel Honorable Mention 2018
McKenna Melville Honorable Mention 2018
DeLaina Sarden Honorable Mention 2014
Kaye-Alese Green Honorable Mention 2014
Kia Bright Honorable Mention 2014
DeLaina Sarden Honorable Mention 2013
DeLaina Sarden Honorable Mention 2012
Angelica Crump Honorable Mention 2011
Rachel Vukson Honorable Mention 2011
Jenny Frank Honorable Mention 2003
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