From left, Kenzie Foley, Ella Thompson, Emma Berran and Coach Braegelmann received all-region honors from the AVCA and D2CCA on Wednesday
Foley Named Central Region Player of the Year by AVCA, D2CCA for Second Consecutive Season as Organizations Announce Regional Awards
12/4/2024 12:00:00 PM | Volleyball
Foley, Thompson, Berran and Braegelmann earn All-Central Region honors
LEXINGTON, Ky. / TOPEKA, Kan. – For the second consecutive season, fifth year outside hitter Kenzie Foley (Sergeant Bluff, Iowa) has been named the Central Region Player of the Year by both the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) and the Division-II Conference Commissioners Association (D2CCA), as the organizations announced their All-Region teams on Wednesday.
Foley, redshirt junior middle blocker Ella Thompson (Lakeville, Minn.), junior setter Emma Berran (Inver Grove Heights, Minn.) and head coach Chad Braegelmann each received All-Central Region Honors. This is the fifth straight season that the Huskies have had at least two players named to the All-Region Teams and the second time ever SCSU has had three first team all-region honorees after Foley, Linsey Rachel and Maddy Torve were all AVCA First Team All-Central Region selections. It is the first time in SCSU Volleyball history that a coach has earned regional coach of the year honors.
In addition to being named region player of the year, Foley was a first team selection by both organizations, while Berran and Thompson were also picked to the first team by the AVCA. Thompson was a second team selection by the D2CCA and Braegelmann was named the Central Region Coach of the Year by the AVCA.
The fifth year outside hitter became the second player in program history to earn all-region honors for four consecutive years, after former teammate Linsey Rachel and the first player to be named to the First Team in all four years. Foley became the first player in program history to earn region player of the year honors last season and becomes the first two-time recipient this year.
Foley was named the NSIC Player of the Year for the second straight season (first player in program history after becoming the first Husky to win such honors a year ago) and was selected to the All-NSIC First Team for the fourth consecutive year. Prior to the season, she was voted as the program's first ever NSIC Preseason Player of the Year. Foley was named NSIC Offensive Player of the Week six times this season, bringing her career total to 13. She was also tabbed as the AVCA Division II National Player of the Week once in 2024 (third time of career). She was also named to the NSIC Tournament All-Tournament Team, the UP North Tournament All-Tournament Team and the Yotes Classic Showdown All-Tournament Team.
In 2024, the Sergeant Bluff, Iowa native has broken several program records including career kills, career points, career double-digit kill matches, single-match kills, career double-doubles. She is also two sets away from breaking the program record for all-time sets played. Among all DII players this season, she ranks top-five in kills, kills/set and points/set while also leading the NSIC in those categories.
Thompson earned all-region honors for the first time as a Husky in her first season playing for SCSU. She was a First Team All-NSIC selection and was picked as the NSIC Defensive Player of the Week once (Oct. 7). She was also named to the NSIC Tournament All-Tournament Team and the UP North Tournament All-Tournament Team.
The Lakeville native ranks No. 30 among DII players in hitting percentage and is top-six among NSIC players in hitting percentage, points/set, kills/set and total kills.
Berran earned the second all-region honors of her career after getting an honorable mention nod last season. This season, Berran was a First Team All-NSIC pick and was named NSIC Setter of the Week once (Nov. 11). She was also selected to the NSIC Tournament All-Tournament Team and the Yotes Classic Showdown All-Tournament Team. The Inver Grove Heights native currently ranks No. 5 in career assists in program history and became the first player in SCSU Volleyball history to surpass 1,000 assists in each of her first three seasons.
The junior setter ranks No. 7 in assists/set and No. 25 in total assists among DII players while ranking second in assists/set and fourth in total assists among NSIC players this season.
SCSU has won a program record 23 straight matches and 15 of the teams 27 wins have come against teams ranked/receiving votes in the AVCA Poll. All 17 of the Huskies sweeps have come in the last 21 matches.
The No. 1 seeded Huskies begin NCAA Tournament play at home on Thursday against Ouachita Baptist (Ark.). First serve from Halenbeck Hall is scheduled for at 7 p.m. Links to each coverage option will be available on the SCSU Volleyball schedule page.
AVCA All-Central Region
First Team:
Emma Berran
Kenzie Foley
Ella Thompson
Player of the Year:
Kenzie Foley
Coach of the Year:
Chad Braegelmann
D2CCA All-Central Region
First Team:
Kenzie Foley
Second Team:
Ella Thompson
Player of the Year:
Kenzie Foley
AVCA Release | D2CCA Release (NSIC)
For all the latest on St. Cloud State Volleyball, stay tuned to SCSUHuskies.com and follow the team on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
Foley, redshirt junior middle blocker Ella Thompson (Lakeville, Minn.), junior setter Emma Berran (Inver Grove Heights, Minn.) and head coach Chad Braegelmann each received All-Central Region Honors. This is the fifth straight season that the Huskies have had at least two players named to the All-Region Teams and the second time ever SCSU has had three first team all-region honorees after Foley, Linsey Rachel and Maddy Torve were all AVCA First Team All-Central Region selections. It is the first time in SCSU Volleyball history that a coach has earned regional coach of the year honors.
In addition to being named region player of the year, Foley was a first team selection by both organizations, while Berran and Thompson were also picked to the first team by the AVCA. Thompson was a second team selection by the D2CCA and Braegelmann was named the Central Region Coach of the Year by the AVCA.
The fifth year outside hitter became the second player in program history to earn all-region honors for four consecutive years, after former teammate Linsey Rachel and the first player to be named to the First Team in all four years. Foley became the first player in program history to earn region player of the year honors last season and becomes the first two-time recipient this year.
Foley was named the NSIC Player of the Year for the second straight season (first player in program history after becoming the first Husky to win such honors a year ago) and was selected to the All-NSIC First Team for the fourth consecutive year. Prior to the season, she was voted as the program's first ever NSIC Preseason Player of the Year. Foley was named NSIC Offensive Player of the Week six times this season, bringing her career total to 13. She was also tabbed as the AVCA Division II National Player of the Week once in 2024 (third time of career). She was also named to the NSIC Tournament All-Tournament Team, the UP North Tournament All-Tournament Team and the Yotes Classic Showdown All-Tournament Team.
In 2024, the Sergeant Bluff, Iowa native has broken several program records including career kills, career points, career double-digit kill matches, single-match kills, career double-doubles. She is also two sets away from breaking the program record for all-time sets played. Among all DII players this season, she ranks top-five in kills, kills/set and points/set while also leading the NSIC in those categories.
Thompson earned all-region honors for the first time as a Husky in her first season playing for SCSU. She was a First Team All-NSIC selection and was picked as the NSIC Defensive Player of the Week once (Oct. 7). She was also named to the NSIC Tournament All-Tournament Team and the UP North Tournament All-Tournament Team.
The Lakeville native ranks No. 30 among DII players in hitting percentage and is top-six among NSIC players in hitting percentage, points/set, kills/set and total kills.
Berran earned the second all-region honors of her career after getting an honorable mention nod last season. This season, Berran was a First Team All-NSIC pick and was named NSIC Setter of the Week once (Nov. 11). She was also selected to the NSIC Tournament All-Tournament Team and the Yotes Classic Showdown All-Tournament Team. The Inver Grove Heights native currently ranks No. 5 in career assists in program history and became the first player in SCSU Volleyball history to surpass 1,000 assists in each of her first three seasons.
The junior setter ranks No. 7 in assists/set and No. 25 in total assists among DII players while ranking second in assists/set and fourth in total assists among NSIC players this season.
SCSU has won a program record 23 straight matches and 15 of the teams 27 wins have come against teams ranked/receiving votes in the AVCA Poll. All 17 of the Huskies sweeps have come in the last 21 matches.
The No. 1 seeded Huskies begin NCAA Tournament play at home on Thursday against Ouachita Baptist (Ark.). First serve from Halenbeck Hall is scheduled for at 7 p.m. Links to each coverage option will be available on the SCSU Volleyball schedule page.
AVCA All-Central Region
First Team:
Emma Berran
Kenzie Foley
Ella Thompson
Player of the Year:
Kenzie Foley
Coach of the Year:
Chad Braegelmann
D2CCA All-Central Region
First Team:
Kenzie Foley
Second Team:
Ella Thompson
Player of the Year:
Kenzie Foley
AVCA Release | D2CCA Release (NSIC)
For all the latest on St. Cloud State Volleyball, stay tuned to SCSUHuskies.com and follow the team on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
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