December 12, 2023

MADISON, S.D. – The American Volleyball Coaches Association is pleased to announce its women's volleyball All-America Teams for the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics, as chosen by the NAIA Volleyball All-America Selection Committee.

The 2023 class included 42 athletes – 14 on the first, second, and third teams – from 32 schools, and an additional 60 athletes were honorable mention selection. 

Junior outside hitter Sydney Schell was selected to the AVCA-NAIA Women's Volleyball All-American Honorable Mention for the second straight season for Dakota State (S.D.).

She had been named to the AVCA-NAIA Volleyball All-Region First Team last month for two straight seasons, as well as North Star Athletic Association All-Conference First Team. 

Schell led the Trojans with 385 kills during the 2023 season.  She averaged 3.5 kills per set and registered a hitting percentage of .221.  She collected 359 digs (3.3 digs per set) during the season.

Schell had accomplished a pair of 1,000-club milestones in both kills and digs at Dakota State.  She ranks fifth all-time in the DSU women's volleyball record book with 1,174 kills. 

She ranked third in the North Star Athletic Association in overall kills per set and fourth in total kills.  She was also fifth in the conference with 3.2 kills per set and eighth in hitting percentage of .228 during the league season.

Sydney is a native of Aberdeen, S.D., and majors in cyber operations at Dakota State University.  She also collects academic honors in the NAIA and NSAA for her achievements in the classroom.