GRANVILLE, Ohio (November 16, 2021) – Junior middle hitter Lucy Anderson and freshman outside hitter Daria Rodriguez have been named as the first two All-Americans in the history of the Denison University volleyball program. Anderson was named a 2021 American Volleyball Coaches Association's (AVCA) NCAA Division III Third-Team All-American while Rodriguez earned Honorable Mention All-American status.

Anderson, a junior from Bloomington, Indiana, ranked 30th in all of NCAA Division III in blocks per set (1.03), and was 38th in hitting percentage (.352), 47th in points per set (4.25) and 48th in total blocks (96). She also added 287 kills and 42 service aces. During Denison's big 3-2 victory over Wittenberg University in the NCAC Regular-Season Championship match on October 27, Anderson hit .531 percent, tied her career-high with 18 kills and set a new career-best in blocks with 10. The match before that at Allegheny College on October 23, Anderson finished with a career-high eight service aces.

Rodriguez, a freshman from Naperville, Illinois, ranked 38th in all of NCAA Division III in points per set (4.37) and was 40th in kills per set (3.86). She led the Big Red as a freshman with 359 total kills and added 262 digs, 34 service aces and 23 blocks. Her career-high 24 kills came on October 23 at Allegheny while her career-best in digs (also 24) came on September 25 against Earlham College.

"Being named an AVCA All-American is a tremendous honor," spoke Denison's Head Coach Carter Cassel. "Lucy and Daria being the first two athletes from our program to be named AVCA All-Americans is pretty special. They both work extremely hard and hold themselves to a high standard. All of our individual recognitions and awards this year are a credit to the success of the team and the body of work we put together this season."

Both Anderson and Rodriguez were also named First-Team All-North Coast Athletic Conference this past season and made the AVCA All-Region 7 team while Anderson was the first Denison volleyball player to earn the NCAC Player of the Year recognition. Rodriguez, meanwhile, was the third straight Big Red player to earn NCAC Newcomer of the Year, but was the first player in school history to be named the Region Freshman of the Year.

AVCA NCAA Division III All-American Teams