Cortney VanLiew has been selected an American Volleyball Coaches Association honorable mention All-American.
VanLiew, a sophomore from Columbus East, became the first player in Florida Gulf Coast’s Division I history to be recognized as an All-American in volleyball.
This season, VanLiew led the Eagles with 482 kills while hitting .241 and finished second on the team with 312 digs. She also recorded 26 assists and 47 blocks (10 solo).
VanLiew’s kills total was just three short of the school’s single-season record, and her 790 career kills ranks fifth FGCU’s Division-I era.
"Cortney has been one of the top players in the country throughout the season, and I am so happy that the committee recognized her contributions and talents," FGCU coach Matt Botsford told fgcuathletics.com. "To be honored, at this level, speaks volumes. Cortney’s performance this year helped to elevate our program to new heights, and she is such a deserving recipient. I am so proud of her and thankful to have such a great representative of FGCU volleyball included among the nation’s elite."
Prior to her AVCA recognition, VanLiew was named the Atlantic Sun Conference’s unanimous Player of the Year and earned spots on the ASUN’s all-tournament and all-academic team and represented the program on CoSIDA’s Academic All-District First Team. She also was the MVP of the Sunshine State Challenge and earned ASUN Player of the Week honors on Aug. 27 and Nov. 5.
VanLiew, a straight-A student, helped lead the Eagles to the best season in program history. They finished 27-7, including 15-1 in the ASUN to record to capture the program’s first regular-season championship since 2012. FGCU then knocked off defending champion Kennesaw State on its home court to claim its first-ever ASUN tournament title.
VanLiew played a key role in FGCU’s upset of and 21st-ranked in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament. It was the program’s first-ever win over a ranked team. The Eagles won 27 matches, which tied the 2016 team’s Division-I wins record.
