Volleyball | 12/6/2023 8:34:00 PM

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Dec. 6, 2023) – For just the sixth time in program history, a Pioneer has been named an American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) All-American.
 
Kaia Saylor, senior for Texas Woman's volleyball, received AVCA All-American Honorable Mention honors, as announced on Wednesday. Saylor becomes just the sixth Pioneer in program history to receive this honor and first since 2019.
 
"Kaia has well-earned this award," TWU Volleyball Head Coach Jeff Huebner said. "She is one of the most dynamic attackers in the league and one of the most selfless teammates. This year especially, she led our team out of a place of toughness and love with sheer will when needed. She is such a great example of what it means to be resilient – a true Pioneer!"
 
Most recently, Saylor was named to the AVCA All-South Central Region Team, receiving honorable mention honors. The All-Americans are then selected from the list of All-Region honorees.
 
The 2023 class of AVCA All-Americans marked the 42nd year of the award. The first, second and third teams each had 14 players representing 28 schools. An additional 106 players were named to the honorable mention list.
 
According to the AVCA, the selections are made by the AVCA Division II All-American committee.
 
Saylor continued to write the history books for the Pioneers in her senior campaign. She finished the regular season with a .354 hitting percentage, which ranked third in the LSC. Additionally, across her senior season, she hit .337– the highest season hitting percentage of her career.
 
A dominant force on offense for the Pioneers, Saylor finished the year with 263 kills, also marking a season career high. Across 87 sets played, she averaged 2.99 kills per set and 3.28 points per set.
 
On Nov. 7, Saylor earned LSC weekly honors, as she was named the LSC Offensive Player of the Week, after leading the Pioneers to a 2-0 week. Across both wins, she recorded 41 kills, hit .449 and averaged 4.56 kills per set. Saylor hit a season high 25 kills in the Pioneers' win over Texas A&M - Kingsville on Nov. 4.
 
On the defensive side of the ball, Saylor closed her senior season with 45 total blocks – a career high – and 73 total digs.
 
Saylor championed a historic overall season for the Pioneers, as they finished with their most wins since 2018, most LSC wins since 2019 and first time back in the South Central Regional Rankings since 2015.
 
She closed her career at TWU with 634 total kills, two All-LSC honors, one All-Region honor and now an All-American honor.