NJCAA ALL-AMERICAN TEAM | AVCA ALL-AMERICAN TEAM
Ottumwa, IA – Sophomore Hennesys Lalane (Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic/Colegio Luis Munox Rivera) of the Indian Hills Volleyball team has been named to the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) DI Volleyball First-Team All-American squad after a record-breaking season for the Warriors.
Lalane joins teammate Jarolin de los Santos (Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic/Luis Munoz Rivera) on the first-team All-American squad as the two become the first set of teammates in program history to both be named NJCAA First-Team All-Americans. 2022 marks just the second time in school history that the Warriors have received multiple All-American nods from the NJCAA, joining Jill Hoeck and Olesya Bakhareva in 2005.
READ MORE: DE LOS SANTOS NAMED FIRST-TEAM ALL-AMERICAN
Lalane put together one of the most decorated seasons in school history for the Warriors. The sophomore setter was tapped as the NJCAA Region XI Player of the Year while guiding the team to 42 victories, the second-most in school history. Lalane was also named to the NJCAA All-Region XI First-Team and was a four-time recipient of the ICCAC Athlete of the Week and a one-time selection as the NJCAA National Athlete of the Week.
As the team's primary setter, Lalane led the nation with 1,636 assists. The sophomore produced 16 matches with at least 40 assists, including two matches with 50 or more assists. Lalane ranked eighth nationally with 10.29 assists/per set. Lalane's season total ranks fourth all-time in school history while her 2,884 career assists are third-most in program history.
"Lala captained our efforts this year," stated head coach Lyndsey Michel. "Her hitter selection and ability to make decisions on the fly the way she did for us this season made stellar performances for all of our hitters. Their successes came from Lala's flawless offense."
Lalane managed the Warrior offense from the setter position, but also made a major contribution from the service line. The sophomore ranked second in the nation with 109 service aces, just one off the national leader and a new single season school record at Indian Hills. Lalane finished her career with 186 career service aces, the most career aces in school history.
"Lala's serve was one to be reckoned with," Michel added. "When she wasn't dishing outassists, she was scoring points with her serve at crucial times.
Defensively, Lalane helped produce one of the top defenses in the nation. The Warriors led the country in total blocks, solo blocks, block assists, and blocks/set as Lalane totaled 95 stops on the year, third-most on the team.
"One thing that upped Lala's play this season from her time here at Indian Hills was her determination on defense. People did not score on her. She was fun to watch offensively, but she won games with her defensive efforts as well."
Lalane left her mark on the Warrior program and led the team to the Iowa Community College Athletic Conference (ICCAC) outright regular season championship, the NJCAA Midwest District Championship, and a fourth-place finish at the NJCAA National Tournament, the program's second-best finish in school history.
Along with Lalane's NJCAA All-American nod, the sophomore was named to the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) First-Team All-American squad. Lalane becomes just the fifth AVCA First-Team All-American selection, and seventh overall, joining de los Santos who was named an AVCA Second-Team All-American. Lalane is also the fifth student-athlete in program history to earn both NJCAA and AVCA First-Team All-American honors in the same season. In total, the Indian Hills Volleyball program has now earned 22 All-American honors combined between the NJCAA and the AVCA.
"Lala will be missed wholeheartedly – she is a leader of multiple magnitudes."
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