OMAHA, Neb. — Three women from the Creighton Volleyball team were honored by the American Volleyball Coaches Association on Tuesday with All-Region honors. Sophomores Norah Sis and Kendra Wait were named First Team All-East Region for the second straight season, while senior Kiana Schmitt landed a spot on the All-East Region Honorable Mention Team.
The East Region consists of a combination of 39 teams from the Atlantic Coast Conference, America East Conference, Atlantic 10 Conference, BIG EAST Conference, Colonial Athletic Association, Ivy League, Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference and Patriot Leagues.
This year’s awards mark the eighth straight year that Creighton has had two or more student-athletes earn First Team All-Region acclaim, putting the Bluejays in elite company with the likes of Texas (22 straight years), Kentucky (13), Minnesota (13), Nebraska (12), Wisconsin (11), BYU (9) and Pittsburgh (8). Creighton’s 25 First Team All-Region selections since 2015 ranks 10th-most nationally, trailing only Texas (40), Kentucky (36), Minnesota (35), Nebraska (35), Stanford (30), Florida (29), Wisconsin (28), Pittsburgh (27) and Penn State (26).
A sophomore from Gardner, Kan., Wait is leading the BIG EAST with 11.13 assists per set, good for 13th-best nationally. Directing an offense that ranks eighth nationally in kills per set, she’s the nation’s only player to average at least 11.00 assists and 3.00 digs per set. Wait is a two-time All-BIG EAST and All-East Region choice. She was named All-Tournament Team at three different events this fall.
A Third Team All-American in 2021, Sis was also recognized as an All-Region choice for the second straight year. The Papillion, Neb., product was named BIG EAST Player of the Year, BIG EAST Tournament MVP and Rumble in the Rockies MVP during a standout sophomore campaign that has her ranked 21st nationally with 4.33 kills per set.
Schmitt earned the first All-Region accolade of her career. The Waunakee, Wis., native ranks fifth in the BIG EAST with 0.96 blocks per set and is seventh with a .317 hitting percentage. Also an All-BIG EAST choice this fall, she has indicated her intent to return for her fifth year of eligibility in 2023.
Creighton finished its 11th straight trip to the NCAA Tournament on Friday with a 27-5 record. Coached by Kirsten Bernthal Booth, CU won its BIG EAST-record ninth straight regular-season title as well as its eighth BIG EAST Tournament title in the past nine years.
