IRVING, Texas – Standout student-athletes representing UCF, Houston and East Carolina earned the major awards for the 2022 American Athletic Conference volleyball season. The American officially announced its all-conference teams and individual award winners, as voted on by the league’s 11 head coaches, on Tuesday.
 
It was a series of repeat winners this season as UCF’s McKenna Melville earned her third straight American Player of the Year, Houston libero Kate Georgiades repeated as American Libero of the Year and UCF’s Amber Olson won her second consecutive American Setter of the Year. East Carolina’s Angeles Alderete took home American Freshman of the Year and Houston’s David Rehr claimed American Coach of the Year honors.
 
A total of 20 players from eight member institutions earned American all-conference awards, as UCF led the way with five total honorees (four on the first team). Houston added four selections, while SMU and Wichita State both had three. UCF’s Melville and Olson were unanimous all-conference selections after appearing on the first team on all 10 possible ballots.
 
Melville became the first three-peat American Player of the Year in the history of the award, and joins Jordan Thompson of Cincinnati (2016, 2018-19) as the only other three-time winner of the award. Melville led NCAA Division I in points per set (6.17) and kills per set (5.56), while ranking 7^th in total kills (539) as of November 28. She became just the 10^th student-athlete in NCAA Division I history to reach 2,500 career kills. Melville was tabbed to the AVCA All-American Third Team last season.
 
Georgiades claims her second consecutive Libero of the Year honor, becoming just the second student-athlete to repeat, joining Morgan Heise of SMU (2014-16). Georgiades led The American in digs per set (5.46) and ranked 8^th nationally in the category. She was also 9^th in NCAA Division I in total digs (622). She set The American three-set single-match record with 34 digs at Tulsa on Nov. 11.
 
Olson became the first American player to repeat as Setter of the Year. Olson brought home top setter plaudits after guiding the UCF offense to the third-best team hitting percentage (.317) in NCAA Division I. The hitting percentage also set The American single-season record, passing Wichita State’s previous record of .301 in 2017. Olson finished third in the nation in assists per set at 11.80. Olson moved into third all-time in American history, passing the 3,800-career assist mark.
 
Alderete became the second Pirate to win Freshman of the Year honors, joining Shelby Martin in 2017.  Alderete finished third in The American with 4.07 kills per set and 501 total kills., while hitting .223 on the year. She finished with 20 or more kills on ten difference occasions, including a career-high 26 kills against Notre Dame on Sep. 9. Alderete also contributed 48.0 total blocks on the campaign.  
 
Rehr was named American Coach of the Year for the second time (2019) after leading Houston to its first American Athletic Conference Championship and earned the league’s automatic bid to the 2022 NCAA Volleyball Championship. The Cougars reached the NCAA Volleyball Championship for the first time since 2000 following an historic season that featured a program-record 20-match winning streak. Houston posted a 28-3 overall record and 19-1 mark in league play.
 
2022 American Athletic Conference Women’s Volleyball Regular-Season Awards
 
Player of the Year
McKenna Melville, Gr., OH, UCF*
 
Libero of the Year
Kate Georgiades, Jr., Houston*
 
Setter of the Year
Amber Olson, Gr., UCF
 
Freshman of the Year
Angeles Alderete, OH, East Carolina
 
Coach of the Year
David Rehr, Houston
 
First Team All-Conference
Claudia Dillon, Sr., MB, UCF
Abby Hansen, Gr., MB, UCF
McKenna Melville, Gr., OH UCF*
Amber Olson, Gr., S, UCF*
Kate Georgiades, Jr., L, Houston
Abbie Jackson, Sr., OH Houston
Isabel Theut, Gr., MB, Houston
Marieke van der Mark, Gr., OPP, SMU
Jamison Wheler, So., OH, SMU
Kayley Cassaday, Sr., OH, Tulsa
Natalie Foster, So., MB, Wichita State
Brylee Kelly, R-Jr., OH, Wichita State
 
Second Team All-Conference
Kari Zumach, Gr., RS, UCF
Carly Glendinning, Fr., OH, Cincinnati
Abby Walker, So., MB, Cincinnati
Angeles Alderete, Fr., OH, East Carolina
Rachel Tullos, Sr., MB, Houston
Bailey Houlihan, Jr., L, Memphis
Celia Cullen, Jr., S, SMU
Sophia Rohling, Jr., OPP, Wichita State
 
*denotes unanimous selection