SPRINGFIELD -- Missouri State volleyball player Kelley Michnowicz was recognized Tuesday by the American Volleyball Coaches Association with a spot on the all-Central Region First Team.

    The junior from Belleville, Ill., is Missouri State’s 13th AVCA all-region performer and first since classmate Calli Norman earned an honorable mention nod last season. The Central Region includes schools from Texas, Nebraska, Iowa, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, North Dakota and South Dakota.

    A first-team all-Missouri Valley Conference selection for the second year in a row, Michnowicz led the league with a .367 hitting percentage for the season, a figure that ranks second in school history. She averaged 2.32 kills, 0.61 blocks and 2.67 points per set for the Bears this year, and her .309 career hitting percentage sits third in MSU history.

    Michnowicz was the MVC Player of the Week Oct. 11 and Nov. 15 of this season.

    The Bears finished the season 21-10 overall and 12-6 in the Missouri Valley Conference, earning a spot in the NCAA Tournament for the sixth time since 2003. Missouri State has reached 20 wins for 12 consecutive seasons, the seventh longest active streak in the NCAA.