AVCA All-Region Teams

LEXINGTON, Ky. -- Missouri State volleyball player Lily Johnson was recognized Tuesday (Dec. 9) by the American Volleyball Coaches Association with a first-team all-Midwest Region selection. The Midwest Region includes schools from the Missouri Valley, Atlantic 10, Big 12, Big Sky, Mid-American, Ohio Valley, and Western Athletic conferences, as well as The Summit League.

The outside hitter from Wildwood, Mo., is Missouri State's 16th AVCA all-region performer and the first true freshman in MSU and Missouri Valley Conference history to earn that distinction. Johnson's first-team all-region selection also guarantees her AVCA All-America status, with the full All-America teams set for announcement on Dec. 17.

The MVC Freshman of the Year and a first-team all-conference selection, Johnson led the MVC in total kills (495), kills per set (3.99), points per set (4.50) and aces per set (0.31), ranking among the top 70 players nationally in each of those categories. Her kill total and average established MSU freshman records, while her performances of 26 kills on Sept. 12 against Ball State and 23 kills at Kansas State on Sept. 8 represented the Nos. 1 and 3 single-match kill totals for a freshman in school history.

Johnson had at least 10 kills in 27 of Missouri State's 32 matches, including a streak of 13 in a row to close the season that serves as the longest at MSU since 1997. She also posted seven matches with at least 20 kills, the most in a season at MSU since 1998, while the last Bear to finish their career with at least seven 20-kill matches finished playing in 2006.

Additionally, Johnson had at least 17 kills in seven consecutive matches from Sept. 8-26, the longest such streak since 1997, while her 495 kills and 3.99 average ranked sixth and seventh, respectively, on MSU's single-season list.

The Bears finished the season 20-12 overall and 12-6 in the Missouri Valley Conference, reaching the 20-win plateau for the 15th time in the last 16 seasons.