KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) announced the 2017 Volleyball All-America Teams, Tuesday afternoon.
Darcy Latham (SR/Bismarck, Mo.) of the Central Methodist Volleyball team was named as a Third Team All-American. Latham played in all 36 matches for the Eagles, while leading her team to 24-12 record this past season. The team was 14-5 in the Heart of America Athletic Conference and advanced to the semi-finals of the conference tournament.
She finished the season as the team's leader in kills (461) along with 442 digs, 48 service aces, and 26 blocks. She recorded a career high in kills against Clarke University, with 22, and a career high in digs with 27 against Grand View. As the season concluded Latham racked up many accolades; she was named the Heart Co-Player of the Year, earned First-Team All-Conference honors, named to the NAIA All-Midwest Region team, and selected as a Daktronics NAIA Scholar-Athlete for attaining a 3.5 GPA and higher.
"I am very excited and proud of Darcy. She had an outstanding senior year. We relied on her heavily in the front and backcourt this season. She led us in kills, and she was essential to the success of our team this year. I couldn't be more proud of the career she has had and this is an incredible and much deserving honor for her to receive," head coach Allison Jones-Olson mentioned on Latham's accomplishment.
Latham closed out her four year career at Central Methodist as the all-time leader in kills (1,642), digs (1,511), and service aces with 203. She is the first four-year letter winner to earn NAIA All-American status in program history.
