Lexington, Ken. - The Central Methodist Volleyball program saw three Eagles recognized at the regional level by the American Volleyball Coaches' Association.
The duo of Joana Milho and Annabelle Maassen earned NAIA All-Midwest Region honors, while Dustin Carrier was recognized as the Midwest Region Assistant Coach of the Year.
It marks the fourth consecutive year the program has been represented on the regional level by the AVCA.
Milho was named to the All-Midwest Region First Team for the first time in her career. The native of Lisboa, Portugal played in all 34 matches and 118 sets for Central. She finished her junior year hitting .211 while averaging 3.15 kills/set. Milho led the the team in both kills (376) and kills/set.
She posted double-digit kills 19 times including a career-best 23 kills against Benedictine on Oct. 4. She was named the Heart Attacker of the Week two times, and landed on the Heart All-Conference First Team.
Maassen finishes her career as a two-time All-Midwest Region Honorable Mention selection, previously earning recognition in 2023.
The graduate middle turned outside hitter started 33 of Central's matches while playing in 112 total sets. She saved her best season for last, setting single-season career bests in kills (263), kills/set (2.35), digs/set (2.99) and points (320.5). For her efforts, she earned Heart First Team All-Conference honors for the second-straight year.
Maassen produced double digit kills 11 times. Additionally, the super senior was also named the Heart Attacker of the Week for the first time in her career on Oct. 14 after averaging 3.44 kills/set and compiling a hitting percentage of .321 in Central's three wins against No. 17 Park, Clarke, and Mount Mercy.
The Jefferson City, native finishes her illustrious career as a five-time Heart All-Conference selection and a two-time All-Region honoree. She joins former teammates Callie Henson and Krystal Brauner as the only five-time Heart All-Conference selections in the program's history.
Additionally, Maassen is the only known player in program history whose name can be found in the Top 10 in all of the following career statisical categories; kills (4th - 994), service aces (2nd - 174), digs (3rd - 1484), block assists (6th - 193), and total blocks (7th - 224).
Carrier was named the Midwest Region Assistant Coach of the Year after earning Assistant Coach of the Year honors by the Heart of America. Carrier, who just completed his first year on CMU's staff, helped lead the Eagles to a 26-8 overall record and a 14-3 mark in Heart Play. The program won its first Regular Season Conference Championship since 2004 and qualified for the national tournament for the seventh consecutive year.
To view the AVCA release on this year's NAIA All-Region selections, please click here.
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