LEXINGTON, Ky. — Seniors Whitney Bower, Kamaile Hiapo, Erin Livingston and Whitney McEwan-Llarenas were all named to the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Southwest All-Region Team on Tuesday.
The group of seniors helped pace BYU women’s volleyball to its 12th-consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance and helped lead the Cougars (25-7, 13-5 Big 12) through their inaugural season in the Big 12 this year. With the move to the Big 12 Conference, BYU’s regional alignment switched to the AVCA’s Southwest region after previously being in the Pacific South region as members of the WCC.
Named to an AVCA All-Region team for the third time in her five-year career, Bower led the Cougars in assists (980) and aces (34) this season. Averaging 9.16 assists per set, the setter recorded double-digit assists in each of BYU’s 32 matches this season, including a team-high seven double-doubles.
On the year, Bower totaled 139 kills, averaging 1.3 per set, on a .355 clip, second-highest on the team. Defensively, she posted 245 digs for an average of 2.29 per set to go along with 70 total blocks. Bower represented the Cougars on both the Ellesyn Invitational and dōTERRA Classic all-tournament teams, and was named to the All-Big 12 First Team.
Receiving an AVCA All-Region honor for the first time, Hiapo led the team in digs, with 277, averaging 3.52 per set. She was second on the team with 162 assists and third with 31 service aces.
The libero finished with double-digit digs in 22 of BYU’s 32 matches, leading the team in digs in 20 of those matches. Hiapo was named to the dōTERRA Classic all-tournament team this season and was honored as the Classic’s MVP.
Now a two-time AVCA All-Region honoree, Livingston led BYU in kills (456) and points (509) this season, becoming the 23rd Cougar to record 1,000-career kills. The outside hitter posted double-digit kills in 28 of BYU’s 32 matches, hitting .285 on the year and averaged 4.3 kills per set, which ranked no. 22 through the regular season.
A unanimous pick on the All-Big 12 First Team and three-time Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week in 2023, Livingston was named the Ellesyn Invitational Tournament MVP, as well as to the Ellesyn Invitational and Cougar Challenge all-tournament teams. Livingston also recorded 142 digs, 48 total blocks, 28 service aces and eight assists on the year.
Also earning AVCA All-Region honors for the first time in her career, Whitney McEwan-Llarenas led the Cougars with a .356 hitting percentage and was second on the team in kills (225), total blocks (120) and points (307.5). The middle blocker led the team in total blocks in 10 games this season.
Named to the All-Big 12 First Team and the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week once in 2023, McEwan-Llarenas was also a dōTERRA Classic All-Tournament Team honoree. She averaged 2.12 kills per set, 1.13 blocks per set and 2.9 points per set for the year.
View the full list of AVCA all-region honorees at the organization’s website.