Gillen, Ryan Receive AVCA All-Region Nods

As their postseason continues, so do the awards for the Volley Hogs as junior Jill Gillen and senior Gracie Ryan have received American Volleyball Coaches Association South Region honors, the organization announced Tuesday.

For the second consecutive year, Gillen has been named to the AVCA South All-Region Team. The Stilwell, Kan. native is having her best season yet with the Razorbacks and leads the team with 4.14 kills per set and 459 total. Her 3.9 kills per set over the course of the year put her in fifth all time in program history.

Jill has also set new career highs in attempts (1,343), hitting percentage (.205), solo blocks (14), block assists (45) and total blocks (59) this fall. She has started in every single match and has led the Razorbacks in kills in 20 of 30.

Gillen was recently named to the All-SEC Team and named SEC Scholar-Athlete of the Year, also for the second season in a row.

Senior setter Gracie Ryan received an Honorable Mention on the AVCA South-All Region list and has had a record-breaking year. She has played in every set and match this season, one of just three players to do so. Ryan continues to work her way up the Razorback record book in all-time career assists and currently sits in fifth with 2,880 total.

Her 11.12 assists per set this season are third-best among SEC competitors and good for 12th in the nation, and 27 of Arkansas’ 30 matches have seen Ryan tally 30+ assists.

The Orlando, Fla. native has also contributed heavily to Arkansas’ defense this season. Ryan has posted 55 total blocks, fourth-best on the team, which includes five solo stuffs. She has added 321 digs as well, which comes in second among Razorbacks.

Gillen and Ryan continue their junior and senior campaigns in the third round of the NIVC at 6 p.m. Tuesday as the Razorbacks take on the UNLV Rebels in El Paso, Texas.

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