Hays Named AVCA All-America Honorable Mention

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – For the third-consecutive season, the University of Arkansas volleyball team has collected an AVCA All-America honor with Wednesday’s selection of senior Meredith Hays. Hays has been recognized as an Honorable Mention performer for the second All-America certificate of her Razorback career. She joins Jasmine Norton (2009-12) as the second two-time All-American in program history.

The three-year run of All-Americans is the longest streak in program history. With their latest addition, the Razorbacks have now collected six All-America accolades under head coach Robert Pulliza. Overall, Arkansas Volleyball now has 11 All-America selections spread among nine student-athletes. Hays was previously honored this season as a member of the All-SEC Team and AVCA All-South Region First Team.

The list of Arkansas’ All-Americans also includes Jessica Field (1997), Kim Storey (1998), Sara Kincaid (2003), Roberta Tarnauskaite (2003), Denitza Koleva (2006), Norton (2009, 2012), Roslandy Acosta (2012) and Raymariely Santos (2013). Hays earned her first All-America honor following the 2013 season.

Hays finished her senior year averaging an SEC-leading 4.34 kills per set, which also ranks 22nd in the NCAA. With 521 kills during the 2014 campaign, she became just the eighth-ever Razorback to reach 500 kills in a single season. Her 4.34 kills per set ranks fifth on the program’s single-season list and stands as the highest by an Arkansas attacker since the 2000 season. Hays is also third in the SEC and 29th in the country with 4.79 points per set.

The Hereford, Texas, native tallied double-digit kills in 29 of 31 matches this season including 10 20-kill performances. She capped the season with a match-high 21 kills at No. 15 Kentucky and completed her 13th double-double of the year with 10 digs. Hays established career highs during the 2014 season with 29 kills against Oral Roberts (Sept. 9) and 18 digs the next match against South Dakota (Sept. 12).

Aside from her attacking prowess, Hays averaged 2.48 digs per set and finished second on the team with 21 aces. She posted a career high with four service aces at Tennessee (Nov. 26). Hays also had seven matches during the course of the season with three or more blocks including a career-best seven blocks against SMU (Sept. 14).

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