University of Minnesota Athletics
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/ Volleyball
Shaffmaster Named to AVCA Player of the Year Watch List
9/19/2024 12:14:00 AM | Volleyball
The redshirt senior is off to a red hot start to her final season
MINNEAPOLIS -- The American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) announced its Watch List for its 2024 Division I Player of the Year Award, and Gophers redshirt senior setter Melani Shaffmaster was named to its inaugural list of 36 players.
So far in 2024, Shaffmaster is averaging 8.52 assists, 3.55 digs, 0.90 kills (.396), 0.41 aces and 0.38 blocks per set. She's posted double-doubles in five of seven matches and even tallied her first career triple-double against TCU on Sept. 7. For her career, she's been named All-Big Ten three times, including a first team selection in 2022. The four-time AVCA All-Region honoree ranks No. 8 in Minnesota history in assists (4,220) and is one of four Gophers ever to register 4,000 career assists and 1,000 career digs.
A total of 36 players from 21 schools were named to the Watch List, which will be narrowed down in November. The names of the finalists will be released before the AVCA Convention mid-December. The 2024 AVCA Player of the Year will be announced on Friday, Dec. 20, in Louisville, Ky., during the AVCA Convention.
Of the 24 players named to the list so far, eight are from Big Ten schools.
The No. 17 Gophers (4-3, 0-0 Big Ten) take on Green Bay, North Dakota and Chicago State this weekend to complete non-conference play.
So far in 2024, Shaffmaster is averaging 8.52 assists, 3.55 digs, 0.90 kills (.396), 0.41 aces and 0.38 blocks per set. She's posted double-doubles in five of seven matches and even tallied her first career triple-double against TCU on Sept. 7. For her career, she's been named All-Big Ten three times, including a first team selection in 2022. The four-time AVCA All-Region honoree ranks No. 8 in Minnesota history in assists (4,220) and is one of four Gophers ever to register 4,000 career assists and 1,000 career digs.
A total of 36 players from 21 schools were named to the Watch List, which will be narrowed down in November. The names of the finalists will be released before the AVCA Convention mid-December. The 2024 AVCA Player of the Year will be announced on Friday, Dec. 20, in Louisville, Ky., during the AVCA Convention.
Of the 24 players named to the list so far, eight are from Big Ten schools.
The No. 17 Gophers (4-3, 0-0 Big Ten) take on Green Bay, North Dakota and Chicago State this weekend to complete non-conference play.
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