2024 AVCA DIVISION III VOLLEYBALL REGIONAL AWARDS 

MINNEAPOLIS – Augsburg University outside hitter Bri Van Well (SR, Woodbury, Minn./Woodbury HS) was named to the American Volleyball Coaches Association Division III All-Region 9 Team, while outside hitter Ava Carlson (FY, Cloquet, Minn./Cloquet HS) was named as the region's Rookie of the Year by the AVCA, it was announced on Wednesday.

It is the first regional awards for both Auggies, and the first time an Auggie volleyball player has earned a regional Rookie of the Year honor. Both Auggies were named to the All-Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference squad this season, with Carlson also earning MIAC Rookie of the Year honors and Van Well being named to the MIAC All-Playoff Team.

Playing in her fifth season, Van Well had the best statistical season of her college career, leading the MIAC in total kills (416), with her 3.75 kills per-set average second-best. She hit at a .255 pace, sixth-best among league players, while also contributing 32 blocks (three solo, 0.29 per-set), 222 digs (2.00 per-set) and 23 service aces (0.21 per-set). She had double-digit kills in 25 of her 30 matches on the season, with seven kill-dig double-doubles. She hit .250 or better in 14 matches this season. Van Well's 456.5 points lead all conference players, with her 411 points per-set average third-best.

Playing in 120 career matches, the fourth-most matches played by an Auggie in program history, Van Well finished her career (417 sets) with 1,276 kills, third-most in program history, with her 3.06 kills per-set average third-best, and her .248 career attack percentage ninth-best. She also contributed 139 total blocks (17 solo, 0.33 per-set), 448 digs (1.07 per-set) and 38 service aces in her Auggie career.


Carlson shined in her debut season, collecting 243 kills (2.27 per-set), with 26 blocks (four solo, 0.24 per-set), 287 digs (2.68 per-set) and 42 service aces (0.39 per-set). She recorded double-digit kills in nine matches this season, with six kill-dig double-doubles, recording double-digit dig totals 15 times. She had 11 matches with two or more service aces. Carlson's 2.27 kills per-set average was tied for 25th among conference players, with her 243 kills 16th-most. Her 42 service aces were fifth-most among conference players.

Under first-year head coach April Elsbernd, Augsburg finished the 2023 campaign with an overall record of 16-14, holding a 7-4 record in conference play.