Gator Quartet Tabbed AVCA All-Americans

Article posted by Florida Gazette. Photo by Tim Casey

LEXINGTON, Ky. -- AVCA First Team All-American Alex Holston led the way for Florida volleyball’s four 2014 All-America honorees, announced by the American Volleyball Coaches Association Wednesday in advance of the AVCA Convention and 2014 Final Four in Oklahoma City this week.

Florida freshman middle blocker and AVCA Southeast Region Freshman of the Year Rhamat Alhassan was named a Second Team All-America selection, while junior setter Mackenzie Dagostino picked up Third Team All-America honors. Junior middle Simone Antwi was named an AVCA All-America Honorable Mention selection following her third season as a Gator.

UF’s quartet of 2014 All-Americans brings the program’s total to a staggering 34 All-American players who have racked up 82 All-America honors. While Holston was an AVCA All-America Honorable Mention selection as a freshman in 2013, Alhassan, the nation’s leader in hitting efficiency, Dagostino and Antwi all picked up the first All-America honors of their collegiate careers.

It was a record year for Florida, which finished 28-4 overall, notched its 24th consecutive 25-win season and went an undefeated 18-0 in SEC play to claim the program’s 21st SEC Championship the last 24 years. The Gators ran the table in the SEC for the 13th time in program history and led the league in all but one statistical category through conference play.

The Orange and Blue advanced to the Elite Eight for the first time since 2011 and strung together a 23-match win streak from September 21-December 13, the longest win streak in the country in 2014 and longest for a Florida team since 2010. Five Gators were named All-SEC selections, as UF boasted the SEC Player of the Year (Holston), Freshman of the Year (Alhassan), Scholar Athlete of the Year (Holly Pole) and Coach of the Year (Wise). Alhassan, Antwi, Dagostino, Holston and Pole all picked up All-Southeast Region honors, while Wise and Alhassan were the Southeast Region Coach and Freshman of the Year.

Holston, Alhassan and Dagostino will be honored Friday at the 2014 All-America Banquet in Oklahoma City in conjunction with the 2014 AVCA Convention and Final Four.