LEXINGTON, Ky. — Southwest Minnesota State University outside hitter and Marshall native Leah Jones was named to the American Volleyball Coaches Association’s All-American team as an honorable mention on Wednesday. Jones was also named to the AVCA All-Central Region first-team and the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference’s All-Conference first team.

Jones, a junior, became SMSU’s first player since 2021 to reach 400 kills in the season, finishing the year with 401 on a .263 hitting percentage. She also tallied 34 total blocks and 223 digs in 28 matches on the year.

Over the course of the season, Jones led the NSIC in total kills, ranked second in kills per set, and ranked 30th in kills per set nationally.

Jones was the AVCA’s Central Region Freshman of the Year in 2023 as a true freshman for the Mustangs.

SMSU finished its season ranked No. 13 nationally in the AVCA poll and went 21-7 for its 21st 20-win season in the last 22 years.