Four Collect All-Heart Laurels
Oskaloosa–A quartet of Statesmen women’s volleyball players were selected for postseason recognition as the all-Heart of America Athletic Conference teams were announced Tuesday.
Alyvia Johnson (Sr., Owatonna, Minn., Business Management) paced William Penn by being named to the 14-person first team. Katlyn Jeter (Sr., Solon, Iowa, Business Management) was one of 14 individuals picked for the second team, while Kaya Caprini (Jr., Minneapolis, Minn., Psychology) earned one of the 14 third-team laurels. Patricia De Souza (Sr., Sao Paulo, Brazil, Sports Management) was named to the 15-person honorable-mention squad as well.
Johnson wraps up her collegiate career with her fourth all-Heart honor (second time on the first team). She is the fourth player in program history to garner four all-conference awards in their career.
Caprini is now a two-time recipient (honorable mention last year), while Jeter and De Souza both close out their collegiate careers with their first accolade.
The foursome helped WPU to an 18-16 record (8-10 Heart) this fall.
Johnson, who recorded 18 double-doubles (kills and digs) in 2024, led the navy and gold with 359 kills (3.52 per set) on a .173 attack percentage. She also tallied 353 digs (3.46 per set) in addition to 45 blocks (8 solos, 37 assists), 16 aces, and nine assists.
The senior managed a season-high 23 kills versus Mayville State on August 17 and a season-best 29 digs against Mount Mercy on October 4.
Jeter accumulated 341 kills (3.13 per set) with a .195 hitting clip, while also finishing the campaign with 291 digs (2.67 per set). She tacked on 37 blocks (7 solos, 30 assists), 19 assists, and 14 aces to her season stat line.
The owner of five double-doubles this year, Jeter had a high of 24 kills against Kansas Wesleyan on September 7 and a high of 26 digs versus Missouri Valley on October 25.
Caprini guided the back row with 536 digs (4.32 per set), while also posting a WPU-best 38 aces. She managed 77 assists as well in 2024. Her season high of 30 digs came against Peru State on October 15.
De Souza ended her senior year with 161 kills (1.49 per set) on a team-best .217 attacking clip. She also guided the Statesmen with 84 blocks (7 solos, 77 assists, 0.78 per set).
Her season was highlighted by 14 kills against Waldorf on August 31 and eight blocks versus Grand View on November 5.
Katrina Davis of MidAmerica Nazarene was chosen as the Heart’s Player of the Year; she was the league’s Setter of the Year as well. Benedictine’s Winny Harris earned the Attacker of the Year award, while Rylie Mussman of Mount Mercy was tabbed as Defender of the Year. Freshman of the Year laurels went to Aby Widhalm of Baker.
Victoria Hurtt of Benedictine earned the Coach of the Year award from her peers, while Dustin Kaonohialii Carrier of Central Methodist was selected as the Heart’s Assistant Coach of the Year.
