Ithaca Volleyball Earns Program-Record Five AVCA All-America Honors

ITHACA, N.Y. – The Ithaca College volleyball team made history as five Bombers were recognized by the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) with All-America honors, the most in program history. Leading the way was Wesley Slavin, who earned a spot on the AVCA All-America First Team, while Naomi Clauhs was named to the Second Team and Ellie Benedict to the Third Team. Ella Graper and Gabriela Gonzalez-Abreu rounded out the group with Honorable Mention accolades.
 
Not only were the five All-Americans the most in program history, but it was also the first time since 1994 that the Bombers saw three named to the First, Second or Third Teams.
 
Slavin, a two-time All-American, set career-highs in assists (1,201), digs (244), kills (49), service aces (64) and total blocks (30) this season. Recently named Liberty League Player of the Year and AVCA Region III Player of the Year, she has totaled 2,726 career assists, the seventh most by a player in program history.
 
Naomi Clauhs, an AVCA Honorable Mention selection as a sophomore, elevated her game this season with a team-leading 462 kills, averaging 4.05 kills per set while hitting a career-best .273. She appeared in every set for the Bombers, anchoring the offense throughout the year.
 
Anchoring the defensive backline was graduate libero Ellie Benedict, who earned All-America honors for the first time in her career. Benedict led the Bombers with 634 digs, averaging 5.42 per set—ranking 19th nationally in Division III. She also contributed 55 service aces and 112 assists. Benedict concludes her three-year career at Ithaca with 1,354 digs.
 
Both Ella Graper and Gabriela Gonzalez-Abreu secured their second career AVCA All-America Honorable Mention selections. Graper, a senior middle blocker, recorded 124 kills this season and posted a Liberty League-best 113 total blocks, including 25 solo efforts. She concludes her IC career with 277 career blocks.
 
Gonzalez-Abreu continued her outstanding play as a junior, appearing in all 117 sets as an outside hitter. She posted a career-best 413 kills (3.53 per set), along with 31 service aces and 330 digs. She recorded 14 double-doubles and hit .199 on the season.
 
The Bombers finished 27-5 overall and reached the second round of the NCAA Tournament this season.