Elon’s Garcia Named CAA Volleyball Rookie of the Year, Busa First Team All-Conference Honoree

RICHMOND, Va. – Elon University freshman setter Kodi Garcia was tabbed the CAA Rookie of the Year Wednesday afternoon, Nov. 15. The conference’s postseason awards also included senior outside hitter Sydney Busa earning First Team All-CAA honors.

Garcia is third in the CAA for total assists with 1,228 on the year. That total is the fourth-most in a single season in program history. Having played every set this season, the Tomball, Texas, native also collected 247 digs (2.12 per set), 23 blocks and 27 service aces. Throughout the year, Garcia earned CAA Rookie of the Week a conference-high three times on Aug. 28, Oct. 2 and Nov. 6. Twice thus far Garcia has eclipsed the 60-dig mark in a match with both occasions coming against William & Mary. In Elon’s four-set home win over the Tribe, she had 60 assists before finishing with 63 in a five-set loss on the road.

An outstanding regular season for Busa helped propel her to becoming Elon’s first First Team All-Conference honoree since the 1999 season when Eli Mould earned First Team All-Big South. The honor follows her 2016 Third Team All-CAA award. Through the 2017 regular season, Busa has a CAA-best 495 kills (4.27 per set) and has eclipsed the 20-kill mark 11 times this year, maxing out at 28 kills to go with 23 digs in a five-set win over Charlotte. During the season, Busa also became the fourth member of the program’s 1,000-kill and 1,000-dig club.

Elon returns to action with its first CAA Tournament appearance Thursday, Nov. 16, at 4 p.m. The sixth-seeded Phoenix will take on third-seeded tournament host James Madison. The Dukes beat Elon twice during the regular season, beating Elon 3-0 in Alumni Gym on Sept. 25 and 3-1 in Harrisonburg, Va., on Oct. 29.

2017 CAA Volleyball Postseason Awards
First Team

Sydney Busa, Elon
Allison Beckman, College of Charleston
Laura Masciullo, Hofstra
Krissy Mummey, College of Charleston
Julymar Otero, Towson
Amy Underdown, Northeastern

Second Team
Taylor Austin, James Madison
Gabrielle Eyl, Northeastern
Jocelyn Kuilan, Towson
Kennedy Madison, College of Charleston
Bryn Recker, James Madison
M’Kaela White, James Madison

Third Team
Maria Bellinger, Delaware
Sydney Biniak, William & Mary
Anna Holehouse, Towson
Devon Rachel, College of Charleston
Michela Rucli, Hofstra
Luisa Sydlik, Hofstra

2017 CAA Player of the Year: Krissy Mummey, College of Charleston
2017 CAA Setter of the Year: Allison Beckman, College of Charleston
2017 CAA Defensive Specialist of the Year: Gabrielle Eyl, Northeastern
2017 CAA Rookie of the Year: Kodi Garcia, Elon
2017 CAA Coach of the Year: Jason Kepner, College of Charleston

All-Rookie Team
Kodi Garcia, Elon
Athena Ardila, Northeastern
Julia Brown, William & Mary
Liv Crawley, James Madison
Brynn Montgomery, UNCW
Ivania Ortiz, Hofstra
Gabrielle Tschannen, Northeastern