WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Rounding out one of the best seasons in Purdue volleyball history, a program-record four members were recognized by the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) All-America awards.
Junior outside hitter Grace Cleveland received first team recognition, while senior outside hitter Caitlyn Newton was named to the third team. Meanwhile, redshirt junior setter Hayley Bush and senior libero Jena Otec were honorable mentions.
In addition to Cleveland becoming the sixth First Team All-American in program history, Otec's accolade marks Purdue's first defensive specialist/libero to receive this prestigious honor.
The postseason awards proved to be an all-around step-up for the Boilermakers from 2019, as Cleveland was third team and Newton honorable mention a season ago. This is the first All-America nods for Bush and Otec, coming after the first All-Big Ten first team honors and All-Northeast Region recognition of their careers.
The four All-America honorees led Purdue to one of the most illustrious seasons in program history, which saw its fourth NCAA Regional Finals appearance in program history (and first since 2013), the most All-Big Ten awards in a single season, the first Boilermaker to be named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year and multiple record book-worthy individual performances. The efforts by the team culminated in a 14-win Big Ten season, the third since 1987.
Purdue is joined by Michigan State, Minnesota, Nebraska, Penn State and Wisconsin as the only programs to produce at least four AVCA All-America honorees in a single season since 2013.
The awards are voted on by AVCA committee members.
Grace Cleveland – First Team All-America
6-2 | Outside Hitter | Bloomington, Ill.
Caitlyn Newton – Third Team
6-1 | Outside Hitter | Terre Haute, Ind.
5-10 | Setter | Union, Ky.
Jena Otec – Honorable Mention
5-10 | Libero | Crystal City, Mo.
Junior outside hitter Grace Cleveland received first team recognition, while senior outside hitter Caitlyn Newton was named to the third team. Meanwhile, redshirt junior setter Hayley Bush and senior libero Jena Otec were honorable mentions.
In addition to Cleveland becoming the sixth First Team All-American in program history, Otec's accolade marks Purdue's first defensive specialist/libero to receive this prestigious honor.
The postseason awards proved to be an all-around step-up for the Boilermakers from 2019, as Cleveland was third team and Newton honorable mention a season ago. This is the first All-America nods for Bush and Otec, coming after the first All-Big Ten first team honors and All-Northeast Region recognition of their careers.
The four All-America honorees led Purdue to one of the most illustrious seasons in program history, which saw its fourth NCAA Regional Finals appearance in program history (and first since 2013), the most All-Big Ten awards in a single season, the first Boilermaker to be named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year and multiple record book-worthy individual performances. The efforts by the team culminated in a 14-win Big Ten season, the third since 1987.
Purdue is joined by Michigan State, Minnesota, Nebraska, Penn State and Wisconsin as the only programs to produce at least four AVCA All-America honorees in a single season since 2013.
The awards are voted on by AVCA committee members.
Grace Cleveland – First Team All-America
6-2 | Outside Hitter | Bloomington, Ill.
- The sixth Boilermaker ever to be named First Team All-American and first since Sherridan Atkinson in 2018.
- Closed out the season with 1.39 blocks per set, the sixth-highest mark in program history. The last time a Boilermaker recorded more was Stepanie (Lynch) Harpanau in 2008.
- Ranks 19th in the nation and sixth in the Big Ten in blocks per set (1.39).
- Her 100 total blocks check in at No. 16 in the nation.
- Produced 233 kills this season and ranked No. 10 in the Big Ten with 3.24 kills per set.
- Registered the ninth-most points in the Big Ten with 4.05 points per set.
- Recorded 15 double-digit kill matches in the spring season, including a double-double at then-No. 8 Ohio State (17 kills, 11 digs, 6 block assists) and was one shy of a triple double in the victory at Penn State (11 kills, 10 total blocks, nine digs).
Caitlyn Newton – Third Team
6-1 | Outside Hitter | Terre Haute, Ind.
- Played in every match, including 83 of 84 sets in the spring 2021 season.
- Newton ranked nationally in eight categories and led the Big Ten in four: points (390), points per set (4.70), attacks per set (12.57) and total attacks (1,043).
- The senior ranks among the top 13 in the nation in: total attacks (No. 6), service aces (No. 8), attacks per set (No. 9) and points (No. 13).
- Set a career-high 29 kills vs. Minnesota (2/5/21) before recording a career-high 84 attacks the following night against the Gophers (2/6/21).
- Recorded a career-best 15 digs vs. Illinois (4/3/21).
- Produced six block assists at Rutgers for a career-best (3/19/21).
- Registered five double-doubles.
- Produced double-digit kills in all but three matches, including 10 with 15+ kills.
- Newton tallied 3,411 attempts in her four-year career, among the most ever by a Boilermaker and just nine attempts shy of tying the 10th-most in program history.
5-10 | Setter | Union, Ky.
- Becomes the sixth Boilermaker Setter to receive All-America honors.
- The First Team All-Big Ten honoree set a career-high seven kills at Michigan (2/14/21) along with a career-high 22 digs vs. Minnesota (2/6/21) this season.
- Led the Big Ten with 899 assists.
- Recorded 14 double-doubles in 2021, including 50 assists with 21 digs in the four set victory over No. 10 seeded Oregon in the NCAA Regional Semifinals.
- Averaged 10.70 assists per set this season, good for fourth in the Big Ten.
- Recorded 245 digs in 22 matches.
- Despite having time left in her eligibility, the redshirt junior checks in eighth overall with 3,622 career assists since her freshman season in 2018.
Jena Otec – Honorable Mention
5-10 | Libero | Crystal City, Mo.
- Named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year, the first in program history.
- First defensive specialist/libero from Purdue to receive an AVCA All-America nod.
- Led the league with 383 total digs, which checked in at No. 23 in the nation.
- Otec closed the season with 4.56 digs per set, the third-best mark by a Boilermaker in program history and second-highest average in the Big Ten this season.
- Recorded a career-high 31 digs vs. Minnesota (2/5), one of just 11 Boilermakers to ever surpass 30+ digs in a single match.
- During her time at Purdue, Otec averaged 2.8 digs per set, the ninth-most by a Boilermaker in her career and most since Carly Cramer (3.49, 2009-13). Meanwhile her 1,272 total career digs rank No. 10 in program history.