VolleyballMag.com Names 5 to All-America Teams

Full List of VolleyballMag.com All-America Honorees
 
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Five members of the Purdue volleyball team were recognized by VolleyballMag.com's All-America honors

The Boilermakers received nods on every level with outside hitter Grace Cleveland placed on first team, libero Jena Otec on second team, setter Hayley Bush on third team and outside hitter Caitlyn Newton and middle blocker Taylor Trammell each receiving Honorable Mention accolades.

The spring 2021 season proved to be the best in program history, with a record-setting four Boilermakers receiving American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) All-America nods, its highest-ever final AVCA Coaches Poll ranking (No. 7), the most All-Big Ten honors in a single season (including the first Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year in Otec) and the program's fourth-ever trip to the NCAA Regional Finals.
 
Grace Cleveland – AVCA and VolleyballMag.com 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 Stephanie (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).

Jena Otec – AVCA All-America Honorable Mention and VolleyballMag.com Second Team
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.

 
Hayley Bush – AVCA All-America Honorable Mention & VolleyballMag.com Third Team
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.

 
Caitlyn Newton – AVCA Third Team All-America and VolleyballMag.com Honorable Mention
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.

 
Taylor Trammell – VolleyballMag.com Honorable Mention
6-2 | Middle Blocker | Lexington, Ky.

• Big Ten leader and No. 2 in the nation with 137 total blocks
• Joined the Purdue single-season top-10 list in three categories: Blocks per game, hitting percentage and block assists.
• Set the Purdue single-season record with 1.63 blocks per set, which checked in at fourth in the nation.
• Recorded a .365 hitting percentage on the season, good for No.7 in program history (best since Faye Adelaja, .367 in 2016).
• Tallied 129 block assists, tying for sixth in program history and the most in over 10 years (last: Stephanie Lynch, program-record 174 in 2008).
• Went errorless in four matches, including both matches at Penn State (3/5-6/21) and vs. Minnesota (2/6/21).
• Hit a .400 or better clip in 10 matches, including five at .500 or better.
• Set the Purdue four-set match record with 12 block assists at Rutgers (3/19/21).