NEW YORK, N.Y. – For the second straight year, a pair of Villanova Wildcats earned conference yearly accolades as sophomore hitter Abby Harrell was named to her second All-BIG EAST team in as many years and first year middle Campbell McKinnon earned mention on the all-freshman squad.
Harrell followed up her Freshman of the Year season with another standout campaign, totaling a team-high 334 kills and 33 aces with 223 digs and 42 blocks. The Washington native ranked 10th in the conference for kills per set (3.21) and aces per frame, also compiling the most kills by a league player in a three-set match with 22 against Princeton. Villanova's top hitter racked up seven double-doubles with 18 double-digit kill performances, including in each of the last six contests. The 5-foot-10 sophomore is the 11th Villanova player all-time with multiple all-conference honors in their career and the eighth to do it in back-to-back years.
McKinnon became the sixth Wildcat in history named to the All-Freshman team, joining current teammates Harrell, Rose Crist and Riley Homer on that list. The first-year accumulated 239 kills, 96 blocks and 21 service aces on the year, leading the team in rejections and ranking second for terminations in her debut campaign. The Tennessee native had the most blocks and second best hitting percentage among league freshmen with her .334 clip placing fifth among all players over three attacks per set.
The 'Cats were one of five schools that placed multiple athletes on the all-conference lists, joining fellow BIG EAST Tournament participants Creighton (seven players honored), Connecticut and DePaul (both four) and Marquette (three). 2024 marks the 14th time in the 50-year history of Villanova volleyball that VU has gotten multiple all-conference awardees, following a 2023 where Harrell and Kiera Booth did the same.
Villanova will make its second straight appearance at the BIG EAST Tournament this week, facing the Connecticut Huskies on Wednesday evening in Omaha.
BIG EAST Player of the Year: Kendra Wait, Creighton
BIG EAST Libero of the Year: Rachel Krasowski, DePaul
BIG EAST Setter of the Year: Kendra Wait, Creighton*
BIG EAST Co-Freshmen of the Year: McKenna Brand, Connecticut & Margo Kemp, Xavier
BIG EAST Coaching Staff of the Year: Creighton
All-BIG EAST
Doga Kutlu, Sr., S, Connecticut*
Taylor Pannell, Gr., MB, Connecticut
Emma Werkmeister, Jr., OH, Connecticut
Maddy Bilinovic, Sr., L, Creighton
Elise Goetzinger, Sr., MH, Creighton
Ava Martin, Jr., OH, Creighton*
Kiara Reinhardt, Sr., MH, Creighton
Norah Sis, Sr., OH, Creighton*
Kendra Wait, Sr., S, Creighton*
Aly Kindelberger, Sr., MB, DePaul
Audrey Klemp, Gr., RS, DePaul
Rachel Krasowski, Gr., L, DePaul*
Jill Pressly, Gr., OH, DePaul*
Yadhira Anchante, Gr., S, Marquette
Hattie Bray, Sr., MB, Marquette*
Aubrey Hamilton, RS-Sr., OH, Marquette*
Erin Jones, Jr., RS/S, St. John's*
Abby Harrell, So., OH, Villanova
All-Freshman
Alaleh Tolliver, Fr., OH, Butler
McKenna Brand, Fr., L, Connecticut
Jaya Johnson, RS-Fr., RS, Creighton
Dionna Mitchell, Fr., OH, Georgetown*
Campbell McKinnon, Fr., MB, Villanova
Margo Kemp, RS-Fr., MB, Xavier
* Denotes a unanimous selection
