Fink and Kelly named NJCAA Volleyball All-Americans
Story by Wyatt Ebersole
Butler Volleyball added two more names to their NJCAA All-American list on Thursday morning when Ivy Fink and Kennedy Kelly were tabbed as NJCAA All-Americans. Fink and Kelly are the third and fourth Grizzly NJCAA Division 1 All-American selections and the Grizzlies have now had two All-American selections in each of the last two seasons as Kayli Duncan and Jaryn Benning were named All-Americans last season.
#15 Ivy Fink, a 5'9 sophomore from Hoyt, Kansas and the Grizzlies team leader in kills this season, received 2nd Team NJCAA All-American Honors. Fink earned this honor after a season where she started in all 36 matches for the Grizzlies, posting 360 kills on a .260 hitting percentage, while also recording 436 digs on the year, trailing only Grizzly libero Sydney Morrow who had 476 digs this season. Fink also crafted herself a place in the Butler Volleyball record books this season as she finished her Grizzly career second all-time in kills in a career with 697, only 43 behind Crystal Blue's mark of 740 kills. Ivy was also selected as First-Team All-KJCCC this season, her second time earning All-Conference honors in her career.
#20 Kennedy Kelly, a 6'3 sophomore from Frisco, Texas and transfer from New Mexico Junior College was a huge source of offense for the Grizzlies this season. Kelly was named an NJCAA Honorable Mention All-American on Thursday. Kelly was the NJCAA leader in hitting percentage for most of the season, as she hit well over .400 until the final week of action. Kelly ended the season with 337 kills, as well as 84 total blocks on the season which led all Grizzlies. Kelly also notched herself a place in the Grizzly record books as her .382 hitting percentage is the best hitting percentage by any Grizzly in a single season. It was close, but Kelly's .382 hitting mark broke the previous record of .379 held by Amanda Newlin in her 2010 season. Kelly was also named to the All-KJCCC First Team for her efforts this season.
Ivy and Kennedy were two of the most important pieces on a Grizzly team this season that saw the Butler Volleyball team reach their second ever Region VI Championship game.