Three members of the Emory volleyball program have been recognized  for their outstanding play, culminating with recognition on the 2016 All-America Team as chosen by the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA).
 
Headlining the group is senior middle Jessica Holler (Roswell, GA), who was chosen to the first team for the second straight year.  The 6-foot-1 Holler has been a formidable presence both offensively and defensively, leading the University Athletic Association with a .404 hitting percentage, good for the No. 4 spot among all D-III players (through Nov. 15) and sixth on the program's seasonal ladder.  Named the league's Most Valuable Player, Holler landed her fourth berth on the All-UAA First Team, and has hit .400 or higher in 23 contests. She has recorded 23 matches of double-figure kills and is also tied for the team lead with 40 service aces.  Defensively, she tops the UAA with a 1.04 blocks-per-set average.  She has come through with five or more blocks on 12 occasions including a seven (1-6)-blocks performance vs. Clarkson University in the semifinals of the NCAA Brockport, New York Regional, a match where she also pounded out 18 kills. Named the UAA's Player of the Week on five occasions this year, she was also tabbed as the Most Outstanding Player at the Brockport Regional after averaging 4.00 kills and 1.60 blocks per set, while hitting .485 (40-7—68). Heading into this weekend's NCAA D-III Championships, Holler is entrenched in a number of Emory career categories including kills (9^th, 1,337), hitting percentage (2^nd, .386) and total blocks (2^nd, 510). Holler joins Sydney Miles (2012-15) as the only players in school history to garner AVCA All-America honors (1^st through 3^rd teams) on four occasions.  Holler was a second-team honoree as a freshman and sophomore.

After landing third-team All-America kudos in 2015, senior Sarah Maher (Orange, CA) garnered a first-team nod this season after placing second on the squad in kills (276), third in kills average (2.24 kps), third in attack percentage (.269, 12^th in the UAA) and second in digs average (2.83 dps, 14^th in the UAA). A First-Team All-UAA selection, Maher has come through with 10 matches of double-figure terminations and has chalked up 17 performances of 10 or more digs including a career-high 24 vs. Washington University (Oct. 16) during the UAA Round Robin II.  The owner of seven double-doubles (kills/digs) this season, she has been a key passer for the team, successfully receiving the opposition's serve attempts at a 93.8 percent clip. Maher also finds herself in a number of Emory's career categories including kills (13^th, 1,138), hitting percentage (17^th, .289) and digs (17^th, 907).

Sophomore Sydney Leimbach (Atlanta) rounded out Emory's honorees with her honorable-mention selection.  The 6-foot-2 Leimbach is hitting at a .354 clip (273-69—577), with that effort No. 2 among UAA players and 28^th nationally. In addition, she is averaging 0.73 blocks per set, good for the No. 2 position on the team and ninth on the league list. She has recorded four or more blocks in nine contests including nine (3-6) vs. Eastern (Oct. 22) that ranks as the high-water mark by an Emory player this year.

Emory, 33-5 on the season and ranked No. 5 nationally, battles No. 2-ranked Calvin College in the NCAA D-III Quarterfinals on Thursday (Nov. 17) at 1:30 pm (EST).  Hosting the Championships will be UW-Oshkosh.