Four members of the William Smith volleyball team were named to the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) All-Region teams after a successful season that saw the Herons earn their second-straight at-large bid to the NCAA tournament. Senior Malya Sayre as well as sophomores Delainy Williams and Arielle Newsome were named to the first team, while senior Hope Von Dohlen was named an honorable mention.
 
Sayre's dominant season saw her earn her third-straight AVCA All-Region first team selection as well as her third-straight All-Liberty League first team recognition. In her senior season, she has tallied 514 kills— hitting a career-high .257—, 261 digs, 59 service aces and 46 blocks through 31 matches. Sayre has recorded a team-leading 10 double-doubles on the season, recording double-digit kills in all but one match. She hit the 20+ kill mark eight times this season, including a season-high 24-kill (.258), 13-dig, and two service ace performance against No. 15 Ithaca in the Liberty League title match. Sayre surpassed the 150-career service ace mark earlier this season, marking the first Heron in program history to do so. She also currently holds the program's career kills record with 1,592.
 
The six-rotation outside hitter from Peotone, Illinois, led the Liberty League in several statistical categories. She ranked third in the nation in points per set (5.64) and seventh in the nation in kills per set (4.80). Sayre was seventh in the conference in service aces per set (0.55).
 
Williams had another standout season for the Herons, earning her second-straight first team selection after being named the AVCA Region III Freshman of the Year last season. She recorded her second-straight 1,000 assist season, tallying 1,116 assists in her sophomore season. Williams added 167 digs, 41 kills (.390), 40 blocks and 39 service aces. She currently holds the program record for career assists with 2,300. Williams tallied 20+ assists in every single match this season, including eight 40+ assist matches and three 50+ assist matches. Her season was highlighted by a 44-assist, eight-dig, and three-kill performance in the Liberty League title match.
 
The setter from Portland, Oregon, made her presence known on the national stage after leading the Liberty League and ranking second in the nation in assists per set (11.02). Williams led a Heron squad that ranked first in the Liberty League and 14th in the nation in team assists per set (12.52). She had her team ranked first in the conference and fourth in the nation in team hitting percentage (.269) and had three players rank top-10 in the conference in hitting percentage.
 
Newsome earned her first career all-region selection after a breakout season, landing on the All-Liberty League second team. She recorded 177 kills, 100 blocks, and 236 points in 31 matches this season. Newsome tallied double-digit kills in three matches, including a career-high 20-kill (.545) and five-block performance against No.15 Ithaca. She recorded 5+ blocks in nine matches, including a season-high eight blocks against Babson. Newsome leads the team with 18 solo blocks this season.
 
The middle blocker from Bloomfield, Michigan, ranks second in the Liberty League in blocks per set (0..95) and third in hitting percentage (.324). Newsome leads a William Smith squad that leads the Liberty League in blocks per set (1.93).
 
Von Dohlen earns her second all-region recognition after her first-career All-Liberty League second team selection. In her senior season, Von Dohlen tallied 211 kills (.298), 63 blocks and 54 digs in 30 matches. She put down double-digit kills in eight matches, including a season-high 11 kills (.667) against Manhattanville. She also tallied a season-high six blocks and seven digs in a four-set win over Mary Washington.
 
The right side from San Antonio, Texas, averaged 2.13 kills per set, 0.64 blocks per set and 0.55 digs per set this season. Von Dohlen ranks seventh in the Liberty League in hitting percentage (.311) and 10th in blocks per set (0.64).
 
William Smith (23-7) will take on Lynchburg (26-4) in the opening round of the NCAA tournament on Thursday, Nov. 20. First serve between the Herons and the Hornets is set for 4:30 p.m. in Johns Hopkins' Goldfarb Gymnasium.