Three players from the William Smith volleyball team landed on the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) All-America teams, the association announced last week. Senior Malya Sayre, and sophomores Delainy Williams and Arielle Newsome were tabbed honorable mention selections after a record-breaking season that saw the Herons go 24-8 and clinch their second-straight bid to the NCAA Division III women's volleyball tournament. William Smith went on to win its first ever NCAA tournament match with a thrilling five-set win over Lynchburg in the opening round.
 
Sayre earned her third-straight All-American honorable mention selection after being named to the AVCA All-Region and All-Liberty League first teams for the third consecutive season. In 112 sets, Sayre recorded a Heron season record 533 kills after putting down double-digit kills in all but one match and recording a team-leading 12 double-doubles. She also added 279 digs, 61 service aces and 53 blocks through 33 matches. Sayre averaged a league-leading 4.76 kills per set and 5.60 points per set, which ranks seventh and third in the nation, respectively. She ranked eighth in the Liberty League in service aces per set, averaging 0.54. Sayre's dominant season saw her surpass the 1,000-career dig mark as well as the 150-career service ace mark. She was named the Liberty League Performer of the Week once and tallied nine matches with 20+ kills.
 
The six rotation outside hitter from Peotone, Illinois, played in 109 matches in her four-year college career. Sayre averaged 4.11 kills per set, 2.56 digs per set, 0.47 service aces per set, 0.35 blocks per set and 4.80 points per set. Sayre currently holds the program record for career kills (1,631), digs (1,017), service aces (187) and points (1,905). She tallied 41 career double-doubles for the Herons, including 22 matches with 20+ kills.
 
Williams earned her second-straight All-American honorable mention selection after earning her second consecutive AVCA All-Region and All-Liberty League first team honors. In 111 sets, Williams tallied 1,253 assists, 184 digs, 45 kills, 42 blocks and 41 service aces. She recorded her second-straight 1,000-assist season, bringing her career total to a program-record 2,387. Williams tallied 20+ assists in every match this season, surpassing the 50+ assist mark four times. She averaged a league-leading 10.99 assists per set, which ranks second nationally. Williams led a Heron squad that ranked first in the conference in team hitting percentage (.261), assists per set (12.43), and opponent digs (12.38).
 
The setter from Portland, Oregon, recorded two double-doubles in her sophomore season and was the first Heron in program history to surpass the 2,000-career assist mark. Through two seasons, Williams has averaged 10.70 assists per set, 1.72 digs per set, 0.41 kills per set, 0.41 service aces per set and 0.37 blocks per set. She has recorded 10 career double-doubles and has tallied 20+ assists in all 62 career matches played for William Smith.
 
Newsome earns her first career All-America praise after a breakout season that saw her earn AVCA All-Region and All-Liberty League first team honors. In 111 sets, Newsome tallied 186 kills, 111 blocks and 17 digs. She recorded double-digit kills three times this season, including a career-high 20-kill (.545) performance against No. 15 Ithaca in October. Newsome tallied a career-high nine blocks in a four-set loss to No. 6 Johns Hopkins in the second round of the NCAA tournament. She finished the season leading the Liberty League in blocking (1.00 blk/s) and ranked fourth in the conference in hitting percentage (.322).
 
The middle blocker from Bloomfield, Michigan, was a huge threat at the net this season, tallying five or more blocks in 11 matches. Through two seasons, Newsome has averaged 1.47 kills per set—hitting .308— and added 0.95 blocks per set and 2.03 points per set for the Herons.
 
"These three women are so deserving of this accomplishment and honestly way more in my opinion!" said Head Coach Derryk Williams. "They have showcased their consistent dominance throughout the entirety of the year, and I am glad they received recognition. I am so proud of the growth that each of them has accomplished over their time here and I can't wait to see the continued success for Ari and Delainy moving forward."