Kiviniemi, Fountain, Berger named AVCA all-Region
SIOUX CITY, Iowa — Three Bellevue University volleyball players were named to the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) NAIA all-North Region first team, announced in conjunction with the NAIA Volleyball National Championship.
Senior right-side hitter Kealy Kiviniemi, senior outside hitter Eve Fountain, and senior middle blocker Savanna Berger each earned first-team all-region recognition. All three are repeat all-region honorees. It marks the third first-team all-region honor for Kiviniemi, the fourth all-region accolade for Fountain, and the second-straight all-region nod for Berger.
Earlier this season, Fountain was named Frontier Conference Attacker of the Year, and all three seniors were selected to the All-Frontier Conference First Team.
Eve Fountain – Senior Outside Hitter, Omaha, Neb.
Fountain has totaled 338 kills (3.10 per set) while hitting .286 and leads the Bruins with 43 service aces. She ranks second on the team with 353 digs (3.24 per set) and has added 47 total blocks and a team-high 408.0 points. Fountain leads Bellevue with 14 double-doubles. She ranked fourth in the Frontier Conference in kills and second in service aces.
Fountain continues her climb up Bellevue University's career charts. Her 11 kills against Bushnell raised her career total to 1,883, keeping her second in program history and moving her to within three kills of tying Sierra Athen's school record of 1,886 and four of breaking it. Fountain also increased her career totals to 1,901 digs and 160 service aces, maintaining sixth place on both lists as she continues to chase Annie Viviano (2,160 digs; 1993–96) and Laura Ohm (173 aces; 1997–00).
Kealy Kiviniemi – Senior Right-Side Hitter, Bellevue, Neb.
Kiviniemi leads Bellevue with 345 kills (3.11 per set) while hitting a team-best .353. She has added 70 total blocks (0.63 per set), along with 71 digs and 10 assists. Kiviniemi ranked second in the Frontier Conference in kills and led the league in hitting percentage.
Kiviniemi's eight kills against Bushnell brought her career total to 1,175, solidifying 16th place on BU's all-time list as she continues to pursue Alicia Oakeson (1,197; 2004–07) and Kia Jarvis (1,221; 1996–97).
Savanna Berger – Senior Middle Blocker, Plattsmouth, Neb.
Berger has recorded 218 kills (2.12 per set) on .327 hitting and leads the Bruins with 119 total blocks (1.16 per set). She has also contributed 16 assists and 16 digs. Berger ranked third in the Frontier Conference in hitting percentage and third in blocks per set.
Berger remains one of Bellevue's primary front-row threats, ranking among the team's leaders in both hitting percentage and blocking while anchoring the middle of the Bruins' defense at the net.
The seventh-seeded Bruins opened pool play at the NAIA Volleyball National Championship on Wednesday with a 3-0 (25-16, 25-14, 25-20) sweep over No. 18 Bushnell, improving to 28-4 overall. Bellevue concludes pool play tonight at 6:30 p.m. against No. 10 Oklahoma Wesleyan, with the winner of the pool advancing to Saturday's single-elimination quarterfinals.