MANHATTAN, Kan. (K-State Sports) – For the first time in her career, senior Aliyah Carter received All-America recognition, as the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) released its All-America squads Wednesday.
Carter was tabbed honorable mention to become the first Wildcat to earn an All-America honor since 2018 with Sarah Dixon, Gloria Mutiri, and Kylee Zumach, and first under head coach Jason Mansfield.
In addition to the All-America honor, Carter has also garnered several other awards this year, including First Team AVCA All-Midwest Region, First Team All-Big 12, Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week twice, and Lippy Invitational and Rose City Showdown All-Tournament Team. With her all-conference honor, she became the first player in program history to earn three unanimous First Team All-Big 12 accolades.
A native of Dubuque, Iowa, Carter wrapped up 2023 with team-bests in kills (390), kills per set (4.06), points (438), and points per set (4.56). She ended the season fifth in the Big 12 and 37th in the country in kills per set, while her 4.43 kills average during conference play ranked third in the league.
Carter, who owns a program record of nine career conference weekly awards (five rookie, four offensive), carded five matches with 20 or more kills this season, including a season-high 24 at KU. Her 18 career 20-kill performances rank first in program history (rally-scoring).
The outside hitter stands as K-State’s career kills average leader at 3.79 (rally-scoring era) and is third all-time in school history behind only Liz Wegner (1998-2001) and Dawn Cady (1996-1999). Carter recorded her 1,000th career kill in the Cats’ season opener against Portland State to become the 19th player in program history to reach the milestone.
With 1,384 total career kills, Carter stands sixth all-time in school history and second in the rally scoring era, just 127 behind leader Kaitlyn Pelger (2010-13).
K-State (16-11, 10-8 Big 12) tied sixth in the Big 12 standings under first-year head coach Jason Mansfield. The Wildcats registered a program record of five Top 25 victories, including a historic sweep over defending national champion Texas.
For a full list of 2023 AVCA all-Americans, click HERE.
