Three Smith Volleyball Players Earn All-America Honors
Smith College volleyball accomplished an impressive feat last week, with Taylor Gwynne (Chapel Hill, NC/Carrborro), Abby Hunt (Mandeville, LA/Fontainebleau) and Abby Sweeney (Spring, TX/Klein) named All-American Honorable Mention and members of the AVCA Region II First Team. This marks the first time in program history that three Pioneers have earned All-America honors in the same season, solidifying their place in Smith volleyball history.
A Historic Season for the Pioneers
Their accomplishment reflects the immense effort and incredible performance displayed throughout the season. Gwynne led the Smith offense this year, contributing significantly to a team that ranked in the Top 10 nationally for hitting percentage. Her collegiate career culminated in over 3,000 career assists, earning her the second spot in the Smith record books.
This season also marked Gwynne’s first All-American and All-Region recognition.
Sweeney concluded her career with Smith on a high note, racking up over 1,000 career kills during the NEWMAC Championship. Her valuable contributions helped secure the team’s first NEWMAC title since 2005. This achievement was capped off with her selection as AVCA All-American Honorable Mention. Sweeney now joins the ranks of the top five in career kills and adds All-American to her already impressive list of honors.
Hunt’s Legacy Continues
Hunt adds All-American to her already decorated resume, proving to be a consistent force against opponents. Prior to this accolade, she earned Honorable Mention All-Region twice and was named All-Region Rookie of the Year in 2022. Her dominant performance during the NEWMAC semifinal win against Springfield helped propel Smith to the NEWMAC Finals for the first time since 2005.
A Championship Season and Beyond
The Coburn-Gilman arena roared with excitement as Smith took home their first NEWMAC Championship since 2005, defeating the previously undefeated #4 MIT in a thrilling five-set match. The victorious Pioneers then advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2005, securing their inaugural NCAA Tournament win against Endicott.
About Smith Athletics
Smith Collegepanou is a NCAA Division III member of the New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference that sponsors 11 intercollegiate sports. For more information log on to smithpioneers.com and follow us on Facebook and Instagram.
– What strategies did the coaching staff implement to facilitate the success of three athletes achieving All-American Honorable Mention status in the same season?
Okay, here’s a short interview based on the provided news snippet:
**Interviewer:** Welcome to the show, Coach! Congratulations to you and the entire Smith College volleyball team on an incredible season.
**Head Coach:** Thank you so much. I’m incredibly proud of this team and everything they’ve accomplished.
**Interviewer:** This is big news – three All-American Honorable Mention selections in the same season! Can you tell us a bit about what makes this achievement so special?
**Head Coach:** Absolutely. This is truly historic for our programme. In the past, we’ve had some amazing individual athletes earn All-American honors, but never three in the same year. It speaks volumes about the dedication and talent of Taylor, Abby Hunt, and Abby Sweeney, and the hard work the entire team put in throughout the season.
**Interviewer:** Taylor Gwynne seems to have had a standout year – leading the offense and accumulating over 3,000 career assists.
**Head Coach:** you said it. Taylor’s been a phenomenal leader and playmaker for us. She’s incredibly gifted, and her commitment to the team and her personal growth as a player has been inspiring to everyone around her.
**Interviewer:** What’s next for the Pioneers?
**Head Coach:** We’re already looking ahead to next season. This level of success is a great foundation, and we’re excited to build on it. We’re going to focus on continued improvement and development, and hopefully, make another run at a championship.
**Interviewer:** Well, we’ll be cheering you on! Thanks so much for your time, Coach.
**Head Coach:** Thank you!
