Dec. 6, 2017
By Robby Hamman
NOTRE DAME, Ind. — Notre Dame placed three standouts on the AVCA All-East Coast Region team for the 2017 season. Senior Sam Fry, junior Ryann DeJarld and sophomore Jemma Yeadon each received the honor.
The three Irish student-athletes are the first to receive the accolade since Jeni Houser earned the honor in 2013. The last time Notre Dame placed three student-athletes on the AVCA All-Region lists came in 2009, when Christina Kaelin, Jamel Nicholas and Seerinity Phillips each earned the status. DeJarld, Fry and Yeadon were each named All-ACC selections earlier this season.
Fry saved her best season of her career for last, posting personal bests in blocks (163), blocks per set (1.34) and hitting percentage (.329). The senior finished second in the ACC and ranks 10th in blocks for the season with 163.
Fry ended her career with 498 career blocks, setting the program record for career blocks. The record dates back to 2008 when the NCAA changed the scoring to 25-point sets. Fry also became the 22nd player in program history to reach the 1,000-kill milestone this year.
DeJarld cemented her status as one of the top liberos in the country this season, shattering the program record for digs in a season with 747, which ranks fourth in the nation. The junior finished the 2017 season averaging an astounding 6.12 digs per set. DeJarld has also excelled in the service game, hammering out 41 aces, the second most on the team this season.
DeJarld also set the all-time Notre Dame program record for career digs this season, accumulating 1,808 digs in just three seasons of play. The Chicago native ranks fifth for all active players in Division I in career digs per set with a mark of 5.06.
After an impressive freshman campaign in 2016, Yeadon elevated her play to another level this season. The sophomore averaged a team-high 3.91 kills per set to total 453 on the season, which rank sixth in program history for kills in a single season. Yeadon also added 315 digs, 70 blocks and 29 aces.
Yeadon was one of Notre Dame’s most consitent hitters all season, posting double-digit kills in 26-of-30 matches she played in during the year. The Mercer Island, Washington, native recently posted a career-high 27 kills against Syracuse (11/22), the most any Notre Dame student-athlete has logged in a match since the 2012 season.
The Irish earned their first NCAA Championships berth since the 2012 season this year and finished with a record of 22-10. Notre Dame has now recorded back-to-back 20-plus win seasons for the first time since 2004 and 2005.
AVCA All-East Coast Region
Kamalani Akeo, Pittsburgh, S, Jr.
Allie Barber, Marquette, OH, So.
Ryann DeJarld, Notre Dame, L, Jr.
Sam Fry, Notre Dame, MB, Sr.
Nika Markovic, Pittsburgh, RS, So.
Krissy Mummey, College of Charleston, MB, Sr.
Beth Nordhorn, North Carolina, MB, Sr.
Jenna Rosenthal, Marquette, MB, RS-Jr.
Symone Speech, Georgetown, MB, Jr.
Gabriela Stavnetchei, Georgia Tech, OH, Sr.
Olga Strantzali, Miami, OH, Sr.
Haley Templeton, Miami, S, Sr.
Stephanie Williams, Pittsburgh, OH, RS-So.
Jemma Yeadon, Notre Dame, OH, So.
— ND —
Robby Hamman joined Fighting Irish Media as athletics communications assistant director in September 2016, coordinating efforts for the volleyball and men’s lacrosse program. Hamman is a 2010 graduate of Bethel College, where he earned bachelor’s degrees in sport management and business administration, and earned his master’s degree in business administration from Defiance College in 2013.