Women's Volleyball | 12/2/2022 3:45:00 PM

LEXINGTON, Ky. -- Barry University sophomore outside hitter Diana Akopova has been named American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Division II National Player of the Year.

To say Akopova made an immediate impact in her first season at Barry would be an understatement. The sophomore leads Division II in kills (634), kills per set (5.66), points (710.5), and points per set (6.34), and she has 212 digs and 85 blocks.

Following a loss to close the regular season, the outside hitter took things up another notch in the 2022 South Regional. In Barry's three wins, she had 95 kills in 13 sets and averaged 8.0 points per set. Her 27 kills in a 3-0 sweep over defending national champ Tampa guaranteed the 28-5 Buccaneers a spot in the Elite Eight of this year's NCAA Championship.

Akopova is the first player from Barry to be named the AVCA Division II Player of Year.