State sports briefs

VOLLEYBALL

Four in-state players honored by AVCA

Arkansas senior Meredith Hays, UALR senior Edina Begic, University of Central Arkansas junior Heather Schnars and Arkansas State sophomore Markie Schaedig were named NCAA Division I honorable mention All-Americans on Wednesday by the American Volleyball Coaches Association for the second consecutive season.

Hays joins Jasmine Norton (2009-2012) as the second two-time All-American in Arkansas history. Hays had 521 kills and averaged an SEC-leading 4.34 kills per set.

Begic finished earlier this month as one of the most accomplished players in program history. She was named the Sun Belt’s offensive player of the year three times, and led UALR to the league’s regular season and tournament titles this season.

UALR’s 25-match winning streak included a victory over Kansas in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, the school’s first tournament victory in history.

Begic finished her career holding UALR’s record for total kills (2,189).

Schnars, the Southland Conference’s player of the year, ranked second in the conference with 425 kills and had an average of 4.21 kills per set.

Schaedig recorded a school-record 762 digs, which was the most in the nation this season. She was named the Sun Belt’s defensive player of the year.

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