Ella Maiden and Kolbie Greene named First Team All-Region by AVCA

MILLIGAN, Tenn. (November 30, 2023) – Milligan University junior Ella Maiden and Kolbie Greene were named to the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Northeast Region First Team on Thursday.

Maiden repeats as a first team selection while Greene collects the honor for the first time. The Buffs placed two players on the AVCA All-Region teams for the first time since 2019.

Maiden collected All-AAC First Team honors for the third-straight year in 2023. She set career highs across the board and led the Buffs in kills per set (3.12), hitting percentage (.358), blocks per set (1.25) and points per set (4.2).

Maiden led the AAC in blocks per set, total blocks, solo blocks and points per set. Her 70 solo stuffs lead the NAIA this season. She totaled 20 games with double-digit kills and recorded at least one block in every contest. She had 10 kills and 11 total blocks in Milligan's five-set win at Bryan. In league play, she saw increases in kills per set (3.24), hitting percentage (.361) and blocks per set (1.31).

Greene repeated as an All-AAC First Team honoree and was tabbed as the AAC Setter of the Year. Greene led the AAC with 1,104 assists and ranked third in the conference with 9.86 assists per set. Her game also included a strong defensive presence as she ranked 15th in the 15-team AAC with 3.31 digs per set, along with 24 aces, 30 total blocks and 42 kills.

Greene exceeded 40 digs nine times and posted a career-high 52 assists in a five-set victory over Johnson. She recorded 18 assists-digs double-doubles and saw her assists per set (9.88) and digs per set (3.55) rise in conference play.

Milligan enjoyed a record-breaking 2023 regular season. The Buffs posted a 26-7 final record and went 19-2 in AAC play to finish second in the conference standings and set the program record for conference winning percentage (.905). Milligan's 13 sweeps in AAC play set a single-season team record and recorded a 15-game winning streak, the longest in team history.