Maiden, Greene and Miller named to AAC all-conference teams

WALESKA, Ga. (November 9, 2022) – Sophomore middle blocker Ella Maiden, sophomore setter Kolbie Greene and freshmen outside hitter Shelby Miller were each named to the 2022 Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) all-conference teams, the league announced on Wednesday afternoon.

Maiden and Greene earned All-AAC First Team honors while Miller collected All-AAC Second Team and AAC All-Freshman Team laurels. Maiden is a repeat first team member while Greene and Miller pick up the first all-conference honors of their collegiate career. Greene was also tabbed to the AAC Champions of Character Team.

Maiden continued to terrorize opposing teams with her block and offensive prowess. She finished the regular season as the AAC's leader in total blocks (129), solo blocks (57) and blocks per set (1.17) and was third overall in hitting percentage (.304). Maiden ranked second on the roster and top-20 in the AAC with 2.56 kills per set. At the service line, she added 22 aces on the year.

Maiden recorded double-digit kills in 17 matches and had two kills-blocks double-doubles in wins over Union and Truett McConnell this fall.

Greene turned in a breakout sophomore season after missing a significant portion of her freshman year due to injury. She served as Milligan's primary setter and accumulated 987 assists through the regular season. Greene was fifth in the AAC in assists per set (8.97) and ranked ninth in aces (43). In addition to her setting duties, Greene was top-20 in the conference in digs per set (3.25) and recorded 82 kills and 34 total blocks on the year.

Greene eclipsed the 40-assist mark in five four-set matches and one three-set match. She accounted for a career-high 16.5 points against Rio Grande as she had six kills, nine aces and three blocks, in addition to 30 assists and nine digs.

Miller stepped into the Buffs' lineup as a freshman and became Milligan's top hitter with 325 kills on the season. She ranked ninth in the AAC at 3.01 kills per set with a .193 hitting percentage. Miller recorded double-digit kills in 16 matches, including 12 of the 14 games of the regular season.

In conference play, Miller's numbers were even better as she posted 3.39 kills per set and a .203 hitting percentage. In addition to her offense, Milligan supplied 29 service aces and 47 total blocks.

Maiden, Greene, Paxton Adkins, Sarah Grace Larkey, Taylor Pavich and Greyson Stevens claimed AAC All-Academic Team honors.

The Buffs posted an 18-12 overall record and recorded their 14th-straight winning season in AAC play with a 14-7 league record. Milligan owns the fifth seed in the AAC Tournament and will take on fourth-seeded Reinhardt on Friday at 4:00 p.m. in the conference quarterfinals at the Meadowview Marriot Resort & Conference Center in Kingsport.