LEXINGTON, Ky. — Texas State senior setter Emily DeWalt became the first student-athlete in program history to be named a Division I American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) All-American when the organization announced its Fall 2021 honorees Wednesday morning. 

"To be the first student-athlete in school history to be named AVCA All-American is such a huge honor (for Emily), then you look at the hurdles she had to overcome this season and it just speaks volumes about Emily, not just as a student-athlete but as a young woman," Texas State volleyball head coach Sean Huiet said. "She is a warrior. She played through immense pain and gave all she could to her teammates and continually played at a high level. I have so much respect for her and am so proud to be her coach." 

DeWalt, who was named a AVCA All-American Honorable Mention, is one of just 16 Division I setters to earn AVCA All-American status rather it be first, second, third team or honorable mention. She's also the lone representative out of the Sun Belt Conference just a week after her and fellow senior teammate Janell Fitzgerald were the lone representatives out of the conference to be honored by the AVCA as an All-Region selection. 

Less than a month ago, DeWalt became the program's first Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year as well as the first four-time Sun Belt Conference Setter of the Year. She's also the league's all-time career leader in setter of the week selections with 18. 

For the season, DeWalt was the lone volleyball student-athlete in the Sun Belt Conference to average more than 11 assists per set as the senior setter concluded the year with an 11.09 assists per set average. DeWalt also helped guide a Texas State offense that finished atop the conference with a 13.76 kills per set average and was second in the league in hitting percentage with a .245 clip. 

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