SAN MARCOS, TX — Very few around the Sun Belt Conference ever questioned the productivity Emily DeWalt and Janell Fitzgerald brought to a volleyball court and Wednesday morning emphasized that as the pair of Texas State student-athletes were named Division I American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) All-Americans. 

DeWalt and Fitzgerald, who were both named AVCA All-American Honorable Mentions, were the lone representatives out of the Sun Belt Conference. With the pair of student-athletes earning the honor, Texas State becomes the first known volleyball program in league history, per league officials, to have multiple student-athletes be recognized as AVCA All-Americans in the same season. 

"I'm so proud of all Emily and Janell have been able to accomplish during their careers as Bobcats," said Texas State volleyball head coach Sean Huiet. "I think this just puts an exclamation mark on all of their awards. It's really nice to say, for the first time in school history, we have two All-Americans in the same season. It's a testament to not only their level of play, but to their teammates who helped them be so successful."

The AVCA's honor is the second for DeWalt, who is the only student-athlete in Sun Belt history to be selected as the league's Setter of the Year five times, after she became the first student-athlete in program history to be recognized by the AVCA after picking up All-American Honorable Mention status last year. DeWalt is one of just 17 Division I setters to earn AVCA All-American status rather it be first, second, third team or honorable mention. 

Fitzgerald's AVCA All-American recognition is the first of her career after the fifth-year senior outside hitter was selected as the Sun Belt's Offensive Player of the Year for the second consecutive season. She also becomes the first outside hitter in program history to be recognized by the AVCA. 

Last season, DeWalt led the Sun Belt with 1,321 assists en route to becoming Texas State and the Sun Belt Conference's new leader in career assists. Fitzgerald, who was one of DeWalt's go-to offensive pieces, finished the year with 455 kills en route to becoming Texas State's new leader in career kills. 

The duo was instrumental in helping the Texas State volleyball program reach its sixth consecutive Sun Belt Conference Championship match. 

FOLLOW US

For the latest information on the team, follow @TexasStateVball on Twitter and @TXStateVball on Instagram and Facebook. General athletic news can also be at @TxStateBobcats on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.