Gamecock Pair Named Beach Volleyball All-Americans
COLUMBIA, S.C. – The American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) announced its annual Collegiate Beach All-America teams on Thursday afternoon, South Carolina’s Skylar Allen and Simone Priebe were one of 16 total pairs to be honored, making the AVCA’s second team. It is Allen’s second time making the team, for Priebe it is her first. It is just the second time in program history that South Carolina collected a postseason all-american certificate from the sport’s governing body.
“It’s an amazing feeling to see Skylar and Simone be recognized on the national level like this, head coach Moritz Moritz said. “These two showed up every day, ready to battle at the top of our lineup facing some of the toughest teams in collegiate beach volleyball, many who join them this year as all-americans.”
Allen and Priebe finished the season with a 20-10 overall record, playing exclusively in the number one position in the lineup. The pair are the first in program history to reach 20 wins on court one in a single season. Prior to the all-america announcement, they were also one of five pairs to make the CCSA all-conference team, marking just the second time in program history that a Gamecock pair made the conference’s postseason squad.
Earlier this season, Allen – in her fourth season with the Gamecocks – set the program record for career wins on court one as an individual, currently with 57, and she holds a career win percentage of .625 in 104 starts at South Carolina. Combined with her career record over four seasons at Pepperdine, Priebe holds a career record of 82-37, good for a .699 win percentage.
“What I love and respect most about this pair is that they are two uniquely different personalities who found a way to balance and drive each other. Even with as competitive as they both are, their approach tempered each other in the best ways and allowed them to play at such a high level.”
South Carolina finished its 10th season as a varsity sport with a 19-12 overall record and is currently ranked 16th in the AVCA’s weekly coaches poll – the program’s 70th consecutive poll appearance. For continued updates on the team, follow @GamecockBeachVB on Twitter and Instagram.
