LEXINGTON, Ken. – Senior Audrey Spolidoro, who led the College of Saint Benedict volleyball team to the NCAA DIII national tournament for the first time since 2019, has earned honorable mention All-American honors from the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA).

The AVCA announced today its 43rd annual All-America teams for NCAA Division III women's volleyball, which include 42 players on the first, second or third teams from 26 schools. In addition, the announcement included selection of honorable mention All-Americans, including CSB's Audrey Spolidoro. 

Spolidoro, who was named to the AVCA All-Region IX first team on Nov. 20, was named CSB's first honorable mention All-American since 2017 when Megan Pekarek was honored with her second honorable mention All-American honor (2015, 2017). CSB's last volleyball All-Americans included two-time first-team honoree Hunter Weiss in 2018, 2019 and Madison Weiss in 2018 (third team) and 2019 (first team). Spolidoro becomes the 12^th Bennie to earn honorable mention All-American honors from the AVCA. CSB has 18 first, second or third team AVCA All-Americans.

According to St. Ben's head volleyball coach Nicole Hess, Spolidoro earned the honor through hard work, clutch play, and special leadership skills. 

"This is not only an incredible accomplishment but also a testament of Audrey's hard work, growth, and dedication to raising her game. Her consistency, leadership, and ability to perform in crucial moments have been key to her, and our, success on the court. We are very proud of Audrey, and all that she has accomplished as a Saint Benedict volleyball student-athlete," said Hess.
 
 

Spolidoro, a senior physics major from Cottage Grove, Minn., led CSB to the NCAA DIII National Tournament for the first time since 2019. St. Ben's had a 15-12 overall record, falling to No. 11 Washington U-St. Louis in the regional first round. 

With her leadership, the St. Ben's volleyball team had a memorable run to making the NCAA Tourney field. A three-time All-MIAC honoree, Spolidoro and her teammates finished 8-3 in the MIAC for fourth place. Late in the season, St. Benedict won seven straight games and 12-of-14 to reach the national tourney. The run included winning the MIAC Tournament Championship for the first time since 2017 as CSB defeated fifth-seeded Augsburg, 3-2, at home before sweeping both the No. 1 seed Gustavus Adolphus and No. 2 seed St. Catherine on the road. In fact, led by Spolidoro, the Bennies finished the tourney by winning its final seven sets.

"Individual honors like this are about personal performance and also the strength and success of the team as a whole," added Hess. "This recognition reflects the collective commitment, chemistry, and competitiveness of all eighteen of our players. I am incredibly proud of our athletes and coaching staff for their dedication and excellence this season. Go Bennies, always."

Spolidoro, a senior setter, had a remarkable year, which includes being the first Bennie named to three straight All-MIAC teams since Hunter Weiss and Madison Weiss in 2017-19. 

Spolidoro was one of three players who received All-MIAC distinction for the third time, a feat achieved by 63 volleyball players in recorded conference history. Five times in her career, including three times this year, Spolidoro was named MIAC Specialty Player of the Week. She also earned selection to the MIAC All-Playoff Team in 2024.

The senior ranked second in the MIAC and 25^th in NCAA DIII with 9.79 assists per set with her 1,038 assists also second in the MIAC and 30th in DIII. With 1,038 set assists this season, she bettered her career best in 2022.

In 27 games and 106 sets in 2024, Spolidoro had 77 kills, 33 service aces and 352 digs or 3.32 per set. She registered 51 total blocks. Twenty times this year and 56 times in her career, she achieved double doubles. She finished her career with 3,503 career assists (6^th, all-time at CSB) and 1,104 digs and she was just the third volleyball player in school history to achieve 3,000 assists and 1,000 digs.   Spolidoro also had 94 career service aces and 124 total blocks.