Tampa Volleyball Has Four Players Receive All-SSC Honors
MELBOURNE, Fla. - The University of Tampa had four players receive 2021 All-Sunshine State Conference Honors. Outside hitter Katie McKiel, libero Claudia Rivera, middle blocker Taylor Fosler and outside hitter Kalli Cors all received All-Conference recognition as a result of their play in the 2021 regular season. Head Coach Chris Catanach was also named the SSC Coach of the Year.
McKiel was named to the All- SSC first team for the third time in her career. The grad student finished her 2021 regular season campaign with a team high 298 kills, giving her a total of 1,583 in her Spartan career. She also finished the season with an average of 2.79 kills per set and 56 blocks. A native of Colorado Springs, Colo, McKiel was named the SSC Player of the Year in 2019 and was also a member of the 2016 All SSC Newcomer Team as well as the 2018 National Championship team.
Rivera received All-SSC First Team Honors for the first time in her career after being name to the 2021 All-SSC First Team. The senior from Gurabo, P.R. finished the season with a career high in digs and assists. She was also named the SSC Defensive Player of the Week five times over the course of the 2021 regular season. Rivera is set to return to the Spartans for her senior season in 2022.
Fosler was named to the All-SSC Second Team for the second time in her career. She returned to the Spartans for her senior season and played in all 30 regular season matches recording 137 kills, a .479 kill percentage and 67 total blocks. A native of Ocala, Fla., Fosler was also a member of the 2016 SSC Newcomer Team as well as the 2018 National Championship team.
Cors was named to the All-SSC Third Team for the first time in her career. The freshman was also named to the 2021 All-Freshman Team. A St. Petersburg native, Cors recorded 287 kills this season, giving her an average of 2.87 kills per set over the course of the 2021 campaign. She also has a team high of 15 solo blocks.
Head Coach Chris Catanach was once again named the SSC Coach of the year. In his 38th season at the helm of the Spartans Volleyball program, Tampa posted a 28-2 overall record and finished 19-1 in league play, winning the last 12 conference contests to capturing his 27th SSC Championship this past week. Catanach ranks first for the most SSC Coach of the Year awards in a single sport at 20, which is second all-time across all league-sponsored sports. He will look to build upon the team's regular season success next Thursday when the team travels to Pensacola to take on conference opponent, Palm Beach Atlantic in the NCAA South Regional tournament.