Dec. 1, 2021 - GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Grand Rapids Community College volleyball player Annie Holesinger was named First Team All-American by the National Junior College Athletic Association on Tuesday, making her one of the top community college players in the nation.
Holesinger is the 12th All-American in Raider volleyball history, and the sixth named to the national First Team. A member of the volleyball team has earned All-American honors in five of the last six seasons. She’s the fifth GRCC student-athlete to earn All-American honors this semester.
A sophomore from Rockford, Holesinger earlier was named All-Region, All-MCCAA and the Player of the Year in the Michigan Community College Athletic Association Western Conference.
"I'm incredibly proud of the hard work Annie did in the off season to make this a reality," head coach Chip Will said.
"Annie made the decision to come back for her third year so she could help the team compete and be successful against the nation’s best. Being among the top 12 community college players in the nation is a huge accomplishment. This recognition is the cherry on the top to an amazing career at GRCC. She has a bright future at her four-year school."
The team this season enjoyed an 18-match winning streak spanning 66 days, a 10th conference title, finishing 14-0 in Western Conference play, and an MCCAA Championship -- the team's fifth in the last six years. The team was ranked No. 6 in the nation at the end of the season.
Holesinger was first on the team in kills with 346, blocks with 73 and hitting percentage, .322. She also ranks second in career kills with 874.
She is the sixth GRCC student-athlete to earn All-American honors this year. Cross country runners Joshua Kipkoech, Coleman Clark, Kaylee Scott, and Audrey Meyering were selected after their performances in the NJCAA DII National Championships in November. Basketball player Shonyah Hawkins named an NJCAA All-American Second Team and MCCAA Western Conference Player of the Year.
For the volleyball team, Danielle Johnston was named a Second Team All-American in 2019, Kendra DeJonge, who was named to the second team in 2017 and the first team in 2018. Lauren Wieber was named an honorable mention in 2016.