USC Women's Volleyball Setter Mia Tuaniga Named AVCA All-American

LEXINGTON, Ky. – USC women's volleyball senior setter Mia Tuaniga (Long Beach, Calif./Mater Dei HS) was selected to the American Volleyball Coaches Association's (AVCA) All-America third team on Wednesday, Dec. 18. Graduate outside hitter Ally Batenhorst (Houston, Texas/Seven Lakes HS) earned All-America honorable mention.

Tuaniga's selection makes her the program's 43rd All-American as she collects USC's 80th All-America award all-time; the 59th presented by the AVCA (since 1981).

Last week, Tuaniga was named to the all-region team for the third time in her career. She was also selected to the Pacific South's all-region teams in 2022 and 2023. Batenhorst earns the highest national recognition of her career after receiving her first all-region honor last week. Both student-athletes were also named to the All-Big Ten Team.

Tuaniga became the Trojans' all-time assists leader in the season's final match and completed her career with 4,529 to break a mark that had been held by USC's last All-American setter Kendall Bateman (2010-11) for 13 years. She ranked fifth in the Big Ten for total assists with 1,220 (10.00 aps, 8th) and was fourth in service aces with 50 (0.41 aces per set, 6th). Her season total from the service line ranks ninth in school history and her career total of 162 aces is fourth all-time in the USC record books. Tuaniga's career average of 9.95 assists per set ranks eighth in school history. This season, she started every match and set the Trojans to 10 contests with over .300 hitting. She produced nine double-doubles, was twice named the Big Ten Setter of the Week (Sept. 23 and Nov. 4) and was chosen to the all-tournament team in each of the Trojans' non-conference tourneys. Tuaniga was selected by the Atlanta Vibe with the 27th overall pick of the PVF Draft (fourth round, third pick) and will begin her professional career in the new year.

Batenhorst ranked sixth in the Big Ten for total points with 565.0 (4.63 pps, 7th) and was sixth in total kills with 481 (3.94 kps, 9th). She also ranked eighth in the league for attacks per frame at 10.81 per set. She earned Big Ten Player of the Week honors on Nov. 4 and was chosen as co-MVP and MVP of each of the Trojans' two non-conference tournaments. She was on the AVCA's National Player of the Year Watch List and was selected with the 15th overall pick by the Omaha Supernovas in the PVF Draft (second round, seventh pick). Batenhorst set career marks in all statistical categories with the Women of Troy, and while her season total for kills is a career best, combined with kills she recorded at Nebraska, she reached 1,000-career kills in the Trojans' second-round NCAA match at Texas to finish with 1,016. She produced nine double-doubles this season to push her career total to 11 and led USC in scoring in 25 matches.

The Women of Troy were awarded the sixth seed and made their 40th all-time appearance in the NCAA tournament. USC (22-10) defeated UT Arlington in a three-set sweep in the first round to advance to the second round for the 35th time. There, the Trojans were eliminated by third-seeded and 13th-ranked site host Texas in straight sets. USC reached 20 wins for the second time under fifth-year head coach Brad Keller to earn its third consecutive berth in the NCAA tourney.

For more information on the USC women's volleyball team, please visit USCTrojans.com/WVB. Fans of the Women of Troy can follow @USCWomensVolley on X, Facebook, and Instagram.

Players Mentioned

Ally Batenhorst

Mia Tuaniga