IU volleyball junior middle blocker Deyshia Lofton was named to the All-Big Ten Second Team, according to an IU athletics release.
Lofton is the only Hoosier to pick up recognition from the conference and is the first since former middle blocker Jazzmine McDonald was an honorable mention in 2016.
Lofton finished the season ninth in the Big Ten in hitting percentage and 11th in blocks. She also set career highs in both categories along with kills as she had 281.
This season, Lofton moved into fourth on the IU all-time career solo blocks list with 305. She had 11 matches with five or more blocks.
Last season, IU’s total blocking ranked 277th in the NCAA, but this year Lofton led the way as her team ranked 15th. After a year in which IU had 188 total blocks and 45 solo blocks, the team had 309 total and 115 solo this year.
IU Coach Steve Aird has pointed out Lofton’s potential throughout the season, and has said that she can reach even higher goals with the right motivation.
“Deyshia has All-American talent, and she needs an All-American motor,” Aird said after the team’s win against Rutgers on Oct. 13. “I’ve trained some of the best middles and some All-American players, but the one common denominator is they go hard every day. That’s something I’m hoping she learns.”
Sophomore Kamryn Malloy was selected as IU’s Sportsmanship Honoree.
