WAYNE, Neb. – After leading Oklahoma Baptist to a historic season on Bison Hill, junior outside hitter
Malia Leatherland received an honorable mention as the Division II Conference Commissioner's Association (D2CCA) released its All-America teams on Wednesday morning. She becomes the first player in program history to receive All-America distinction in the Division II era.
Leatherland, a Broken Arrow native, led the Bison to a 28-6 record, including both the Great American Conference regular-season and tournament titles, as well as the team's first appearance at the NCAA Central Regional. With 477 total kills and 1,306 total attacks, the junior completed the 2019 season ranking in the top 13 nationally in both categories.
Boasting averages of 3.98 kills/set and 3.01 digs/set this season, Leatherland claimed the GAC's Player of the Year award, as well as a D2CCA All-Central Region First Team and American Volleyball Coaches' Association (AVCA) All-Central Region Honorable Mention selection. She was named GAC Offensive Player of the Week three times, the most of any student-athlete this season.
Her sterling season also allowed her to become the first Bison since Kristin Pressley – and the first in OBU's Division II era – to total 1,000 career kills and digs. She finished the season with 20 double-doubles in 34 matches. Leatherland totaled five matches with at least 20 kills, 17 matches with at least 15 kills, and 30 matches with at least 10 kills.
The All-America teams were voted on by Division II members of the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). Each school received one vote.
