TOPEKA, Kan. – For the first time in her career,
Malia Leatherland has been named to an all-region team, picking up First Team All-Central Region honors from the Division II Conference Commissoners' Association (D2CCA). She is also the NCAA all-region player in program history.
Leatherland, a junior outside hitter from Broken Arrow, ranks in the top 30 nationally in total kills (467 – 12th), kills/set (3.99 – 29th), and total attacks (1,258 – 23rd). During the Great American Conference Tournament, she became just the third player in program history to accumulate 1,000 kills and 1,000 digs in her career. Prior to her all-region honor from D2CCA, Leatherland was named American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Honorable Mention All-Central Region, GAC Player of the Year, First Team All-GAC, and GAC Tournament Most Valuable Player.
With her inclusion on the first team, Leatherland is now eligible for the D2CCA All-American team with a shot at becoming Oklahoma Baptist's first Division II All-American in volleyball.
Oklahoma Baptist (28-5) opens up at the NCAA Central Regional Tournament tomorrow at 7:30 p.m. against No. 1-seeded Nebraska-Kearney in Kearney.
