LEXINGTON, Kent. – Oklahoma Baptist redshirt sophomore
Jill Leslie became just the second Bison player in the Division II era to earn All-America status. The American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) announced its All-America teams this week and Leslie was selected as an honorable mention honoree.
Previously in 2019, Malia Leatherland earned honorable mention status by the D2 Conference Commissioner's Association (D2CCA).
If you include the NAIA days for OBU, Leslie is just the seventh student-athlete to be named an All-American.
Over the course of a 31-match season which brought a 22-9 record, a share of the Great American Conference regular-season title, GAC Tournament Championship and appearance in the NCAA Tournament, Leslie was a key figure for the green and gold.
She was an All-GAC First Team selection, GAC All-Tournament selection and D2CCA All-Central Region Second Team member. Her .339 attack mark broke her previous school record of .330 from the 2022 campaign and she averaged 3.46 points per set. That total was good for seventh in the GAC. Leslie also ranked tenth in the conference with a 0.85 blocks average.
In 11 matches this season, Leslie reached double-digit kill totals including a career-best 19 twice. One of those times came in the GAC tourney final versus Henderson State on Nov. 18. Plus, in 12 contests, she hit at least .400 including a season-high .700 against Southeastern Oklahoma State on Sept. 15.
Leslie was just as good defensively. In 12 matches, she notched at least four total blocks. That included a best of eight against SWOSU on Sept. 20.
