2024 CCAC Women's Volleyball Postseason Awards

2024 CCAC Women's Volleyball Postseason Release

Announced by Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference league officials earlier today, Alexa Orozco was selected as the CCAC Freshman of the Year. Kenia Diaz Vega, Mackenzie Grafton, and Grace Beitzel also collected postseason honors.

All four Bees helped St. Ambrose defeat St. Francis in the CCAC Tournament quarterfinal match to find themselves in a semifinal match up with No. 15 Viterbo. The Bees could not keep pace in the match with Viterbo as they ended with a 16-16 season record.

The freshman, Orozco, from Puerto Rico has been a standout player for the Bees as she has put down 208 kills over 32 matches to be named CCAC Freshman of the Year. Her all-around play shows in her 249 digs and 21 assists for the Bees. Orozco rallied for a season high 19 kills when SAU hosted No. 17 Viterbo on Sep. 13. She is the first Bee to earn the award since the program joined the conference prior to the 2015 season.

Diaz Vega, the defensive specialist, tabbed First-Team All-CCAC honors backed by her 601 digs in a Bee uniform and led a strong St. Ambrose defense. She currently leads the conference in total digs. The graduate transfer student found herself as the CCAC Libero of the Year and on the First-Team All-Conference list last season. Diaz Vega appeared in all 32 matches for St. Ambrose. 

Joining Diaz Vega on the First-Team All-Conference list is attacker Grafton. The graduate student posted 424 kills, 51 service aces, and 337 digs this season. The former CCAC Player of the Year is a two-time First-Team All-Conference selection. Grafton leads SAU with her kill count, having 149 more kills than the second leader on the team. With 51 service aces, Grafton is St. Ambrose's team leader. Her 424 kills lead the conference currently.

Both Diaz Vega and Grafton have played in all 117 sets this season for SAU, the only two on St. Ambrose's roster to accomplish that feat.

Rounding out the honors for St. Ambrose is Second-Team All-Conference selection Beitzel. The junior put down 275 kills this season throughout 106 sets. This year has been a breakout season for the Geneva, Ill. native as she has been involved with 284.5 points for SAU. After 732 total attempts, Beitzel registered a .250 hitting percentage (third on the team).