OVERLNAD PARK, Kan. - Johnson County Community College outside/right-side hitter Ava Esser capped a phenomenal freshman campaign by earning NJCAA Division II first-team All-America honors. She is one of 42 All-Americans overall and one of just 16 first-team selections nationwide.

Esser becomes the 35th All-American in JCCC volleyball history and the 22nd chosen under head coach Jennifer Ei.

Her standout play helped lead the Cavaliers to a 25-9 record, a trip to the NJCAA Division II National Tournament, and a No. 6 final national ranking.

Esser finished the season with 460 kills, ranking third in the conference and tied for 14th nationally. Her 3.87 kills per set were fourth-best in the KJCCC. She added 212 digs, 80 blocks, and 28 aces while posting 28 double-figure kill matches.

One of the signature moments of her season came in the conference opener at Neosho County, where she delivered a program-record 31 kills, becoming just the 14th conference player ever to record 30 or more in a match.

At the National Tournament, Esser elevated her play again, totaling 54 kills in three matches (4.08 per set). She opened with 23 kills in a five-set battle against Pensacola State, tying the second-most kills ever by a Cavalier at nationals and ranking seventh most in program history.

Esser's 460 kills now stand as the fourth-highest single-season total in JCCC history, and most by a freshman. Her 28 double-digit kill performances rank third all-time.

Earlier this season, she was also named first-team All-Kansas Jayhawk Conference D-II and first-team All-Region 6 D-II. She earned KJCCC D-II Offensive Player of the Week honors three times and was recognized nationally in week six as both the NJCAA and AVCA Offensive Player of the Week.