Three Tartans Honored by ECAC; Kelly Named ECAC Coach of the Year

(DANBURY, Conn.) – Carnegie Mellon University head women's volleyball coach Kim Kelly was honored by the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) as the ECAC Division III Women's Volleyball Coach of the Year. Three of Kelly's players, senior middle blocker Eliza Donohue (Lancaster, Pa./Hempfield), junior outside hitter Lauren Mueller (Downingtown, Pa./Downingtown STEM Academy) and sophomore libero Kayla Yew (San Francisco, Calif./Sacred Heart Cathedral) were also honored. Donohue and Mueller were named to the first team All-ECAC squad while Yew landed a spot on the second team.

Kelly, who just finished her 13th-year as head coach of the Tartans, recorded her 500th career win early this past season and 250th at Carnegie Mellon. Kelly led the Tartans to the highest AVCA national ranking in program history, when they held the sixth spot for two weeks. She guided the team back to the NCAA tournament for a second straight season and fourth time in her tenure, where the Tartans advanced to the second round for the second time in program history, both times under Kelly. The Cardinal and Gray finished the season with a record of 30-5, as the 30 wins are the most in a single-season under Kelly.

Donohue led the team with a .304 hitting percentage and ranked third in the University Athletic Association (UAA). The senior recorded 298 kills, ranking third on the Tartans while finishing second on the team and third in the UAA with 106 total blocks. Donohue finishes her career ranked third on the school's all-time block list with 433 for her career.

Mueller led the UAA with 454 kills and 3.60 kills per game. She recorded 60 total blocks this season, ranking fourth on the team. Earlier this season, the junior recorded her 1,000th career kill and has recorded a career-best 20 kills in three matches this year, all coming in UAA play. Mueller also recorded double-digit kills in 27 of her 36 matches played this season.

Yew led the UAA with 763 digs and 5.96 digs per game. Her 763 digs rank tops on the school's single-season chart. Her 43 service aces ranked second on the team and seventh in the UAA. She currently ranks 10th on the school's all-time digs list with 1,062. Yew recorded a career-best 41 digs in the Tartans' UAA quarterfinal win against Brandeis. The sophomore has a double-digit dig streak of 41 straight matches dating back to last season.