NCAA Womens Volleyball

Thomas-Ailara Named AVCA All-American – Northwestern University Athletics

Thomas-Ailara Named AVCA All-American - Northwestern University Athletics


EVANSTON, Ill. – Temi Thomas-Ailara has been selected as an American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Second Team All-American, the organization announced on Wednesday morning. 

Thomas-Ailara has already received First Team All-Big Ten and AVCA First Team All-North Region honors this season, joining Stephanie Holthus as the only other Wildcat to earn First Team All-Big Ten recognition three times.

“It’s a special moment in a student-athlete’s career when they receive an honor such as this,” said Northwestern head coach Shane Davis. “We know how much she’s wanted this and are so excited for her. Seeing how she’s grown from her first quarter here on campus to the way she has represented our program on and off the court every year is all you could for from an extraordinary student-athlete like Temi. A big thing we say around here is NU For Life, and we are proud to call Temi a part of that legacy.”

The Glenwood, Ill. native led the Big Ten in total kills throughout the regular season (502) and ranked second in kills per set (4.33). Her 502 kills in the 2022 campaign rank fifth in Northwestern history. Thomas-Ailara’s 1,546 kills are fifth-most all-time by a Wildcat. 

Thomas-Ailara becomes the fourth Wildcat to be recognized to an AVCA All-America Team. She is the first AVCA All-American for Northwestern since Stephanie Holthus received AVCA Third Team All-American honors in 2012. She becomes the first ‘Cat to be named AVCA Second Team All-American since Northwestern Athletics Hall of Famer Sabel Moffat was selected in 2010.

Northwestern AVCA All-Americans

  • Madelyn Meneghetti, Second Team (1984)
  • Sabel Moffat, Second Team (2010)
  • Stephanie Holthus, Third Team (2012)
  • Temi Thomas-Ailara, Second Team (2022)

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