LEXINGTON, Ky. – For the first time in program history, three from Sun Devil Volleyball earned AVCA All-America honors in the same season, highlighted by senior opposite Marta Levinska capping off her legendary career by earning first team status. Senior middle blocker Claire Jeter and graduate setter Shannon Shields were on the honorable mention list.
After these honors, there are now 10 All-Americans in program history, the first honorees since 2015. There are now six All-Americans this century at Arizona State in volleyball. For First Team All-Americans, Levinska is the third Sun Devil to earn the honor. The other two were Tammy Webb (1985, 1986) and Christy Nore (1988). Jeter and Shields earned honorable mention nods, the first All-America honors of their careers as well. This is the first time since 1986 that Arizona State has had more than one All-American and the first time ever that ASU has had three in the same year.
"I am so happy for Marta and all that she achieved this year," head coach JJ Van Niel said. "Her ability to perform at an elite level day in and day out was instrumental to our success this season. Her First Team All-American award is a well-earned send off for a fantastic career. I am excited to see what she accomplishes next. I also was thrilled to see Claire and Shannon earn honorable mention honors. Claire helped us win in multiple ways. In addition to her ability to score at the net, her serve is one of the best in the country. Shannon is an unbelievable competitor and court general and is a huge reason for our success this year!"
For the complete list of 2023 AVCA All-Americans, head to the AVCA's website.
In a historic 2023 season, these three Sun Devils were instrumental to the team's success. They helped ASU reach the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2015, winning two matches for the first time in program history. Arizona State had its second-highest win total in a season in program history with 28, and the win percentage of .800 was the best the program has had. ASU finished the Pac-12 in a tie for third with a 14-6 record, the most conference wins in a single season in program history.
Marta Levinska
The honors have been rolling in for Levinska all season. To set up her All-America nod, she was AVCA All-Region for her first time. She was on the All-Pac-12 Team, the first time making the team for her after two years on honorable mention and being on the Pac-12 All-Freshman Team in 2020. She is one of three Sun Devils to have earned a conference honor in each season of their career. On October 31, she was the AVCA National Player of the Week. Additionally, she earned four Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Week nods, the most in a single season in ASU history. She has the most individual weekly awards a Sun Devil has had with six.
Levinska brought the heat from the right side all season. In 33 matches (all but two), she had double-digit kills, which is the most in a single season at Arizona State. She also had 20 or more kills nine times, which is the fourth most in a year at ASU. In her career, she had 93 matches with double-digit kills, good for third-most for a Sun Devil. She hit .348 on the year and led the team in total kills with 571, the fifth-most in a single season at ASU. Also in the ASU record book, she finished her career sixth for career kills with 1,587. Her career high of 30 kills was earned in a win at Cal on October 1 this season. That number is tied for the most in a single match at ASU in the rally-scoring era. At the end of the regular season, Levinska ranked No. 8 in the nation in kills, kills per set, points and points per set. She also was second in the Pac-12 in each of those categories.
In addition to her strong offense, Levinska was a force from the service line. She finished her career in 10th for career aces at ASU with 107. She led the team in aces this season with 44, the most she's had in a year. This was the first season that a Sun Devil has had 40-plus aces since 2002. Her best service outing was in the second round of the NCAA Tournament against BYU when she had five aces to help the squad to a sweep. Her defense in the back row stacked up as well as she had six double-doubles this season.
Claire Jeter
Jeter started in all but two matches as a middle blocker for the squad. She led the defense at the net with 130 blocks, the most she's had in a single season. In 13 matches, she had five or more blocks, including a season-high eight in a win over Cal on October 27. A threat on offense, she was ranked 40th in the nation in hitting percentage at the end of the regular season. She finished the year with a .373 clip to lead the team. She neared 200 kills on the year with 195. She also was second on the team in aces with 43, the most she has had in a single season.
The awards have been stacking up for Jeter, who is returning for a fifth year in 2024. She was AVCA All-Region and Pac-12 Honorable Mention this season for her efforts. She is the third Sun Devil middle blocker to be an All-American, along with Whitney Follette (2015) and Tammy Webb (1985).
Shannon Shields
In her final collegiate season, Shields had her most productive and successful year yet. She ran the offense all season as the setter, starting every match and playing in every set. Her 1,239 assists this season are the 10th-highest single-season total in ASU history. In nine matches, she had 40 or more assists, including two with 50 or more. She earned a career-high 54 assists in the win at Cal on October 1. Additionally, she had nine double-doubles this year, a team high. The lefty also was crafty on offense, earning 106 kills. She had eight in the home win over Oregon State.
Shields was AVCA All-Region and Pac-12 Honorable Mention this season. She is the first Sun Devil setter to be an All-American since Regina Stahl in 1986.
After these honors, there are now 10 All-Americans in program history, the first honorees since 2015. There are now six All-Americans this century at Arizona State in volleyball. For First Team All-Americans, Levinska is the third Sun Devil to earn the honor. The other two were Tammy Webb (1985, 1986) and Christy Nore (1988). Jeter and Shields earned honorable mention nods, the first All-America honors of their careers as well. This is the first time since 1986 that Arizona State has had more than one All-American and the first time ever that ASU has had three in the same year.
"I am so happy for Marta and all that she achieved this year," head coach JJ Van Niel said. "Her ability to perform at an elite level day in and day out was instrumental to our success this season. Her First Team All-American award is a well-earned send off for a fantastic career. I am excited to see what she accomplishes next. I also was thrilled to see Claire and Shannon earn honorable mention honors. Claire helped us win in multiple ways. In addition to her ability to score at the net, her serve is one of the best in the country. Shannon is an unbelievable competitor and court general and is a huge reason for our success this year!"
For the complete list of 2023 AVCA All-Americans, head to the AVCA's website.
In a historic 2023 season, these three Sun Devils were instrumental to the team's success. They helped ASU reach the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2015, winning two matches for the first time in program history. Arizona State had its second-highest win total in a season in program history with 28, and the win percentage of .800 was the best the program has had. ASU finished the Pac-12 in a tie for third with a 14-6 record, the most conference wins in a single season in program history.
Marta Levinska
The honors have been rolling in for Levinska all season. To set up her All-America nod, she was AVCA All-Region for her first time. She was on the All-Pac-12 Team, the first time making the team for her after two years on honorable mention and being on the Pac-12 All-Freshman Team in 2020. She is one of three Sun Devils to have earned a conference honor in each season of their career. On October 31, she was the AVCA National Player of the Week. Additionally, she earned four Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Week nods, the most in a single season in ASU history. She has the most individual weekly awards a Sun Devil has had with six.
Levinska brought the heat from the right side all season. In 33 matches (all but two), she had double-digit kills, which is the most in a single season at Arizona State. She also had 20 or more kills nine times, which is the fourth most in a year at ASU. In her career, she had 93 matches with double-digit kills, good for third-most for a Sun Devil. She hit .348 on the year and led the team in total kills with 571, the fifth-most in a single season at ASU. Also in the ASU record book, she finished her career sixth for career kills with 1,587. Her career high of 30 kills was earned in a win at Cal on October 1 this season. That number is tied for the most in a single match at ASU in the rally-scoring era. At the end of the regular season, Levinska ranked No. 8 in the nation in kills, kills per set, points and points per set. She also was second in the Pac-12 in each of those categories.
In addition to her strong offense, Levinska was a force from the service line. She finished her career in 10th for career aces at ASU with 107. She led the team in aces this season with 44, the most she's had in a year. This was the first season that a Sun Devil has had 40-plus aces since 2002. Her best service outing was in the second round of the NCAA Tournament against BYU when she had five aces to help the squad to a sweep. Her defense in the back row stacked up as well as she had six double-doubles this season.
Sun Devil for life ??
— Sun Devil Volleyball (@SunDevilVB) November 14, 2023
Thank you, Marta!#ForksUp pic.twitter.com/UFatJ46ztW
Claire Jeter
Jeter started in all but two matches as a middle blocker for the squad. She led the defense at the net with 130 blocks, the most she's had in a single season. In 13 matches, she had five or more blocks, including a season-high eight in a win over Cal on October 27. A threat on offense, she was ranked 40th in the nation in hitting percentage at the end of the regular season. She finished the year with a .373 clip to lead the team. She neared 200 kills on the year with 195. She also was second on the team in aces with 43, the most she has had in a single season.
The awards have been stacking up for Jeter, who is returning for a fifth year in 2024. She was AVCA All-Region and Pac-12 Honorable Mention this season for her efforts. She is the third Sun Devil middle blocker to be an All-American, along with Whitney Follette (2015) and Tammy Webb (1985).
They're back ??????
— Sun Devil Volleyball (@SunDevilVB) November 18, 2023
We're excited to have Claire and Mary returning for the 2024 season! #ForksUp pic.twitter.com/0FebKP5Vx4
Shannon Shields
In her final collegiate season, Shields had her most productive and successful year yet. She ran the offense all season as the setter, starting every match and playing in every set. Her 1,239 assists this season are the 10th-highest single-season total in ASU history. In nine matches, she had 40 or more assists, including two with 50 or more. She earned a career-high 54 assists in the win at Cal on October 1. Additionally, she had nine double-doubles this year, a team high. The lefty also was crafty on offense, earning 106 kills. She had eight in the home win over Oregon State.
Shields was AVCA All-Region and Pac-12 Honorable Mention this season. She is the first Sun Devil setter to be an All-American since Regina Stahl in 1986.
S4 | OH MY GOODNESS SHANNON SHIELDS ??????????
— Sun Devil Volleyball (@SunDevilVB) November 19, 2023
??: @Pac12Network#ForksUp pic.twitter.com/H9zUAI3zm1