EVANSTON, Ill. (December 5, 2023) – Northwestern graduate student Julia Sangiacomo (Sonoma, Calif./Justin-Sienna/Santa Clara) has been named an All-North Region selection by the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA), the organization announced on Tuesday.
Now a three-time All-Region honoree for her career, Sangiacomo enjoyed a standout 2023 campaign in her lone season with the 'Cats. The 6-foot-5 outside hitter was named the 16th First Team All-Big Ten Conference pick in program history after averaging 4.09 kills per set across 25 matches, ranking sixth overall on the league leaderboard in the category.
Sangiacomo posted double-figure efforts in kills 21 times this past season, surpassing the 20-kill mark on six occasions. None of those outings were more impressive than in the Wildcats' clash with No. 17 Purdue (October 1) when she pelted a career-best 33 kills, the second most in a single match in program history, to help lead Northwestern back from a 2-0 deficit en route to a five-set triumph. Sangiacomo went on to put up 32 kills in another five-set win over Michigan State on October 7. The Sonoma, Calif. native was one of only two Big Ten student-athletes to post multiple matches of 30-plus kills in 2023.
In total, Big Ten Conference student-athletes accounted for 11 of the 14 selections to the AVCA All-North Region First Team. Northwestern was one of three Big Ten institutions represented.
Now a three-time All-Region honoree for her career, Sangiacomo enjoyed a standout 2023 campaign in her lone season with the 'Cats. The 6-foot-5 outside hitter was named the 16th First Team All-Big Ten Conference pick in program history after averaging 4.09 kills per set across 25 matches, ranking sixth overall on the league leaderboard in the category.
Sangiacomo posted double-figure efforts in kills 21 times this past season, surpassing the 20-kill mark on six occasions. None of those outings were more impressive than in the Wildcats' clash with No. 17 Purdue (October 1) when she pelted a career-best 33 kills, the second most in a single match in program history, to help lead Northwestern back from a 2-0 deficit en route to a five-set triumph. Sangiacomo went on to put up 32 kills in another five-set win over Michigan State on October 7. The Sonoma, Calif. native was one of only two Big Ten student-athletes to post multiple matches of 30-plus kills in 2023.
In total, Big Ten Conference student-athletes accounted for 11 of the 14 selections to the AVCA All-North Region First Team. Northwestern was one of three Big Ten institutions represented.