Gophers volleyball team celebrates four All-Americans at Final Four

OMAHA — The Gophers volleyball team tends to downplay individual achievements, preferring to concentrate on its collective might. It stuck to that philosophy Wednesday when Daly Santana, Hannah Tapp, Paige Tapp and Samantha Seliger-Swenson were named to All-America teams by the American Volleyball Coaches Association.

Santana, a senior outside hitter, and Hannah Tapp, a junior middle blocker, were named to the first team. Freshman setter Seliger-Swenson made the second team, and Paige Tapp, a junior middle blocker, the third team. The four All-America picks are the most the program has ever had in a single season.

"It's great to get that recognition," said coach Hugh McCutcheon, a candidate for the national coach of the year award that will be announced Thursday. "It validates a lot of the hard work. Most importantly, it speaks to what this team has done.

"Individuals get the recognition. But it speaks more to the work this whole group has put in. I think that's the way everyone sees this. These are Minnesota's awards as much as they are anyone's."

Santana is among the national leaders in several categories, including total kills (563, eighth); kills per set (4.50, 14th); and points (633.5, ninth). Hannah Tapp leads the Gophers in hitting efficiency (.349), is second in kills (347) and third in blocks per set (1.08). She has 50 kills in postseason play and is hitting a team-high .483.

Seliger-Swenson is ranked fifth nationally with 1,449 assists, and Paige Tapp — who earned third-team All-America honors for the second consecutive season — is third on the team with 283 kills and is hitting .319.