STEVE CARPENTER
HutchCC Sports Information
The American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) announced its All-America teams for all levels on Friday and Hutchinson Community College outside hitter Jenna Thorne was named to the second-team for two-year schools.
Thorne was named an NJCAA Division I second-team All-American on April 28 after leading the Blue Dragons to an 18-10 record and a tie for third in the Jayhawk West this season. Thorne was also named both first-team All-Jayhawk West and All-Region VI in the 2020-21 season.
Thorne is the ninth Blue Dragon volleyball player to earn AVCA All-America honors, the first since Aubrey Wilson in 2015. The AVCA combined all three NJCAA Divisions, all California two-year programs and all Northwest two-year teams to compile its All-America teams.
Thorne’s game came to life under first-year Blue Dragon head coach Delice Downing, who moved the 5-foot, 11-inch Karitane, New Zealand product outside for the 2020-21 season.
Thorne averaged 3.76 kills per set, hitting .273 for the season. She ranked sixth in the Jayhawk Conference in kills per set and her 402 total kills – 13th most in Blue Dragon single-season history – were third best in the KJCCC this season.
Thorne was also turned into a six-rotation player, a move that paid huge dividends. She posted 18 double-doubles this season.
The Blue Dragon sophomore outside hitter also averaged 3.08 digs per set, 0.55 blocks per set and 0.37 service aces per set. Her 40 total service aces were fourth most in the Jayhawk West this season. Thorne also accounted for 330 digs and 59 total blocks.
Thorne posted four 20-kill matches this past season, including a career-high 25 kills against No. 6 Seward County on February 28. That performance tied for the seventh most in Hutchinson Volleyball single-match history.
She had a career-high 27 digs against Garden City on March 9. That performance was one of three matches of 20 or more digs. Thorne also had career highs of five service aces against North Platte on January 30 and eight total blocks against Seward County on February 28.