Barber, Nelson, And Coaching Staff Earn BIG EAST All-Conference Honors

NEW YORK, N.Y.- The BIG EAST announced its annual volleyball awards today (April 1). Allison Barber (Woodbury, Minn.) and Emma Nelson (West Chester, Pa.) earned All-BIG EAST Team honors. The coaching staff was awarded BIG EAST Coaching Staff of the Year, for the first time in program history.

Barber was named to the All-BIG EAST First-Team for her efforts this season. Barber has had a major impact on the Friars this season, leading the teams in assists (362). In the BIG EAST, the senior setter ranks fourth in assists (8.83 assists per set). Barber also served as a defensive threat, tallying 115 digs, second best of the team.

Nelson ranks first on the team and sixth in the BIG EAST in kills (128), averaging 3.12 per set this season. The sophomore outsider hitter's offensive efforts were imperative to the Friar's success this season. She carried a .226 hitting percentage and recorded 18 blocks.

This is Coach Margot Royer-Johnson's first BIG EAST Coach of the Year honor. She led the team that was picked to finish fifth in the league's preseason poll to second in the east division bracket, qualifying for the program's first BIG EAST Tournament since 1999. The Friars went 7-3 overall, including a 5-3 mark in league play. Royer is assisted by Richard Gomes, Kristen Smith, and Gabriela Dias.

All-BIG EAST Teams and major awards are voted on by the league's head coaches, who are not permitted to vote for their own players. The All-BIG EAST Team is comprised of 18 players, regardless of position. The BIG EAST All-Freshman Team recognizes the top-six freshman vote earners.

2020- 21 BIG EAST Volleyball Regular Season Awards

BIG EAST Player of the Year
Efrosini Alexakou, St. John's, Jr., OH

BIG EAST Libero of the Year
Averi Salvador, Villanova, Grad Student, L/DS

BIG EAST Freshman of the Year
Delaney Hogan, Xavier, Fr., MB

Coaching Staff of the Year
Providence (Head Coach: Margot Royer-Johnson)

All-BIG EAST Team
(listed alphabetically by institution, then last name)
Melody Davidson, Butler, RS-Jr., MB
Caylee Parker, UConn, Jr., OH ^
Keeley Davis, Creighton, So., OH
Naomi Hickman, Creighton, Sr., MB ^
Jaela Zimmerman, Creighton, Jr., OH ^
Savannah Rennie, Marquette, Gr., MB
Hope Werch, Marquette, Sr., OH
Taylor Wolf, Marquette, Sr., RS/S
Allison Barber, Providence, Sr., S
Emma Nelson, Providence, So., OH
Efrosini Alexakou, St. John's, Jr., OH ^
Tiziana Baumrukova, St. John's, Sr., S
Rachele Rastelli, St. John's, Jr., RS ^
Tsvetelina Ilieva, Seton Hall, Fr., OH
Riley Homer, Villanova, Fr., OH
Sophia Howling, Villanova, Jr., MH
Averi Salvador, Villanova, Gr., L/DS
Carrigan O'Reilly, Xavier, So., S

All-BIG EAST Freshman Team
(listed alphabetically by institution, then last name)
Kiara Reinhardt, Creighton, Fr., MB
Jill Pressly, DePaul, Fr., OH ^
Tsvetelina Ilieva, Seton Hall, Fr., OH
Taylor Jakubowski, Seton Hall, Fr., S
Riley Homer, Villanova, Fr., OH
Delaney Hogan, Xavier, Fr., MB ^

^ - denotes unanimous selection

-GO FRIARS! -

Completed Event: Women's Volleyball versus Villanova on October 17, 2025 , Loss , 1, to, 3

Completed Event: Women's Volleyball versus Georgetown on October 18, 2025 , Loss , 1, to, 3

Completed Event: Women's Volleyball versus #13 Creighton on October 24, 2025 , Loss , 0, to, 3

Completed Event: Women's Volleyball at Connecticut on October 26, 2025 , Loss , 1, to, 3

Completed Event: Women's Volleyball at Seton Hall on October 31, 2025 , Win , 3, to, 2

Completed Event: Women's Volleyball at St. John's on November 1, 2025 , Loss , 2, to, 3

Completed Event: Women's Volleyball versus Xavier on November 7, 2025 , Loss , 0, to, 3

Completed Event: Women's Volleyball versus Butler on November 8, 2025 , Win , 3, to, 1

Completed Event: Women's Volleyball at Georgetown on November 14, 2025 , Loss , 1, to, 3

Completed Event: Women's Volleyball at Villanova on November 15, 2025 , Loss , 0, to, 3

Providence College Athletics

Barber, Nelson, And Coaching Staff Earn BIG EAST All-Conference Honors

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