DALLAS (SMU) - SMU graduate opposite hitter Malaya Jones was today named the program's first-ever First Team All-American, and senior setter Averi Carlson earned Second Team All-American honors by the American Volleyball Coaches Association. Middle blocker Favor Anyanwu and outside hitter Jadyn Livings logged Honorable Mention All-American honors in their sophomore seasons.  

Jones and Carlson join Naya Shime from the 2024 class as the only three Mustangs to be selected to an AVCA All-American team in program history.  

The tandem of Jones and Carlson started in all 33 matches for the Mustangs, earned AVCA Southwest Region First Team and All-ACC First Team honors in their lone seasons on the Hilltop. The Dallas duo of Anyanwu and Livings also earned All-Region First Team honors and were each selected to the All-ACC Second team in their first seasons at SMU.  

Malaya Jones, Gr., Opposite, El Dorado Hills, Calif. - First Team All-American   
-Broke the SMU rally scoring record for most kills (526) and points (600) in a season
-Averaged 4.28 kills per set while hitting .376, the fourth-highest hitting percentage by a non-middle in the country  
-Logged 10 matches with 20+ kills and 28 with double-digit kills  
-Notched a season-high 27 kills twice this season, tied for the most kills in a single match in the rally scoring era at SMU  
-Hit .750 (16-1-20) against NC State on Oct. 26, the highest hitting percentage on 20+ swings in program history  
-Named to AVCA Southwest Region First Team, All-ACC First Team, 2x AVCA National Division I Player of the Week, 3x ACC Offensive Player of the Week, AVCA Preseason National Player of the Year Watch List 

Averi Carlson, Sr., Setter, Lucas, Texas - Second Team All-American
-Ranks second in the nation in total assists (1,396) and third in assists per set (11.35) this season  
-Named ACC Setter of the Year, AVCA Southwest Region First Team, All-ACC First Team, and earned ACC Setter of the Week honors a league-record seven times this season  
-Led SMU to a program record .315 hitting percentage, which ranks third nationally  
-Paced SMU with 10 double-doubles this season and had 10 matches with 50+ assists  
-Notched a career-high 62 assists against NC State on Nov. 29 in SMU's regular season finale 

Favor Anyanwu, So., Middle Blocker, Rowlett, Texas - Honorable Mention All-American
-Ranks fourth in the nation in total blocks with 178 this season, which is the second most by a Mustang in program history 
-Averaged 1.45 blocks per set, good for 16th in the country, and1.67 kills per set on a .409 hitting percentage, the second-highest percentage in program history in a single season. Finished with 206 kills this season, third most on the team 
-Named AVCA Southwest Region First Team, All-ACC Second Team and was a mid-season addition to the AVCA National Player of the Year Watch List 
-Notched 17 matches with 5+ blocks this season. Blocked a career-best 11 balls against UNI on Sept. 5 
-Had a career-high 12 kills twice this season, against Stony Brook on Sept. 9 and against Purdue on Dec. 11 

Jadyn Livings, So., Outside/Opposite Hitter, The Colony, Texas - Honorable Mention All-American
-Second leading points scorer for the Mustangs, averaging 3.60 kills per set 
-Totaled 310 kills in just 86 sets played this season and added 159 digs this season, 1.85 digs per set 
-Named AVCA Southwest Region First Team, All-ACC Second Team, a mid-season addition to the AVCA National Player of the Year Watch List and earned ACC Offensive Player of the Week Sept. 8 
-Logged a career-high 26 kills against Kentucky on Sept. 13, and tied her career-high of 12 digs against Baylor on Aug. 30
-Notched six double-doubles, 18 matches with double-figure kill numbers and three matches with 20 or more kills this season