Louisville's 'security blanket,' outside hitter Anna DeBeer, named ACC Player of the Year

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Anna DeBeer has been a special volleyball player for a long time, people in her hometown will tell you. On Monday, there was more confirmation of that from the Atlantic Coast Conference, which announced that the University of Louisville outside hitter has won 2023 ACC Player of the Year honors, along with Florida State's Audrey Koenig.

DeBeer, who led Assumption to three straight state championships, won three club national championships, and was Kentucky's Ms. Volleyball as a senior in high school. At UofL, she's a three-time All-ACC selection.

Louisville volleyball coach Dani Busboom Kelly has called DeBeer her "security blanket," noting that her competitiveness and determination have been part of a foundation that took program to back-to-back Final Fours. DeBeer missed a dozen games last season with a knee injury, but when she returned, she propelled the club to the NCAA championship game, where it lost to Texas.

This season, she totaled 216 kills in conference play, averaging 3.32 per set, and 343 total kills for the season to guide Louisville to a No. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament. She posted a career-high 29 kills in a gritty five-set thriller against Pitt on November 18 – the most kills in a five-set ACC game this season.

"DeBeer is DeBeer," Busboom Kelly said early this season. "You can rely on her in big moments. You know she's going to compete. She is the ultimate competitor and an amazing teammate."

But she wasn't the only Cardinal honored on Monday. Elena Scott, a junior libero out of Mercy Academy, was named ACC Defensive Player of the Year.

Scott led the ACC with 4.43 digs per set and totaled 288 digs in conference play. She also seven matches with 20 or more digs this season.

Both DeBeer and Scott were All-ACC first team selections, along with Charitie Luper, a junior outside hitter who transferred to Louisville from UCLA. Opposite hitter Aiko Jones, setter Elle Glock and middle blocker Cara Cresse were named to the All-ACC Second team.

Louisville will begin play in the NCAA Tournament at 7 p.m. Thursday against Wright State in the KFC Yum! Center.