LEXINGTON, Ky. – Five days after being named to the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) First Team All-Central Region, junior middle blocker Maria Claflin was named to the AVCA Honorable Mention All-American Team.

Claflin becomes the fifth Royal all-time to be named to the Honorable Mention All-American Team and the third middle blocker to earn the honor with the last coming from Kristin Stern in 2017. The Dayton, Minn. native and Champlin Park graduate tallied a team-leading 359 kills averaging 3.55 kills per set which ranked third in the MIAC and 62nd in the NCAA at the end of the regular season. She was also second on the team with 79 blocks and 23 service aces.

Against regionally ranked opponents she tallied 125 kills hitting .240 against the nine opponents, eight of which made the NCAA Tournament. In four matches against nationally ranked teams, she hit .245 averaging 3.06 kills per set and had four service aces. Claflin recently became a two-time All-MIAC honoree after tallying 138 kills against conference foes and hitting .259 in the 11-game span.

Bethel concluded its season with a 17-11 overall record and 6-5 mark in the MIAC. The Royals appeared in its sixth consecutive MIAC Playoffs, the longest current active streak, and eighth in the last nine seasons.