Maju Loureiro, a sophomore outside attacker with the Missouri State University-West Plains Grizzly Volleyball team, has been named a National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) first team All-American.
The announcement came Wednesday, April 28, by NJCAA officials from the organization’s headquarters in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Loureiro, who hails from Curitiba, Brazil, is the 38th Grizzly Volleyball player to receive All-American honors and the 17th player to receive first team honors.
“I’m super happy for the recognition Maju is receiving for the work and dedication she has put into her two years as a Grizzly,” Grizzly Volleyball Head Coach Paula Wiedemann said. “She has come a long way since showing up in West Plains, and it’s great to see a player keep working through all that comes with being a part of our program. I’m really proud of her.
“The leap of faith they take to trust us, and what we are doing to help our players achieve, isn’t always easy, but it’s always worth it,” the coach added. “She has handled being pushed, becoming a leader on the floor in how she plays, and in making this season happen when we didn’t even know if she would be able to get here. But once she got here and got on the floor, she made an immediate impact on the team.”
Loureiro recorded 205 kills, a .313 attacking percentage, six assists, a 2.56 passer rating, 21 blocks, 17 aces, 211 digs and 234.5 points earned. She led the team in kills per set (3.15) and was second this season in digs per set (3.25).
“The beauty of her game is the high-level consistency of doing everything – exceptional passing, efficient attacking from anywhere on the court and a defensive presence that keeps the ball off the floor and creates more opportunities for her team. As a coach, you see so much in your players and when they grow and do great things, it’s awesome to watch!,” Wiedemann said.
