Orchard earns All-American honorable mention

Amanda Orchard of the University of Pittsburgh volleyball team has earned a Division I All-America honorable mention, as announced by the American Volleyball Coaches Association.

The Lake Zurich High School graduate becomes the first player under head coach Dan Fisher to receive the honor and the 11th Panther in program history to garner All-America tributes at Pitt.

A 6-foot junior middle hitter, Orchard adds the honor to her already long list of accolades, which includes an All-Atlantic Coast Conference first team selection in November and an AVCA all-region selection earlier this month.

Orchard led the ACC with a .431 hitting percentage, which also landed her sixth in the nation. She finished the season with 226 kills, 91 blocks, 71 digs and 21 service aces after competing in 107 sets for the Panthers. She put up 21 matches of hitting .400 or better and 14 matches of hitting .500 or above.