DURHAM, N.C. – Four Blue Devils – outside hitter Emily Sklar, middle blocker Jordan Tucker, libero Sasha Karelov and middle blocker Leah Meyer – garnered conference honors as announced Wednesday, Nov. 25. Sklar and Tucker headlined the group as both collected All-ACC first team distinction. Karelov earned a second team nod, while Meyer earned a spot on the All-ACC Freshman Team.
The first team recognition is the third for Sklar and the first for Tucker, who was tabbed to the second team in 2014. Karelov picked up her second, second team honor while Meyer earned her first career ACC award.
Louisville, Florida State and Miami led all league programs with four All-ACC selections each, followed by Duke's three.
Sklar was one of four unanimous selections to the All-ACC First Team, joining Louisville's Erin Fairs, Florida State's Nicole Walch and North Carolina's Paige Neuenfeldt. A six-rotation player for the Blue Devils all four years, Sklar entered the week ranked third in the league in kills per set. She has 19 matches this season with double-digit kills and leads Duke with 13 double-doubles. In addition, Sklar ranks fifth all-time at Duke with 1,496 career kills. She is the 11th Blue Devil to register over 1,000 kills and 1,000 digs for a career.
Tucker trails only Sklar in kills for the season, knocking down a career-high 310 kills her junior season. In ACC play, Tucker raised her hitting percentage to a team-best .338. She has totaled 10-plus kills 15 times this season, including in 12 of Duke's past 16 matches. In addition, Tucker has amassed 4.0 or more blocks 10 times in ACC play.
Karelov has anchored a Duke defense that leads the league in digs per set (17.40) and ranks among the nations' top 20 teams in digs per frame. She entered the week ranked second in the ACC in digs per set, averaging 5.05. She became the 21st player in Duke history to reach 1,000 career digs this season. Karelov ranks seventh in program history in career digs (1,367) and fourth in digs per set (4.18 dps).
Meyer made a definite impact her freshman season, leading the team in blocks (110) and blocks per set (1.05). A two-time ACC Freshman of the Week, Meyer has recorded 12 matches with double-digit kills and registered a hitting percentage of .300 or better 13 times. In addition, she has amassed 4.0 or more blocks 12 times.
Duke concludes the regular season Saturday, Nov. 28 at 1 p.m., against No. 22 North Carolina in Cameron Indoor Stadium.
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