BRIANNA ANDERSON NAMED NJCAA DII VOLLEYBALL ALL-AMERICAN

Wednesday Decemeber 10,  2025 - 1:00 p.m. | Dylan DeVlieger    

Mesa Community College libero Brianna Anderson has added a national honor to her decorated career, earning a place on the 2025 NJCAA DII Volleyball All-American Third Team. The recognition caps a run that positioned her as one of the top defensive specialists in the country and one of the most accomplished liberos ever to wear a Thunderbird uniform.

Anderson's résumé speaks for itself, back-to-back ACCAC DII Libero of the Year awards, two Region I DII First Team selections, nine ACCAC Defensive Player of the Week nods, three NJCAA Defensive Player of the Week honors, and the 2024 ACCAC DII Tournament MVP. She anchored Mesa's backcourt again this season, finishing 8th nationally in digs (740) and 19th in digs per set (5.87).

But for Head Coach Jordan Abalos Herrington, Anderson's value went far beyond numbers. Herrington emphasized how rare it is for a libero to be recognized on the national stage, noting that the position demands a level of discipline and steadiness that often goes unnoticed.

"For a libero, standing out on a national stage is one of the hardest things to do," Herrington said. "The position is selfless by nature, no stat line tells the full story of the discipline, precision, and grit it takes to anchor the backcourt. Yet Bri has always found a way to make herself undeniable."

Herrington described Anderson's presence as her true separator, the instinctive reads, the anticipation, and the competitive calm that steadied the team in pressure moments.

"What makes her special is not just the digs or the passing, it's her presence," Herrington added. "She reads the game faster than most players move…her leadership lives in the way she communicates, supports, and turns chaos into control."

That consistency, composure, and emotional maturity didn't happen overnight. Herrington highlighted Anderson's evolution from a talented freshman to an elite level libero whose growth elevated the standards of everyone around her.

"She came in talented but she turned herself into elite," Herrington said. "Every challenge became a motivator. Her confidence, consistency, and composure raised not only her own game, but the standard for our entire program."

The All-American award, Herrington emphasized, is a reflection of everything Anderson poured into the program.

"This honor is more than an award, it's the well-deserved result of relentless work, belief, and leadership from the heart of our team," said Herrington.

With the All-American selection, Anderson closes her MCC career as one of the premier liberos in NJCAA volleyball and a foundational piece in Mesa's recent championship-level success.