Northwest Missouri State University redshirt freshman outside hitter Payton Kirchhoefer collected her second All-America honor in as many days when the Division II Conference Commissioners Association (D2CCA) named her to its third team.

Earlier this week, Kirchhoefer (Omaha, Neb. / Marian HS) became the first Bearcat freshman to earn American Volleyball Coaches Association All-America honors. She was named the MIAA Freshman of the Year and garnered all-MIAA first-team status. She tallied MIAA Scholar-Athlete team status with a 3.87 GPA in mathematics education. She leads the MIAA in kills (453), kills per set (3.81). She ranks second in the MIAA in points per set (4.05). Kirchhoefer twice posted 26 kills in 2021 - the first time in four sets vs. Michigan Tech (Sept. 10) and the second time in a five-set win over No. 1-ranked Washburn (Oct. 15). She was a two-time MIAA offensive athlete of the week award winner and a D2CCA first-team all-region selection. Kirchhoefer had the most attacks (1,199) by a Bearcat freshman in school history and the second-most kills (453) in a season by a Northwest freshman.

The MIAA had a total of five student-athletes earn D2CCA All-America honors.

Central Missouri
Audrey Fisher, MH - Sr., Lenexa, Kan. (First Team)

Northwest Missouri State
Payton Kirchhoefer, OH - R-Fr., Omaha, Neb. (Third Team)

Washburn
Faith Rottinghaus, L/DS - Sr., Berryton, Kan. (First Team)
Genna Berg, OH - Sr., Blue Springs, Mo. (Second Team)
Alison Maxwell, MH - Sr., Jefferson City, Mo. (Third Team)

A total of 21 student-athletes from 13 institutions are represented on the three All-America Teams in 2021.

Sports Information Directors from NCAA Division II schools and conferences sponsoring women's volleyball selected the D2CCA All-America Team. The process begins at the regional level with all First Team All-Region picks advancing to the national ballot.This marks the 15th year that teams have been selected since the All-America program began in 2006.

The Division II Conference Commissioners Association encourages and promotes Division II athletics and high standards of sportsmanship as important elements of higher education. The CCA is a key communications link among the conferences as they discuss views, policies and regulations that impact Division II intercollegiate athletics and works closely with the NCAA as a communications channel to NCAA Division II member colleges and universities.