GALESBURG — Carl Sandburg College sophomore Peyton Bowman (Sciota, Ill./West Prairie) capped a dominant and decorated career as a Charger with one more honor: All-American.
The 6-foot-3 middle hitter was named an NJCAA Division II Second-Team All-American on Wednesday, becoming the first Sandburg volleyball player ever to be named to one of the nation’s top two squads.
After earning honorable mention All-America honors as a freshman, Bowman took her game to another level this fall, leading the nation with 661 kills (64 more than the next highest total), a .518 hitting percentage (62 points higher than second) and 846 points (77.5 more than her next closest competitor). She did that while finishing just 28th nationally in total attacks at 1,138.
Bowman placed in the top 10 in the country in several other categories, finishing third with 111 solo blocks, fifth in points per set at 5.5, eighth in kills per set at 4.26 and 10th in total blocks with 159. She played in all 45 matches and 155 of Sandburg’s 156 sets this year, helping the Chargers to a 33-12 record, second straight Arrowhead Conference title, a Region IV tournament championship appearance and a No. 18 ranking in the final NJCAA Division II poll.
Bowman, who is undecided on where she’ll play next year, was named Arrowhead Conference Most Valuable Player and Region IV District A Player of the Year in both of her seasons at Sandburg. She also was a two-time winner of the NJCAA Division II Offensive Player of the Week during her career and was named American Volleyball Coaches Association Two-Year College Player of the Week earlier this season.
Bowman ends her Sandburg career with 1,094 kills, a .505 hitting percentage, 266 blocks and 1,377 points in 90 matches. She averaged 3.56 kills, 0.87 blocks and 4.49 points per set as a Charger while helping Sandburg go 59-31 overall and 18-1 in Arrowhead play.
