NEW HAVEN, Conn. -- The three-time defending Ivy League champion Yale women's volleyball program earned five All-Ivy selections, the league office announced on Thursday afternoon. 

Fresh off defeating Princeton at home last Saturday to clinch a share of this year's Ivy title, five Bulldogs were named all-conference led by two first-team selections -- senior Frances Arnautou and sophomore Samantha Bray.  Senior team captain Izzy Simqu was named to the second team, and junior Kathryn Attar and senior Rebekah Nemeth were awarded All-Ivy Honorable Mention. 

Arnautou, last year's Ivy League Player of the Year, earned first-team honors for the second straight season.  The San Francisco native ranked second in the league in assists per set and tied for the team lead with 20 service aces while she averaged 2.36 digs per set in league play and nearly one kill per set. 

"I'm so happy Frances had such a successful senior year," Yale head coach Erin Appleman said.  "Her dedication and passion for the game helped push us to the top of the league. She is a fantastic leader and on and off the court, one of the best competitors I've ever coached."

Bray, an Austin, Texas, native, was named All-Ivy for the second straight year after her second-team honors a year ago.  The middle blocker ranked fifth in the Ivy League in hitting percentage (.360) in conference matches and was second on the team in kills per set (2.73) and blocks (36).

"Sam was a huge presence at the net this year," Appleman said.  "She was very explosive on offense and gave our team a consistent, constant threat. She took great steps forward this year after a great first year."

SImqu, a Westlake Village, Calif., native, led the team in total blocks (39) and averaged 2.38 kills per set and hit .283 in Ivy League play.  Some of her best matches were at key moments, including wins over Cornell (nine kills, .412 hitting percentage) and Princeton (10 kills, nine blocks.  

"Izzy picked up this year right where she left off after a great match against Syracuse in the NCAA tournament last year," Appleman said. "She has grown as a player, being an offensive threat and one of our best blockers. She was laser-focused on being a great teammate and leader this year."

Attar, a former Ivy League Rookie of the Year, averaged 2.38 kills per set and 2.47 digs per set in conference matches this season and put up steady performances throughout the conference season. The outside hitter from Tampa, Fla., was also second on the team with 287 attacks in Ivy matches and reached double figures in kills five times. 

"Kathryn came up big on offense in some big matches for us," Appleman said. "She has tremendous volleyball IQ. But where she shined the most was her nearly flawless serve receive passing, which was the foundation for a lot of our success."

Nemeth, a right side, had a breakout year and led the Bulldogs with a 2.84 kills per set in league play and finished the season with a career high in 154 kills while hitting .293.   The Kingwood, Texas, native, also averaged 3.16 points per set in conference matches and earned a spot on the Hoosier Invitational (Indiana University) and Trojan Invitational (USC) All-Tournament teams. 

"Bekah had the year I was hoping she would," Appleman said. "She has worked so hard to become a starter, and it paid off with a great senior year. Bekah was nearly unstoppable this year against teams from the Pac 12, Big 12, and Big Ten, and was a big reason we captured the Ivy crown."

Yale's season continues tomorrow night at Princeton in the Ivy League Playoff to determine the conference's NCAA automatic bid.