Webster's Howard Named Volleyball Player of the Year; Westminster's Berry Tabbed Newcomer & Defensive Player of the Year
ST. LOUIS - The St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SLIAC) has announced the 2012 All-Conference Volleyball Team and special award winners.
Webster University sophomore Jenny Howard, who was last year's Newcomer of the Year, continued her outstanding play in 2012 to earn SLIAC Player of the Year honors. Howard, an outside hitter, led the SLIAC with a .420 hitting percentage. She also ranked third among conference players with an average of 3.34 kills per set, while also ranking fifth with an average of 3.8 points per set.
Westminster College's Jordan Berry, a freshman, took home both Defensive Player of the Year and Newcomer of the Year honors. Berry, an outside hitter, led her team with 198 digs in 16 matches and averaged 3.81 digs per set. Her 3.81 digs per set was also the 10th highest total in the SLIAC.
Webster University's Merry Graf earned SLIAC Coach of the Year honors for the fourth time since 2005. She led the Gorloks to a share of their conference record ninth regular season title, including their sixth in the past eight years. Webster finished the regular season with a record of 15-1 in conference play and 22-9 overall.
Principia College received the Sportsmanship Award for the second time in three years. The team Sportsmanship Award is given to the team whose players, coaches and fans best exhibit the principles of good sportsmanship. The SLIAC also recognizes one individual from each team, selected by his coach and teammates, who throughout the season best displays the ideals of sportsmanship. The 2012 All-Sportsmanship Team includes Caitlyn Beaird (Blackburn), Becca Idell (Eureka), Ana Hibbeler (Fontbonne), Hannah Groves (Greenville), Kelsey Pembrook (MacMurray), Savanna Sprague (Principia), Sara Schott(Spalding), Sami Murray (Webster) and Michelle Fandl (Westminster).
The 2012 All-SLIAC Teams are as follows:
FIRST TEAM
Tricia Gall, Greenville (Sr., Middle Blocker)
Ellen Lueking, Greenville (So., Setter)
Tess Rountree, Principia (So., Outside Hitter)
Jenny Howard, Webster (So., Outside Hitter)
Sam Kersting, Webster (So., Middle Hitter)
Alex Berry, Westmnster (Sr., Outside Hitter)
Jordan Berry, Westminster (Fr., Outside Hitter)
SECOND TEAM
Corinne Coon,Greenville (Jr., Opposite Hitter)
Nicole Schaeffer, Greenville (So., Outside Hitter)
Kiersten Andersen, Principia (Sr., Outside Hitter)
Elisa Burkman, Spalding (So., Outside Hitter)
Allie O'Toole, Webster(So., Setter)
Jordan Vehlewald, Webster (So., Outside Hitter)
Lexi Collier, Westminster (Fr., Middle Hitter)
HONORABLE MENTION
Courtney Kincaid, Eureka (Sr., Defensive Specialist)
Taryn Ballmann, Fontbonne (Jr., Outside Hitter)
Abbie Bergtholdt, Fontbonne (Jr., Middle Blocker)
Jamie Schollenbruch, Greenville (Fr., Libero)
Sammy Petefish, MacMurray (Jr., Libero)
Liz Abraham, Webster (Jr., Defensive Specialist)
Emily Ratkewicz, Webster (So., Middle Hitter)
