Principia's Rountree Takes Top Honors on All-Conference Team

Principia College's Tess Rountree took home top honors on the 2013 St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Volleyball All-Conference Team, as she was named the Player of the Year. Joining her in individual honors were Westminster's Riley Lawrence as Newcomer of the Year, Webster's Sam Kersting as Defensive Player of the Year and Greenville's Tom Ackerman as Coach of the Year. In addition Principia was awarded the Team Sportsmanship Award.

Tess Rountree, a junior outside hitter from Paso Robles, Calif., put together an outstanding all-around season, ranking first in conference play in kills and digs, fourth in hitting percentage and eight in total blocks. She averaged 4.74 kills and 5.50 digs per set in conference action. She also finished second on her team in service aces with 43 and led her team in total blocks with 71.

Westminster's Riley Lawrence, a freshman middle hitter from St. Louis, Mo., was her team's top offensive player averaging 3.56 kills per set this season. In conference play Lawrence increased her performance averaging 3.84 kills, ranking third among all players. She finished with 242 kills in 18 conference matches and added 2.29 digs per set.

Webster's Sam Kersting, a junior middle hitter from St. Louis, Mo., is the league's Defensive Player of the Year after averaging 1.38 blocks per set in conference play. Kersting finished with 73 total blocks, including 40 solo blocks, in just 17 conference matches. She recorded at least five total blocks on 13 occassions this season including an 11 block performance.

Greenville's Tom Ackerman is the 2013 SLIAC Coach of the Year after leading his team to a fourth straight regular season title including its first outright title this year with a 17-1 record. In 12 years as the Panthers head coach Ackerman has guided the Panthers to eight SLIAC Tournament apperances including a SLIAC Tournament championship in 2010. This marks the fourth time in his coaching career he has been named the SLIAC Coach of the Year.

Principia College received the Team Sportsmanship Award for the third time in four 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 her coach and teammates, who throughout the season best displays the ideals of sportsmanship. The 2013 All-Sportsmanship Team includes Patrece McLain (Blackburn), Kelsey Shoemake (Eureka), Lynsey Wehrenberg (Fontbonne), Amanda Muehlberg (Greenville), Kara Dennell (Iowa Wesleyan), Alexa Boyer (MacMurray), Sierra Sprague (Principia), April Fisher (Spalding), Kristen McDowell (Webster) and Caroline Abraham (Westminster).

FIRST TEAM
Corinne Coon, Greenville
Jamie Schollenbruch, Greenville
Tess Rountree, Principia
Elisa Burkman, Spalding
Sam Kersting, Webster
Emily Ratkewicz, Webster
Lexi Collier, Westminster
Riley Lawrence, Westminster

SECOND TEAM
Ellen Lueking, Greenville
Nicole Schaeffer, Greenville
Dakota Flesner, Iowa Wesleyan
Sammy Jo Petefish, MacMurray
Summer Switzer, Principia
Amanda Kiso, Westminster

HONORABLE MENTION
Madeline Stadler, Fontbonne
Savanna Sprague, Principia
Katelyn Cosgrove, Spalding
Victoria Heitzman, Spalding
Jenny Howard, Webster
Allie O'Toole, Webster
Jordan Vehlewald, Webster
Kayla Reeg, Westminster