2016 All-GLIAC Volleyball Awards Unveiled

2016 All-GLIAC Volleyball Awards Unveiled

The 2016 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) Volleyball postseason awards have been announced after voting conducted by the league's coaches. 

PLAYER OF THE YEAR & SETTER OF THE YEAR
Ferris State senior Stephanie Sikorski
 was the catalyst in the Bulldogs' offensive attack this season. The four-year starter has compiled 1,219 assists while leading the Bulldogs to a third-straight GLIAC Championship. She has also added 273 digs with 114 kills and 40 blocks in the FSU lineup, helping the Bulldogs to a 26-5 regular-season mark and a 16-1 GLIAC finish. The 5-10 Sikorski posted more than 40 assists in 15 contests.

ATTACKER OF THE YEAR
Findlay senior outside hitter Hannah Tong led the Oilers to their third straight GLIAC South Division crown during her final season at Findlay. Tong led the GLIAC in kills with 445 and ranked second with 4.20 kills per set. She also hit .310 and recorded 56 total blocks during the 2016 season. The Carey, Ohio native, who was voted the 2014 GLIAC Attacker of the Year, ranks fifth all-time at Findlay with 1,528 career kills.

BLOCKER OF THE YEAR
Tiffin freshman Jenna Huffman had an excellent rookie season, leading the GLIAC in total blocks (141), assisted blocks (114), and blocks per set (1.22). At the NCAA Division II level, Huffman finished eighth in total blocks and 17th in blocks per set.

LIBERO OF THE YEAR
Tiffin junior Taylor Lattimore played strong defense for Tiffin, leading the GLIAC in digs (620) and digs per set (5.30).  Taylor finished 42nd nationally in digs per set and 17th in total digs.

FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR
Ferris State outside hitter Allyson Cappel
 has had a standout rookie campaign for the nationally-ranked Bulldogs. The Bulldog freshman has posted a team-leading 379 kills with 332 digs and 60 total blocks while starting all 31 matches. In her initial season with the Bulldogs, she's tallied 10 kills or more in 22 contests and posted 21 outings with 10 digs or more this year.

COACH OF THE YEAR
Ferris State longtime head coach Tia Brandel-Wilhelm
 directed the Bulldogs to the program's fourth GLIAC Championship in the last six seasons this fall. Under her guidance, the Bulldogs have posted a 26-5 overall record and went 16-1 in GLIAC play. Ferris State captured its third-straight GLIAC Championship despite having to replace four starters from last year's NCAA Midwest Regional runner-up finish. The Bulldogs have been ranked number one in the region and are expected to receive their 11th NCAA Tournament berth under her direction this year. In addition, FSU has posted its 19th-straight winning campaign and sixth-straight year with 20 more victories during the 2016 season.

A complete list of the 2016 All-GLIAC volleyball teams is below:

2016 All-GLIAC Volleyball First Team

Name
School
Yr.
Pos.
Hometown / Previous
Staci Brower Grand Valley St.  So. MB Byron Center, Mich.
Allyson Cappel Ferris State  Fr.  OH Tinley Park, Ill. / Lincoln-Way North 
Alli Cudworth Ashland  Sr. OH Kent, Ohio / Theodore Roosevelt 
Nickyla Garverick Findlay  Jr. MB/RS  Crestline, Ohio / Colonel Crawford 
Brittany Guldan Wayne State  Sr. West Bloomfield, Mich. / Oakland CC 
Erin Holsinger Hillsdale  Sr. MH  Roanoke, Va. / Cave Spring 
Jenna Huffman Tiffin  Fr. MH  McComb, Ohio 
Rachel Pohlod Michigan Tech  Sr. S Pittsburgh, Pa. / Oakland Catholic 
Kaylee Schmitt Saginaw Valley  Sr. MH  DeWitt, Mich. 
Stephanie Sikorski Ferris State  Sr. Rochester Hills, Mich. / Rochester 
Tory Thompson Ohio Dominican  Sr. OH  Quincy, Ohio / Riverside 
Hannah Tong Findlay  Sr. OH  Carey, Ohio 
2016 All-GLIAC Volleyball Second Team
Name School Yr. Pos. Hometown/Previous
Lee Lee Barrett Lake Erie  Sr. MH  Chattanooga, Tenn. / Ooltewah 
Ayanna Buckley Ferris State  Jr. OH  Detroit, Mich. / Clarenceville 
Casey Clark Ashland  Sr. OH  Indianapolis, Ind. / Warren G. Harding 
Aubrey Ficek Michigan Tech  Sr. OH  Lockport, Ill. 
Tamara Heller Saginaw Valley  Jr. OH  Rome, Ohio / Ledgemont 
Taylor Lattimore Tiffin  Jr. Maple Heights, Ohio 
Hailee Olson Findlay  So. Malone, Wis. / New Holstein 
Hailey Richardson Wayne State  So. OH  New Boston, Mich. / Huron 
Jayci Suseland Grand Valley St.  Fr. RS Portage, Mich. / Schoolcraft 
Kelly Vellucci Saginaw Valley  Sr. Livonia, Mich. / Stevenson 
Madison Whitehead Northern Michigan  Jr. RS/MH  Altoona, Wis. 
Amanda Winner Findlay  So. OH  Versailles, Ohio 
2016 All-GLIAC Honorable Mention Team
Name School Yr. Pos. Hometown/Previous
Shelby Woycik Ashland Fr. OH Lapeer, Mich.
Lauren Reminga Ferris State Jr. L Hudsonville, Mich.
Kara Scherger Findlay So. DS New Riegel, Ohio
Katie Olson Grand Valley St. Jr. S Peru, Ill. / LaSalle-Peru
Paige VanderWall Hillsdale So. RS Kentwood, Mich. / East
Sidney Fletcher Lake Erie Jr. L Saline, Mich.
Elizabeth Ballor Lake Superior St. Jr. MB Okemos, Mich.
Stephanie Dietrich Michigan Tech Jr.  MB  Stillwater, Minn. 
Bridget Bussell Northern Michigan Sr. MH/RS Traverse City, Mich. / St. Francis
Allison Getty Northwood Jr. OH Wayland, Ohio
Megan Hendershot Ohio Dominican Sr. DS Galloway, Ohio / Central Crossing
Emily Nieman Saginaw Valley Jr. L Chesterfield, Mich. / L'Anse Creuse North
Emily Weithman Tiffin So. S New Washington, Ohio / Buckeye Central
Paola Ferrario Walsh So. OH Gorla Minore, Italy / Liceo dello Sport
Michelle Asiedu Wayne State Jr. MB Holland, Ohio / Springfield