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. | S | 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. | S | 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. | L | Maple Heights, Ohio |
Hailee Olson | Findlay | So. | S | 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. | S | Livonia, Mich. / Stevenson |
Madison Whitehead | Northern Michigan | Jr. | RS/MH | Altoona, Wis. |
Amanda Winner | Findlay | So. | OH | Versailles, Ohio |