INDIANAPOLIS - The Great Midwest Athletic Conference released its 2012 Volleyball Awards on Friday, just prior to the inaugural G-MAC Volleyball Championships. The tournament, hosted by top seed Cedarville University, begins this afternoon with the opening round match between #5 Central State and #4 Ursuline College. The semifinals will be held later this evening with #3 Urbana University taking on #2 Trevecca Nazarene University and #1 Cedarville will take on the winner of the opening round match between Central State and Ursuline.
Great Midwest Athletic Conference: Coach of the Year
DOUG WALTERS
Cedarville University
Coach of the Year honors goes to Yellow Jackets Head Coach Doug Walters, who led his team to the top seed with an overall record of 30-6 and an undefeated regular-season in conference (8-0). In G-MAC action, Cedarville won the eight matches by a combined score of 24-2 by utilizing its very talented depth on the roster.
As the tournament favorites, Cedarville will be battling for a post-season birth in the programs first year as an active Division II University. Walters began coaching at Cedarville in 2008 and has quickly built the program into one of the regions best.
Great Midwest Athletic Conference: Player of the Year
KRISTEN JOHNSON - Right Side Hitter
Junior - Trevecca Nazarene University
Johnson, who was a four-time G-MAC Athlete of the Week, has recorded 15 triple-doubles, including four in her last five contests. In conference, she is the only player to rank in the top ten in five of the six categories, though she does rank in all six categories based on her overall totals rather than using her per game avarages.
She ranks fourth in hitting (.252), fourth in kills (3.0), but second with 387 overall kills. She is sixth in assists (4.06), seventh in blocks (0.49), and eighth in digs (2.83). Her 0.25 service aces per game are just outside the top-ten, but her 32 service aces are better than four of the current top ten. She leads the team in kills per game (3.0), while ranking second in assists and hitting percentange, and third in blocks.
Great Midwest Athletic Conference: Freshman of the Year
TORI THOMPSON - Middle Hitter
Freshman - Cedarville University
Thompson, in her first year as a member of the Yellow Jackets program, has recorded 194 kills on the season and 88 blocks. She recorded 10 or more kills four times this season and three times had seven or more blocks, including eight (one solo and seven assists) against University of Charleston. Thompson ranks in the top-ten in the G-MAC in hitting percentage (.215), while leading the conference in blocks (0.81 per game).
Every match of the 2012 Championship will have live stats available, with the Semifinals and Championship matches being web-streamed for free at G-MACsports.com. Game recaps will also be available on G-MACsports.com following the completion of the tournament.
To view the streaming broadcasts, simply click the banner ad on the main page for Live Streaming, or click Live Broadcast under the multimedia tab in the main dropdown menu.
Also announced prior to the tournament was the All-Conference First Team, the All-Conference Second Team, and the All-Conference Honorable Mentions, listed below.
Great Midwest Athletic Conference: All-Conference First Team
TORI THOMPSON - Cedarville University - Middle Hitter - Freshman
KELSEY VOLKMER - Urbana University - Middle Hitter - Sophomore
HANNAH WAGNER - Cedarville University - Outside Hitter - Sophomore
MADDIE ANDERSON - Cedarville University - Setter - Sophomore
KRISTEN JOHNSON - Trevecca Nazarene University - Right Side Hitter - Junior
AMANDA BELL - Cedarville University - Outside Hitter - Sophomore
STEPHANIE ROGERS - Cedarville University - Middle Hitter - Junior
Great Midwest Athletic Conference: All-Conference Second Team
LOREN BENNETT - Trevecca Nazarene University - Setter - Freshman
JENNA ROBERTSON - Trevecca Nazarene University - Middle Hitter - Senior
PERSEPHONIE DEVEREAUX - Trevecca Nazarene University - Middle Hitter - Junior
ALEX LEISTER - Ursuline College - Outside Hitter - Junior
MARY HENDRICKS - Urbana University - Defensive Specialist - Freshman
KELLY STENGER - Ursuline College - Libero - Sophomore
KATLIN KREMER - Urbana University - Middle Hitter - Freshman
Great Midwest Athletic Conference: All-Conference Honorable Mention
BREIN BABBS - Central State University
KACI EUREZ - Urbana University
CAROLINE GAY - Trevecca Nazarene University
ELISE HARCEK - Ursuline College
DELANEY HEARNE - Trevecca Nazarene University
AMY HICKMAN - Urbana University
LORI INKROTT - Cedarville University
MAUREEN KELLY - Ursuline College
HEATHER KIRKPATRICK - Cedarville University
ERIN MCKNIGHT - Central State University
ASHLEY REINHART - Ursuline College
SHELBY SORCE - Trevecca Nazarene University
KARLA VOGEL - Urbana University