Allyssa Van Wienen of Hillsdale has earned the Great Midwest Athletic Conference's highest female honor. Van Wienen, who just completed a prolific volleyball career at Hillsdale, is the 2022 Great Midwest Collegiate Achievement Award winner and will be recognized at the conference's annual awards banquet Tuesday, May 24.

Van Wienen, a native of Grand Rapids, Michigan, was a three-time team captain and standout player during a historic volleyball run for Hillsdale. She was voted second team Academic All-American in 2021 and graduated from HC Summa Cum Laude. A two-time All-American on the court, Van Wienen was the 2020 Great Midwest Female Athlete of the Year and 2019 conference player of the year. She led the Chargers to a 71-2 conference record, five conference titles and four NCAA Volleyball Championship appearances.

Van Wienen finished her career third in school history with 1,449 kills and fifth wtih 420 blocks. She's the only Hillsdale volleyball player to record 1,400 kills and 400 blocks. She also holds conference records in single-season hitting percentage and career hitting percentage.

Off the court, Van Wienen is lauded for her involvement in the community. She is active in children's charity causes at Hillsdale and in her hometown. She graduated from HC in December 2021 with an exercise science degree.

"Allyssa is a person that passes through a program only once in a career. Simply put, she continues to be a step above the rest," Hillsdale volleyball coach Chris Gravel said. 

The Great Midwest Athletic Conference annually honors a male and a female outgoing senior student-athlete with the Collegiate Achievement Award. This award is based on an individual’s academic excellence, athletic achievements, character, leadership and engagement within the community and conference. The 2021-22 academic year represents the eighth annual presentation of the award and is the highest honor a Great Midwest student-athlete can receive.