Northwest Missouri State University junior Hallie Sidney led the way with first-team accolades and six Bearcats garnered all-MIAA volleyball honors for their performance during the 2019 season.
Junior Maddy Ahrens (Appleton, Wisconsin) and junior Morgan Lewis (Kansas City, Missouri) each tallied second-team all-MIAA honors, while Northwest's trio of sophomores Bethany Elkins (Belton, Missouri, Hannah Koechl (Innsbruck, Austria) and Rachel Sturdevant (Kansas City, Missouri) each registered honorable mention status.
Sidney (Chesterfield, Missouri) becomes the 22nd Bearcat volleyball player to earn first-team all-MIAA honors. Sidney leads the MIAA in kills (420) and kills per set (4.08). Sidney was a five-time MIAA hitter of the week selection in 2019. Sidney recorded 22 kills and a career-high 23 digs in a five-set win at Missouri Western (Oct. 22) - Northwest's first 20-20 match since Maddy Bruder had 26 kills and 20 digs in a Nov. 2, 2017 match vs. Missouri Southern. Sidney has reached double-figure kill totals in 24 of her 27 matches. Sidney has generated six 20-plus kill matches in 2019. Sidney has tallied a team-best 16 double-doubles. Sidney was a second-team all-MIAA selection in 2018.
Ahrens notched second-team honors after leading the squad in assists (1,015) and service aces (24). Ahrens ranks No. 4 in the MIAA in assists per set (10.25). Ahrens has posted 10 double-doubles in 2019. Ahrens ranks No. 6 in Northwest history with 2,573 career assists. Ahrens has captured the MIAA Specialist of the Week award four times in 2019. She was a first-team all-MIAA selection in 2018.
Lewis was named a second-team all-MIAA recipient. Lewis ranks second on the team in blocks (81) and kills (304). Lewis possesses a .298 hitting percentage on the season. Lewis has posted 17 double-figure kill totals.
Elkins earned honorable mention all-MIAA honors. Elkins ranks No. 2 in the MIAA in blocks per set (1.02). Elkins has totaled a team-best 101 blocks on the season. Elkins ranks No. 4 in the MIAA in hitting percentage (.333). Elkins has 234 kills (2.36 kills/set) this season. Elkins has nine double-figure kill performances this season after posting two in 2018.
Koechl tallied honorable mention all-MIAA status. Koechl leads the team with 413 digs (3.86 digs/set). She is second on the squad in service aces (31). Koechl posted the eighth-best four-set dig total in school history with a career-high 30 digs in a four-set match vs. No. 4-ranked Nebraska-Kearney (Oct. 5). Koechl matched her 30 digs in four sets again in a rematch with No. 2-ranked Nebraska-Kearney (Nov. 1). Koechl has posted six 20-or more dig performances this season. Her 413 digs ranks as the fourth-best season performance by a Bearcat sophomore in program history.
Sturdevant was named to the honorable mention all-MIAA squad. Sturdevant ranks No. 2 on the team in digs (312; 3.12 digs/set). Sturdevant secured a career-high 24 digs in a three-set match vs. Central Oklahoma (Oct. 11). Sturdevant has produced four double-doubles in 2019.
The Bearcats (20-8 overall) will open up MIAA Tournament action at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at Hy-Vee Arena. Northwest is the No. 4 seed and will take on No. 5 seed Missouri Western in the quarterfinals.
Northwest All-Time First-Team All-MIAA Picks
1982 – Toni Cowen
1983 – Mary Beth Bishop, Kelly Greenlee
1984 – Mary Beth Bishop (MVP, Kelly Greenlee, Sherri Miller
1985 – Kelly Greenlee, Sherri Miller
1988 – Nancy Pfeifler
1989 – Kathy Webb
1998 – Jill Quast
1999 – Jill Quast, Abby Sunderman
2000 – Jill Quast (MVP)
2012 – Tori Beckman
2015 – Maddy Bruder
2016 – Maddy Bruder
2017 – Maddy Bruder
2018 – Maddy Bruder (MVP, Maddy Ahrens, Sofia Schleppenbach
2019 – Hallie Sidney
2019 All-MIAA Awards
Co-Players of the Year: Julianne Jackson, OH/RS - Nebraska Kearney & Genna Berg - Washburn, OH, RS
Freshman of the Year: Sydney Lierz, OH/RS - Central Missouri
Coach of the Year: Rick Squiers - Nebraska Kearney
First-Team
Audrey Fisher, OH/RS - Central Missouri
Sydney Lierz, OH/RS - Central Missouri
Ally Offerdahl, S - Central Missouri
Dominique Lipari, L - Central Oklahoma
Ali Tauchen, MB - Missouri Western
Julianne Jackson, OH/RS - Nebraska Kearney
Anna Squiers, MB - Nebraska Kearney
Maddie Squiers, S - Nebraska Kearney
MK Wolfe, OH/RS - Nebraska Kearney
Hallie Sidney, OH/RS - Northwest Missouri
Genna Berg, OH/RS - Washburn
Allison Maxwell, MB - Washburn
Faith Rottinghaus, L - Washburn
Allison Sadler, S - Washburn
Second-Team
Amanda Desch, S - Central Oklahoma
Courtney Lane, OH/RS - Central Oklahoma
Yuchen Du, OH/RS - Emporia State
Delaney Humm, OH/RS - Fort Hays State
Janelle Brehm, OH/RS - Missouri Southern
Morgan Nash, OH/RS - Missouri Southern
Tiana Butler, L - Missouri Western
Michaela Bartels, MB - Nebraska Kearney
Lindsey Nottlemann, L - Nebraska Kearney
Maddy Ahrens, S - Northwest Missouri
Morgan Lewis, MB - Northwest Missouri
Morgan Henning, MB - Pittsburg State
Kelsey Gordon, MB - Washburn
Erica Montgomery, OH/RS - Washburn
Honorable Mentions
Central Missouri: Aubree Bell - OH/RS, Hannah Engelken - MB, Rylee Neigenfind - OH/RS, Abby Skrastins - L, Hannah VanBuskirk - OH/RS
Central Oklahoma: Lauren Jenkins - OH/RS, Malia Kaaiohelo - MB
Emporia State: Aliyah Bernard - MB, Emma Dixon - S
Fort Hays State: Tatum Bartels - MB, Isabelle Reynolds - OH/RS
Missouri Southern: Alicia Pickett - MB
Missouri Western: Sam Duncan - OH/RS, Danielle Moje - MB, Lauren Murphy - S, Allie Kerns - OH/RS
Newman: Trinity Conley - OH/RS
Northwest Missouri: Bethany Elkins - MB, Hannah Koechl - L, Rachel Sturdevant - OH/RS
Pittsburg State: Marissa Bates - L, Erika Ivkov - OH/RS, Emily Regier - MB
Washburn: Taylor Antonwich - OH/RS
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