Eagles Dominate UMAC Volleyball Awards List

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Video Interview: Kortney Morrin, College of St. Scholastica

ST. PAUL – The 2014 Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) Volleyball postseason award winners were announced on Thursday with 12 student-athletes from five member schools comprising the all-conference first team. The University of Northwestern, who won both the UMAC regular season and tournament titles following a perfect 14-0 conference record, led the way with six individuals earning first team honors.

Junior outside hitter Kortney Morrin from the College of St. Scholastica was voted the 2014 Player of the Year in addition to being a first team honoree. Morrin led the conference in kills per set this season averaging 3.27 per set, while compiling a total of 327 kills in 2014 and also adding 330 digs and 32 blocks on the season.

Northwestern's Lizzy Potratz was named the Defensive Player of the Year after tallying a league best 565 digs on the season, averaging 4.96 per set. Rookie of the Year honors also went to the Eagles as Lindsey Peterson earned the title following freshman season that included 363 kills and 446 digs for Northwestern.

In addition, Northwestern head coach Beth Wilmeth was voted conference coach of the year by her colleagues after leading her team to a 14-0 UMAC record and their fourth straight regular season title and third consecutive tournament title this season.

The Eagles also received their fourth straight UMAC Team Sportsmanship Award, an accolade that is selected by the UMAC coaches and awarded to the team who best represents sportsmanship throughout the entire season. Each team had one representative on the individual sportsmanship award list:

Jessi Jurries, Bethany Lutheran College
Olivia Krejcarek, College of St. Scholastica
Sam Brueggeman, Crown College
MacCartney Mendolla. Martin Luther College
Elissa Pheneger, North Central University
Kelsey Bodart, Northland College
Mikayla Michaletz, University of Minnesota-Morris
Jacki Smith, University of Northwestern

Below is a full listing of the 2014 UMAC Volleyball Postseason Awards.

1st Team All-Conference
Name Institution Year Position
Jessi Jurries Bethany Lutheran College Senior Libero
*Kortney Morrin College of St. Scholastica Junior Outside Hitter
Kira Grev Martin Luther College Freshman Outside Hitter
Miranda Maasz Martin Luther College Senior Setter
Emily Auch University of Minnesota-Morris Senior Outside Hitter
Abby Tietz University of Minnesota-Morris Junior Outside Hitter
Lizzy Jonas University of Northwestern Junior Setter
Cari Miller University of Northwestern Senior Outside Hitter
Hallie Mueth University of Northwestern Senior Outside Hitter
# Lindsey Peterson University of Northwestern Freshman Outside Hitter
% Lizzy Potratz University of Northwestern Senior Libero
Faith Vander Galien University of Northwestern Junior Middle Hitter

Honorable Mention All-Conference
Name Institution Year Position
Amanna Berthusen Bethany Lutheran College Senior Outside Hitter
Caitlin Decker Bethany Lutheran College Senior Outside Hitter
Emily Franzen Bethany Lutheran College Senior Setter
Danielle Benusa College of St. Scholastica Junior Libero
Erika Birkeland College of St. Scholastica Senior Setter
Noelle Elvehjem College of St. Scholastica Sophomore Outside Hitter
Kayla Schoeneck Martin Luther College Junior Outside Hitter
Elissa Pheneger North Central University Sophomore Setter
Marissa Ekness University of Minnesota-Morris Freshman Outside Hitter
Hannah Terhaar University of Minnesota-Morris Senior Libero
Addie Vancura University of Minnesota-Morris Senior Outside Hitter

* Player of the Year Award – Kortney Morrin (College of St. Scholastica)
# Rookie of the Year Award – Lindsey Peterson (University of Northwestern)
% Defensive Player of the Year Award – Lizzy Potratz (University of Northwestern)
Coach of the Year Award – Beth Wilmeth (University of Northwestern)
Team Sportsmanship Award – University of Northwestern