UNW's Peterson Headlines UMAC Volleyball Awards List
ST. PAUL – The 2015 Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) Volleyball postseason award winners were announced on Thursday with 12 student-athletes from five institutions being named to the all-conference first-team.
The University of Northwestern’s sophomore outside hitter Lindsey Peterson led the honors earning both Offensive and Defensive Player of the Year accolades after her team won the regular season and postseason conference titles. Peterson averaged 3.45 kills per set and 4.62 digs per set for the Eagles this season.
Eagles head coach Beth Wilmeth was selected by her peers as the UMAC Coach of the Year for the second straight season after leading Northwestern to their fifth straight regular season title and fourth consecutive tournament championship this season.
Emily Verway from the University of Wisconsin-Superior earned UMAC Rookie of the Year honors after averaging 9.11 assists per set in her freshman campaign for the Yellowjackets.
Additionally, Northwestern received their fifth 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:
Alex Hansen, Bethany Lutheran College
Kortney Morrin, College of St. Scholastica
Katie Hinkle, Crown College
Grace Schultz, Martin Luther College
Whitney Reames, North Central University
Kelsey Bodart, Northland College
Cori Becker, University of Minnesota-Morris
Lizzy Jonas, University of Northwestern
Molly Trapp, University of Wisconsin-Superior
Below is a full listing of the 2015 UMAC Volleyball Postseason Awards:
| 1st Team All-Conference |
| Name |
Institution |
Year |
Position |
| Danielle Benusa |
College of St. Scholastica |
Senior |
Libero |
| Kortney Morrin |
College of St. Scholastica |
Senior |
Outside Hitter |
| Kira Grev |
Martin Luther College |
Sophomore |
Outside Hitter |
| Brooke Decker |
University of Minnesota-Morris |
Senior |
Setter |
| Marissa Ekness |
University of Minnesota-Morris |
Sophomore |
Outside Hitter |
| Katie Reitsma |
University of Minnesota-Morris |
Sophomore |
Libero |
| Abby Tietz |
University of Minnesota-Morris |
Senior |
Outside Hitter |
| Shanay Gonder |
University of Northwestern |
Junior |
Middle Hitter |
| * % Lindsey Peterson |
University of Northwestern |
Sophomore |
Outside Hitter |
| Faith Vander Galien |
University of Northwestern |
Senior |
Middle Hitter |
| Stephanie Bandelin |
University of Wisconsin-Superior |
Senior |
Outside Hitter |
| # Emily Verway |
University of Wisconsin-Superior |
Freshman |
Setter |
| Honorable Mention All-Conference |
| Name |
Institution |
Year |
Position |
| Kariana DeYoung |
College of St. Scholastica |
Senior |
Middle Hitter |
| Noelle Elvehjem |
College of St. Scholastica |
Junior |
Outside Hitter |
| Jade St. Germaine |
Martin Luther College |
Sophomore |
Outside Hitter |
| Jasmine Gomez |
Northland College |
Freshman |
Libero |
| Jackie Foster |
University of Northwestern |
Sophomore |
Libero |
| Leesa Hulstrand |
University of Northwestern |
Sophomore |
Setter/Outside Hitter |
| Kaelyn Kilbo |
University of Northwestern |
Freshman |
Setter |
| Lydia Palkert |
University of Northwestern |
Senior |
Outside Hitter |
| Ashlee Bayer |
University of Wisconsin-Superior |
Freshman |
Middle Hitter |
| Bailey Romans |
University of Wisconsin-Superior |
Freshman |
Outside Hitter |
* Player of the Year Award – Lindsey Peterson (University of Northwestern)
% Defensive Player of the Year Award – Lindsey Peterson (University of Northwestern)
# Rookie of the Year Award – Emily Verway (University of Wisconsin-Superior)
Coach of the Year Award – Beth Wilmeth (University of Northwestern)
Team Sportsmanship Award – University of Northwestern