ST. PAUL, Minn. – The Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) announced the recipients of their 2024 volleyball awards on Thursday. The awards are nominated and voted on by the UMAC volleyball head coaches.
Jenna Anderson of the University of Wisconsin-Superior Yellowjackets was named the 2024 UMAC Volleyball Player of the Year and the Defensive Player of the Year. Amongst all NCAA Division III volleyball athletes, the senior libero is ranked second in the nation in total digs (746) and third in digs per set (6.54). Anderson also set her new single-game career high of 44 digs in the Yellowjackets’ regular season finale.
Makenna Hohbein of UW-Superior and Miranda Wyatt of the University of Northwestern Eagles were named the 2024 UMAC Volleyball Co-Rookies of the Year. Hohbein was third in the UMAC in total kills (293) while averaging 2.59 kills per set. Wyatt was second in the UMAC in total blocks (94) and blocks per set (0.98), with her 94 total blocks also tying her for 48
th in the nation.
Northwestern head coach Beth Wilmeth was named the 2024 UMAC Volleyball Coach of the Year. Wilmeth led Northwestern (23-8, 13-1 UMAC) to win the UMAC Regular Season Championship; the program's 14
th in a row, 17
th in the past 18 years, and 18
th overall in her 21-year tenure as head coach.
The Northwestern Eagles won the team sportsmanship award, an accolade that is selected by the UMAC coaches and awarded to the team that best represents sportsmanship throughout the entire season. Each team also had one representative earn all-sportsmanship honors.
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
CO-ROOKIES OF THE YEAR
COACH OF THE YEAR
TEAM SPORTSMANSHIP
ALL-CONFERENCE FIRST TEAM
| Jenna Anderson |
UW-Superior |
Sr. |
Bemidji, Minn. / Bemidji |
| Marley Aune |
Northwestern |
Jr. |
New Brighton, Minn. / Avail Academy |
| Sydney Carlson |
North Central |
So. |
Blaine, Minn. / Blaine Senior |
| Abby Glanzer |
Northwestern |
Sr. |
Brandon, S.D. / Sioux Falls Christian |
| Makenna Hohbein |
UW-Superior |
Fr. |
Holdingford, Minn. / Holdingford |
| Grace Kieselhorst |
Martin Luther |
Sr. |
Watertown, Wis. / Luther Prep |
| Hailey Lerfald |
North Central |
Sr. |
Wanamingo, Minn. / Kenyon-Wanamingo |
| Maddie Meyer |
Bethany Lutheran |
Jr. |
Shakopee, Minn. / Shakopee |
| Ari Schmidt |
Northwestern |
Sr. |
Albany, Minn. / Holdingford |
| Laura Wellbrock |
Minnesota Morris |
Sr. |
Northfield, Minn. / Northfield |
| Miranda Wyatt |
Northwestern |
Fr. |
Manhattan, Mont. / Manhattan Christian |
| Mary Cate Ziembiec |
Minnesota Morris |
Jr. |
Victoria, Minn. / Chanhassen |
ALL-CONFERENCE HONORABLE MENTIONS
| Abby Distad |
Bethany Lutheran |
Fr. |
Kasson, Minn. / Kasson-Mantorville |
| Addy Gangl |
UW-Superior |
So. |
Nashwauk, Minn. / Nashwauk-Keewatin |
| Lilly Mehrkens |
Bethany Lutheran |
Fr. |
Zumbrota, Minn. / Zumbrota-Mazeppa |
| Anna Molstad |
Minnesota Morris |
Jr. |
New Market, Minn. / New Prague |
| Lauren Paulsen |
Martin Luther |
Sr. |
Oconomowoc, Wis. / Luther Prep |
| Tori Scheler |
Minnesota Morris |
So. |
Edgewood, N.M. / Sandia |
| Maiana Stark |
UW-Superior |
Sr. |
Germantown, Wis. / Germantown |
| Grace Strickfaden |
Northwestern |
Sr. |
Norwood-Young America, Minn. / NYA |
ALL-SPORTSMANSHIP
The UMAC is an NCAA Division III member comprised of eight full-time member schools from Minnesota and Wisconsin: Bethany Lutheran College, Crown College, Martin Luther College, North Central University, Northland College, University of Minnesota Morris, University of Northwestern, and University of Wisconsin-Superior.