Three MSSU volleyball players receive All-MIAA honors

(From MSSU Lions Athletic News)

The Missouri Southern volleyball team picked up three All-MIAA selections today as the league announced its post season honors.

Janelle Brehm and Morgan Nash were both named second-team selections at outside hitter/right side, while Alicia Pickett was an honorable mention pick. Brehm and Nash pick up their second All-MIAA honors, while Pickett is a four-time All-MIAA selection.

Brehm, who was an honorable-mention All-MIAA pick as a freshman, in MIAA play this season ranks fourth in kills per set with a 3.32 per set average.

Against Fort Hays State in the regular-season finale, Brehm became the 11th member of the 1,000 kill club at MSSU. She has 1,016 kills in her career at Southern and needs just nine kills to break into the top-ten in that category. Brehm leads the Lions at 3.25 kills per set, while also posting a mark of 3.68 digs per set. Last week, Brehm averaged 5.00 kills and 5.15 digs per set against UNK and Fort Hays State.

Nash ranks second in the MIAA and fourth nationally with six triple-doubles this year. Nash has been an all-around star for the Lions, seeing action at outside, right side and setter this season. In her career, Nash has been a setter, a libero and an outside/right side attacker for the Lions. This year, she is averaging 2.35 kills per set, 4.77 assists per set and 2.75 digs per set. She leads the team with 30 service aces and has a team-high 563 assists.

Pickett has been a four-time honorable mention All-MIAA winner. On Senior Night against Missouri Western this year, she also became the career-leader at MSSU in block assists and has 356 to her name going into the MIAA Tournament. She ranks fourth in total blocks (417) and has the second-highest single-season total in block assists with her 127 as a sophomore in 2017, while her 139 total blocks from that season rank seventh all-time in a single-season at MSSU. Pickett leads the MIAA in both total blocks and blocks per set, while ranking 41st nationally in total blocks.

"Morgan has been a versatile attribute to our team this year and it has been awesome to see her recognized," Mader said."Janelle has been such a solid and consistent player for us this season and I'm so proud of her work. Alicia has been a staple on the court the last four years and we are very pleased to see her add another accolade to her resume."

Nebraska-Kearney's Julianne Jackson and Washburn's Genna Berg were named MIAA Co-Players of the Year, while Central Missouri's Sydney Lierz is the Freshman of the Year. UNK's Rick Squires was named the MIAA Coach of the Year. The complete All-MIAA team is listed below.

019 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
Lindsay 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