The Missouri Western volleyball team had four players named to the All-MIAA teams which were announced Wednesday (Nov. 20) morning. Junior outside hitter Erica Rottinghaus was named first team while junior middle hitter Amanda Boender, junior libero Sarah Faubel and freshman right side hitter Kelsey Olion all garnered honorable mention honors.
Erica Rottinghaus (OH, Jr., 5-10, Seneca, Kan.) earns first team honors for the first time in her career. It marks the first time since 2002 that the Griffons had a player on the first team. In 2002 Lindsey Palaia was MIAA MVP and a first team selection. Rottinghaus played in all 31 matches with 30 starts. She led the Griffons in kills with 387 averaging 3.22 per set. She had double digit kills in 24 of the 31 matches with a career best 22 at Central Oklahoma on October 19. She had 377 digs with double digit digs in 22 matches. She had a career high 18 three times. She also had 38 blocks on the season with a career best five against Emporia State on October 8. She is outstanding server finishing with 47 services aces and 455 (3.79 points per set) points.
Amanda Boender (MH, Jr., 5-10, Lincoln, Neb.) earned honorable mention honors for the first time in her career. She played in all 31 matches with 29 starts. She led the team with a .295 attack percentage with 247 kills and just 75 errors. She also led the team in blocks with 130 which is the 4th most in the MIAA. She finished second on the team with 341 points averaging 2.84 points per set.
Sarah Faubel (Libero, Jr., 5-9, Lincoln, Neb.) earned honorable mention honors for the first time in her career. She has had her best season in a Griffon uniform with 527 digs which is just the second time since 1983 that a Griffon has had over 500 digs. She finished just four behind Shelly Lowery who had 531 in 1996. She currently has 1,372 career digs which is is second all time. She sits being Sarah Ekdahl who had 1,565 through 1997-2000. She averaged 4.39 digs per set which is ninth in the MIAA. Her 527 digs is fifth most in the MIAA this season. She had a season best 30 against SD School of Mines on October 11.
Kelsey Olion (RS, Fr., 5-9, Champaign, Ill.) earned honorable mention honors for the first time in her carer. She had 276 kills while hitting .181 and averaging 2.73 kills per set. Olion played in 28 matches with 16 starts. She had 154 digs to go along with 63 total blocks and 319 points (3.16 per set). She had double digit kills in 16 matches with a career best 22 at Central Oklahoma on October 19. She also had double digit digs seven times with a high of 14 vs. South Dakota School of Mines on October 11.
The Griffons finished the season 16-15 overall and 9-7 in MIAA play. This marks the first time since 2006 that the Griffons will finish with an over .500 record and best record in MIAA play since 2000.
— MWSU Sports Information —