KANSAS CITY, Mo. – After earning back-to-back 20-win seasons for the first time since 1997-98, Griffon Volleyball has placed five members on the All-MIAA team.
Jessie Thorup and Jordan Chohon repeated as first team selections, while Rachel Friedrichs was named second team and Lindsey Partridge and Kayla Ruff were named honorable mention. Missouri Western finished the regular season 21-9 and 12-6 in MIAA play, earning the No. 5 seed in the MIAA Tournament. The Griffons begin the postseason Thursday night at 7 p.m. when they play at fourth-seeded Washburn.
FIRST TEAM
Jessie Thorup, outside hittter
Missouri Western’s all-time kills leader in the rally scoring era finished up her Griffon career with her second straight first team selection and third All-MIAA selection overall. An honorable mention pick as a freshman, Thorup led Missouri Western with 345 kills this season, 3.75 per set. Her 1,176 career kills are the most since the NCAA switched to rally scoring and place her 12th all-time at MWSU. Thorup hit .215 this season and finished her career averaging 3.13 kills per set with a .244 career hitting percentage.
Jordan Chohon, setter
Chohon became a two-time first team selection after finishing 6th in the MIAA with 10.39 assists per set. Chohon averaged 8.5 assists per set in her career with 3,416 total assists, which is fourth all-time at MWSU. The senior set career highs this season with 107 kills, 28 service aces and 305 digs.
SECOND TEAM
Rachel Friedrichs, middle blocker
The freshman earned her first All-MIAA selection and established herself as a new threat for the Griffons. Friedrichs finished eighth in the MIAA, averaging 0.92 total blocks per set. Her 97 total blocks ranked fifth in the conference. She also helped the Missouri Western offense with 226 kills for a 2.13 kill/set average, good for third on the team. Her .290 attack percentage was a team high and her 22 service aces were second most.
HONORABLE MENTION
Lindsey Partridge, middle blocker
Partridge earned her first All-MIAA selection after posting career-highs in kills (190), attack percentage (.280) and total blocks (90). The senior ranked eighth in the MIAA in total blocks and ninth in blocks per set. Her 12 kills at Emporia State this season were the most in her career along with eight blocks at Fort Hays this year.
Kayla Ruff, libero
The transfer picked up her first All-MIAA selection after finishing fourth in the MIAA with 515 total digs and sixth with a 4.81 dig/set average. Ruff finished tied with Chohon for the most service aces (28) on the team and ninth in the MIAA in that category.
Shellby Taylor, outside hitter
Taylor joined fellow freshman Friedrichs on the All-MIAA team. She was second on the team with 229 kills and a 2.16 kill/set average. She hit .212 in her first college season. Taylor also finished the year with 74 total blocks, averaging .70 per set and a .960 receiving percentage.
— MWSU Athletics —