KANSAS CITY – For the first time in her career, head coach Marian Carbin has been named MIAA Coach of the Year. Ali Tauchen was voted as the MIAA Freshman of the Year, the first time since 2010 Missouri Western has won that award. The Griffons had three first team All-MIAA selections and three second team All-MIAA selections for the 2017 season.
Carbin led her alma mater to its first ever MIAA regular season co-championship and first conference title in 30 years. Carbin guided MWSU to 20 wins or more for the third time in her five seasons as head coach. In the MIAA Coaches Preseason poll, Missouri Western was selected seventh but ended the season tied for first.
Stephanie Doak was named All-MIAA for the second straight year. This season she is first team All-MIAA after she was honorable mention in 2016. Doak had 414 kills on the season, 38 blocks and averaged 3.80 kills per set. She had double digit kills in 28 games this season and was third in the MIAA for kills per set and kills.
Lauren Murphy is first team All-MIAA for the first time in her career. Murphy led the MIAA with 1,218 assists and 11.60 assists per set. She had three matches this season that rank top five in program history for assists in a match; She is second for assists per set in a single-season as well. Murphy has been named MIAA Specialist of the Week three times in 2017.
Shellby Taylor picked up All-MIAA honors for the second time in her career. Taylor is first team All-MIAA this season and was honorable mention in 2015. She had 287 kills, averaged 2.54 kills per set and had a .255 hitting percentage on the season. In 16 matches this season, Taylor had a hitting percentage of .300 or better.
Rachel Losch was tabbed second team All-MIAA; it is the first All-MIAA honor of her career. Losch recorded 214 kills, 89 blocks, and hit .286 this season. She ranked eighth in the MIAA for hitting percentage and kills. In 15 matches this season, Losch hit .333 or higher.
Kayla Ruff received All-MIAA for the third consecutive year. Ruff is second team All-MIAA, she was honorable mention in 2015 and 2016. For the third straight season, Ruff led the team in digs with 582 and averaged 5.15 digs per set. She ranked fifth in the MIAA for digs and is fourth for digs per set. Her 582 digs this season set a new program record and she ranks second all-time in program history for career digs.
Ali Tauchen is thr Griffon’s first Freshman of the Year since Stephanie Hattey in 2010. Tauchen earned her first career All-MIAA honor as she was selected second team All-MIAA. She recorded 318 kills, 255 digs and a team-best 122 blocks. Tauchen averaged 2.81 kills per set, 2.26 digs per set and 1.08 blocks per set. She was fourth in the MIAA for blocks and fifth in blocks per set.
Coach of the Year: Marian Carbin, Missouri Western
Player of the Year: Taylor Bevis, OH, Central Oklahoma
Freshman of the Year: Ali Tauchen, MB, Missouri Western
First Team
Outside Hitter: Aubree Bell, Central Missouri
Outside Hitter: Taylor Bevis, Central Oklahoma**
Outside Hitter: Maddy Bruder, Northwest Missouri**
Outside Hitter/Right Side Hitter: Stephanie Doak, Missouri Western
Outside Hitter: Kendall Schroer, Nebraska-Kearney
Outside Hitter: Shellby Taylor, Missouri Western
Outside Hitter/Right Side Hitter: Emily Wylie, Lindenwood
Middle Blocker: Kasey Hohlen, Central Missouri
Middle Blocker: Jordan Spence, Central Oklahoma
Middle Blocker: Tara Ziegelbein, Nebraska-Kearney
Setter: Lauren Murphy, Missouri Western
Setter: Lindsey Smith, Nebraska-Kearney
Libero: Megan Hellwege, Lindenwood
Libero: Kylie Hohlen, Central Missouri
**=Unanimous selection
Second Team
Outside Hitter: Genna Berg, Washburn
Outside Hitter/Right Side Hitter: Yuchen Du, Emporia State
Outside Hitter: Julianne Jackson, Nebraska-Kearney
Outside Hitter: Erica Montgomery, Washburn
Outside Hitter: Anna Squiers, Nebraska-Kearney
Outside Hitter: Darcy Sunderman, Northwest Missouri
Middle Blocker: Audrey Fisher, Central Missouri
Middle Blocker: Tatum Graves, Emporia State
Middle Blocker: Sadie Kosciuk, Lindenwood
Middle Blocker: Rachel Losch, Missouri Western
Middle Blocker: Makayla Maxwell, Washburn
Middle Blocker: Ali Tauchen, Missouri Western
Setter: McKenzie Fyfe, Central Oklahoma
Setter: Ally Offerdahl, Central Missouri
Libero: Dominique Lipari, Central Oklahoma
Libero: Ellie McDonnell, Nebraska-Kearney
Libero: Kayla Ruff, Missouri Western
Team reflects ties in voting.
Honorable Mention
Central Missouri: Hannah VanBuskirk, OH/RS; Katie Carlson, L
Central Oklahoma: Malia Kaaiohelo, OH; Alexis Washington, MB
Emporia State: Jamie Hauptman, OH
Fort Hays State: Magan Alexander, OH; Callie Christensen, MB; Taylor White, L
Lindenwood: Alex Dahlstrom, OH; Ivy Reynolds, S
Missouri Southern: Janelle Brehm, OH; Alicia Pickett, MB; Morgan Nash
Nebraska-Kearney: Morgan Stute, L
Northwest Missouri: Sofia Schleppenbach, MB; Sarah Dannettell, S; Olivia Nowakowski, L
Pittsburg State: Lauren Regier, OH
Southwest Baptist: Bailey Baumann, L
Washburn: Allison Sadler, S; Faith Rottinghaus, L
— MWSU Athletics —