Jimmies' Holen, Hegerle named to GPAC's first team

The University of Jamestown's Anna Holen and Kalli Hegerle top a list of seven Jimmie women's volleyball players named all-conference in the Great Plains Athletic Conference on Thursday.

Hegerle and Holen were both named to the GPAC's first team, and UJ women's volleyball coach Jon Hegerle was voted conference coach of the year. The Jimmies finished the regular season at 18-1 overall and won the GPAC by defeating Northwestern 3-2 at Newman Arena in their final match of the fall.

Holen led the Jimmies with 195 kills. The junior outside hitter from nearby LaMoure also tallied 294 digs a year removed from earning second-team honors.

Kalli Hegerle, a junior right side from West Fargo, scored 176 kills with a hitting percentage of .289 and 51 total blocks.

Jimmies earning second-team accolades were senior libero Sydney Ellingson, senior middle blocker Corina Huff and junior setter Jackie Meiklejohn. Junior middle blocker Jayla Ritter and junior right-side hitter Taylor Sabinash were named honorable mention.

Ellingson and Huff earned second-team honors for a second consecutive season. Ellingson led a stout Jimmies' defense with 328 digs and a serving percentage of .900, while Huff's team-leading 80 blocks complemented 136 kills and a hitting percentage of .261.

Meiklejohn led the Jimmies with 467 assists (6.97 per set), and her .971 serving percentage was also a team-high. Ritter posted 117 kills (.259) and 70 total blocks, while Sabinash collected 135 kills (.283) with 41 total blocks.

NAIA women's volleyball is currently in a holding pattern until spring. The GPAC tournament is scheduled to fire up on April 3 with the NAIA tournament running from April 27 to May 1 at the Tyson Events Center in Sioux City, Iowa.

GREAT PLAINS ATHLETIC CONFERENCE

WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL

GPAC VOLLEYBALL FIRST TEAM

Tara Callahan, S, Concordia, Sr., Brady, Neb.

Rachel Cushing, L, College of Saint Mary, Fr., Council Bluffs, Iowa

Ady Dwight, MB, Dakota Wesleyan, Fr., Langford, SD

Makenzie Fink, RS, Northwestern, Sr., Lanark, Ill.

Taliyah Flores, OH, Midland, Jr., Papillion, Neb.

Kalli Hegerle, RS, Jamestown, Jr., West Fargo, ND

Anna Holen, OH, Jamestown, Jr., Lamoure, ND

Brenna Krommendyk, MB, Dordt, So., Belle Plain, Minn.

Hope Leimbach, S, Midland So. Lincoln, Neb.

Lacey Reitz, S, Northwestern, Sr., Jackson, Minn.

Lucy Skoch, RS, Hastings, Sr., Hastings, Neb.

Alli Timmermans, RS, Dordt Jr., Orange City, Iowa

Anna Wedel, OH, Northwestern, Sr., Maurice, Iowa

Krista Zenk, OH, Morningside, Sr., Le Mars, Iowa

GPAC Volleyball Player of the Year: Anna Wedel, Northwestern

GPAC Volleyball Libero of the Year: Rachel Cushing, College of Saint Mary

GPAC Volleyball Setter of the Year: Lacey Reitz, Northwestern

GPAC Volleyball Freshman of the Year: Ady Dwight, Dakota Wesleyan

Hauff Mid-America Sports/GPAC Volleyball Coach of the Year: Jon Hegerle, Jamestown

GPAC VOLLEYBALL SECOND TEAM

Jessi De Jager, MB/RS, Dordt, Jr., Hull, Iowa

Elizabeth Dlouhy, MB, College of Saint Mary, Jr., Tekamah, Neb.

Sydney Ellingson, L, Jamestown, Sr., Langdon, ND

Madeline Else, S, Dakota Wesleyan, So., Holstein, Iowa

Grace Hanno, OH, Briar Cliff, Sr., Sioux City, Iowa

Maggie Hiatt, OH, Midland, Sr., Springfield, Neb.

Corina Huff, MB, Jamestown, Sr., Breezy Point, Minn.

AJ Kacmarynski, OH, Northwestern, Sr., Pella, Iowa

Caitlin Makovicka, MB/RS, Morningside, Sr., Ceresco, Neb.

Jackie Meiklejohn, S, Jamestown, Jr., Dickey, ND

Gabi Nordaker, MB, Concordia, Fr., Omaha, Neb.

Camryn Opfer, OH, Concordia, So., Seward, Neb.

Corrina Timmermans, OH, Dordt, So., Orange City, Iowa

Emily Van Ginkel, MB, Northwestern, Sr., Rock Valley, Iowa

HONORABLE MENTION

Briar Cliff: Sami Wasmund (MB), Tannah Heath (L)

College of Saint Mary: Makenna Freeman (OH)

Concordia: Marissa Hoerman (L), Arleigh Costello (RS)

Dakota Wesleyan: Hannah Reiff (L), Mariah Gloe (OH)

Doane: Kennedy Scheele (OH/DS), Jaime Renshaw (S)

Dordt: Hannah Connelly (L), Karsyn Winterfeld (OH)

Hastings: Sydney Mullin (MB), Amani Monroe (MB)

Jamestown: Jayla Ritter (MB), Taylor Sabinash (RS)

Midland: Sydney Morehouse (MB), Jaisa Russell (L)

Morningside: Sabrina Creason (S), Kayla Harris (L)

Mount Marty: Elizabeth Watchorn (OH), Gabby Ruth (OH)

Northwestern: Emily Strasser (L), Macay Van’t Hul (MB)