Big Ten Hands Out Postseason Volleyball Honors

(BigTen.org) PARK RIDGE, Ill. – The Big Ten announced its postseason volleyball awards on Tuesday, with student-athletes from two schools earning recognition following the conclusion of the 2011 regular season. Purdue?s Ariel Turner has been named the Big Ten Player of the Year by a vote of the conference?s coaches, while Boilermaker head coach Dave Shondell has been tabbed Coach of the Year by Big Ten coaches and media. Penn State?s Katie Slay and Micha Hancock have also earned individual honors, as Slay has been selected as the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year and Hancock takes the Freshman of the Year award.

ALL-BIG TEN*
Michelle Bartsch, Sr., OH, ILL (2)
COLLEEN WARD, Sr., OH, ILL (2)
JENILEE RATHJE, Sr., OH, MSU (2)
Tori Dixon, So., MB, MINN
ASHLEY WITTMAN, So., OH, MINN
Lauren Cook, Jr., S, NEB
GINA MANCUSO, Jr., OH, NEB
Hannah Werth, Jr., OH, NEB
Stephanie Holthus, So., OH, NU
Mari Hole, Jr., OH, OSU
Deja McClendon, So., OH, PSU (2)
ARIEL SCOTT, So., RS, PSU
Katie Slay, So., MB, PSU
TIFFANY FISHER, Sr., MB, PUR
ARIEL TURNER, Jr., OH, PUR

Honorable Mention
Alex Hunt, Sr., OH, MICH
Kyndra Abron, Sr., OH, MSU
Morgan Broekhuis, So., RS, NEB
Brooke Delano, Sr., MB, NEB
Emily Danks, Jr., RS, OSU
Alexis Mitchell, Jr., MH, WIS

ALL-FRESHMAN TEAM
Liz McMahon, OPP, ILL
Lexi Dannemiller, S, MICH
Katie Dutchman, MB, NU
MICHA HANCOCK, S, PSU
Kierra Jones, MB, PUR
Ellen Chapman, OH, WIS
Courtney Thomas, S/OH, WIS

* Additional honorees due to a tie
Unanimous selections in CAPS
Career selections in parentheses

PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Ariel Turner, PUR
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Katie Slay, PSU
FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR: Micha Hancock, PSU
COACH OF THE YEAR (COACHES AND MEDIA): Dave Shondell, PUR

SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD HONOREES
Rachel Feldman, ILL
Lindsay Enterline, IND
Mallory Husz, IOWA
Sloane Donhoff, MICH
Jenilee Rathje, MSU
Mia Tabberson, MINN
Brigette Root, NEB
Madalyn Shalter, NU
Kelli Barhorst, OSU
Maggie Harding, PSU
Emily Ehlers, PUR
Caroline Workman, WIS