Benson highlights all-MCAC volleyball team

BELLEVUE, Neb. -- Six Bellevue University volleyball players earned first team all-conference honors highlighted by Annie Benson who was named the MCAC Player of the Year announced on Saturday in conjunction with the Midlands Collegiate Athletic Conference Volleyball Tournament hosted by Bellevue.

Joining Benson on the first team included Sydney DeBoer, Meghan Evans, Symone Faulkner, Caitlyn Rueth and Beth Walker.

Benson became the fifth player in BU history to be named the conference's Player of the Year. Benson, who has notched 16 double-doubles this year, leads the team with 409 kills and ranks second in digs (442). This marks the third-consecutive season she has been named to the all-MCAC first team.

DeBoer earned first team all-conference accolades for the second-straight season. She has tallied 317 kills, while hitting .298, to go along with 103 total blocks.

Evans has been the starting libero in all 42 matches for the Bruins this season and paces the squad with 619 digs. This is the third-straight season Evans has earned first team all-conference honors.

Faulkner, who has earned back-to-back first team honors, leads the team in blocks (132) and hitting percentage (.324). She has been named the MCAC Hitter of the Week three times and has 348 kills on the season.

Rueth is second on the team with 357 kills and has also notched 11 double-doubles with 320 digs and 63 blocks. She was named the MCAC Hitter of the Week on Nov. 11.

Walker is averaging 11.2 assists/set with 374 digs, 144 kills, 68 blocks, 43 service aces and 16 double-doubles. She currently leads the NAIA with 1,678 assists and was named the National Player of the Week on Nov. 5.

Despite missing the Bruins' final 15 matches after suffering a season-ending knee injury, Sunny Bell earned second team all-MCAC honors for the third-straight season. She finished with 247 kills on the season.

Kirstine Linebaugh earned honorable mention honors. The Lincoln, Neb. native has recorded 283 digs and ranks second on the team with 36 service aces.

Trish Siedlik was also awarded the MCAC Coach of the Year for the ninth time in her career and the seventh time in the last eight seasons.

No. 17 Bellevue (34-8) defeated College of the Ozarks 3-2 in the MCAC Tournament championship match earlier today to earn an automatic berth into the NAIA National Tournament. The 24-team pairings for the Volleyball National Championship Opening Round will be announced on Monday, Nov. 18 at noon.

Player of the Year: Annie Benson, Bellevue
Coach of the Year: Trish Siedlik, Bellevue
Newcomer of the Year: Mallory Babic, College of St. Mary
Freshman of the Year: Aspen Sheperd, Haskell Indian Nations

MCAC First Team:
Mallory Babic, College of St. Mary
Annie Benson, Bellevue
Hayley Blair, College of the Ozarks
Sydney DeBoer, Bellevue
Meghan Evans, Bellevue
Symone Faulkner, Bellevue
Meagan Macias, Waldorf
Hannah Meadows, College of the Ozarks
Daniela Pena, Oklahoma Wesleyan
Jamie Reaves, College of the Ozarks
Caitlyn Rueth, Bellevue
Aspen Sheperd, Haskell Indian Nations
Kendra Stokke, Waldorf
Beth Walker, Bellevue

MCAC Second Team:
Peyton Peavey, College of the Ozarks
Mallory Boone, College of the Ozarks
Tatiana Arvie, York
Alejandra Rives, Oklahoma Wesleyan
Jamie Carlson, College of St. Mary
Courtney Palmer, Waldorf
Lindsay Boone, College of the Ozarks
Sunny Bell, Bellevue
Amanda Sanders, Oklahoma Wesleyan
Aby Emiru, Waldorf
Melanie Baxa, York
Baylee Collins, College of St. Mary
Lisa Atcitty, Haskell Indian Nations
Emily Kirchner, Oklahoma Wesleyan

MCAC Honorable Mention:
Aysha Janssen, College of St. Mary
Kirstine Linebaugh, Bellevue
Nicole Gates, York
Nicole Merchen, Oklahoma Wesleyan
Alice Hubbell, Haskell Indian Nations
Payton Cope, Central Baptist
Jenny Wuerffel, College of the Ozarks
Mayuko Shono, Central Christian
Becca Flavin, Waldorf
Hannah Crandall, Central Christian