It's a Wrap. NCAA Division I Volleyball Post Season Honors and Numbers
D I is the highest level of collegiate competition. One would think that performances would dissipate when climbing to that level. Well, if so, One would be wrong about our local ladies. Come see.
Before we get started with these amazing stories, if you like this material please support me with your free subscription. That helps a lot!
There are 167 ladies from Missouri and Kansas who played NCAA Division I Volleyball this year. But let’s step back for a moment. They didn’t play. They competed. There is a difference between those two things. An incredible 72 of those ladies earned postseason honors and/or finished high in their conference’s statistical rankings. The conferences placed 26 of them on their postseason All-Conference Teams. Four of them are now All-Americans. One was her conference’s Player of the Year. And showing that they have all the bases covered, two were her conference Defensive Player of the Year while one was the Setter of the Year.
The All-Americans:
Gabby Blossom (St. Joseph’s Academy/San Diego). She was also the West Coast Conference Setter of the Year. As noted below, she finished 9th nationally in assists per set.
Amaya Tillman (Shawnee Heights/Louisville). Amaya is a two time Atlantic Coast Conference Defensive Player of the Year and a four time All-Atlantic Coast Conference honoree.
Kendra Wait (Gardnet-Edgerton/Creighton). Kendra was also honored as a CSC Academic All-American. As noted below, she finished 13th nationally in assists per set.
Merry Gebel (Lafayette-Wildwood/Western Carolina). Merry was also honored as the Southern Conference Player of the Year.
I want to also note another Conference Player of the Year. Tara Bielsmith (St. Joseph’s Academy/Southeast Missouri State) was so honored by the Ohio Valley Conference.
This area particularly stood out as setters. Missouri and Kansas produced the numbers 5, 9, and 13 player nationally ranked by assists per set. Addison Beagle (Liberty North/Drake) was 5th. Gabby Blossom (St. Joseph’s Academy/San Diego) was 9th. And Kendra Wait (Gardner-Edgerton/Creighton) 13th. Addison Beagle is just a freshman. More on freshmen in a bit.
Let’s not forget the original and most important part of going to college This year 33 of these ladies were recognized by their conference and/or the College Sports Communicators Association for their academic achievements, often times in addition to being chosen as one the best on the court. Two were honored as CSC Academic All-Americans. As noted above, Kendra Wait is an Academic All-American and so is Kayley Cassaday (Blue Valley North/Tulsa).
The future is secure. The freshmen from this area are not intimidated by collegiate competition. Addison Beagle, who I noted above, is the Missouri Valley Conference Freshman Player of the Year. Ava Martin (St. Thomas Aquinas/Creighton) is the Big East Confernce Freshman Player of the Year. As a freshman, Madison Corf (Liberty/San Diego State) is an All-Mountain West Conference Honorable Mention honoree. Ramiri Gardner (Ft. Zumwalt South/Southeast Missouri State) has the 8th highest hitting percentage in the Ohio Vally Conference. Torrence Lovesee (Bluestem/Texas-El Paso) was named to the Conference USA Second Team. Bryn McGehe (Platte County/Kansas) is on the Big 12 Conference All-Academic Team. Vanessa Polk (John Burroughs/Pepperdine) was named to the West Coast Conference All-Freshman Team and was No. 4 in blocks per set. Madison Scheer (Eureka-MO/Auburn) is a Southeastern Conference All-Freshman Team honoree. There is no doubt that we will be hearing from these ladies a lot over the next three years.
Here are all 72 ladies along with their accomplishments. They are in alpha sequenxe by their last name. Find the ones you know and reach out to them to say “Job well done”.
Abigail Archibong - Graduate Student - MB - Mill Valley - Univ. of Arkansas - Southeastern Conference
CSC Academic All-District
Addison Beagle - Freshman - Setter - Liberty North - Drake University - Missouri Valley Conference
Conference No. 1 assists per set
Nationally No. 1 assists among freshmen
Nationally No. 5 assists per set
Missouri Valley Conference Freshman of the Year
Missouri Valley Conference All-Freshman Tean
Ellie Bichelmeyer - Senior - OH - St. Teresa’s Academy - Rice University - Conference USA
Second Team All-Conference USA
CSC Academic All-District
Tara Bielsmith - Senior - Libero - St. Joseph’s Academy - Southeast Missouri State - Ohio Valley Conference
Conference No. 1 digs per set
Nationally No. 3 digs per set
Conference No. 8 service aces per set
Ohio Valley Conference Defensive Player of the Year
First Team All-Ohio Valley Conference
CSC Academic All-District
Caroline Bien - Sophomore - OH - St. Thomas Aquinas - Univ. of Kansas - Big 12 Conference
Academic All-Big 12
Gabby Blossom - Graduate Student - Setter - St. Joseph’s Academy - Univ. of San Diego - West Coast Conference
Conference No. 1 assists per set
Nationally No. 9 assists per set
Conference No. 10 digs per set
West Coast Conference Setter of the Year
First Team All-West Coast Conference
AVCA All-Region Team
AVCA Pacific South Region Player of the Year
AVCA First Team All-American
Ellie Bolton - Junior - Defensive Specialist - St. James Academy - Creighton University - Big East Conference
Conference No. 9 service aces
Julia Brooks - Junior - MH - Parkway North - Troy University - Sun Belt Conference
Second Team All-Sun Belt Conferenct
CSC Academic All-District
Kayley Cassaday - Senior - OH - Blue Valley North - University of Tulsa - American Athletic Conference
Conference No. 2 kills per set
Conference No. 2 points per set
First Team All-American Athletic Conference
CSC Academic All-District
CSC Second Team Academic All-American
Brooklyn Cink - Senior - OH - Manhattan - Xavier University - Big East Conference
Conference No. 5 kills per set
Conference No. 6 points per set
First Team All-Big East
Sami Clarkson - Senior - Setter - Concordia (KS) - Nebraska-Omaha - Summit League
Conference No. 5 assists per set
Conference No. 9 service aces per set
Academic All-Summit League
Honorable Mention All-Summit League
CSC Academic All-District
Madison Corf - Freshman - OH - Liberty - San Diego State - Mountain West Conference
Honorable Mention All-Mountain West
Caroline Crawford - Junior - MB - Lansing - Univ. of Wisconsin - Big Ten Conference
Conference No. 7 blocks per set
Kennedy Davis - Junior - MB - Villa Duchesne - Tennessee State - Ohio Valley Conference
Conference No. 2 hitting percentage
Conference No. 7 blocks per set
Second Team All-Ohio Valley Conference
Kennedy Farris - Junior - Libero - Lansing - Univ. of Kansas - Big 12 Conference
Conference No. 8 digs per set
Academic All-Big 12
Anna Feldkamp - Junior - MB - St. James Academy - Loyola-Chicago - Atlantic-10 Athletic Conference
Conference No. 8 hitting percentage
Riley Foltz - Junior - OH - Eudora - Univ. of Kansas - Big 12 Conference
Academic All-Big 12
Ramiri Gardner - Freshman - MB - Fort Zumwalt South - Southeast Missouri State - Ohio Valley Conference
Conference No. 8 hitting percentage
Merry Gebel - Fifth Year - OH - Lafayette-Wildwood - Western Carolina - Southern Conference
Conference No. 5 kills per set
Southern Conference Player of the Year
First Team All-Southern Conference
AVCA Honorable Mention All-Region
AVCA Honorable Mention All-American
CSC Academic All-District
Taylor Gentemann - Sophomore - OH - Winfield - Lindenwood University - Ohio Valley Conference
Conference No. 2 service aces
Jillian Gillen - Senior - OH - Barstow - Univ. of Arkansas - Southeastern Conference
Conference No. 7 points per set
Conference No. 8 service aces per set
First Team All-Southeastern Conference
AVCA All-Region
CSC Academic All-Region
Azyah Green - Senior - MB - Kickapoo - Missouri State - Missouri Valley Conference
Conference No. 8 blocks per set
Lexie Gregory - Junior - Defensive Specialist - Nixa - Central Arkansas - ASUN Conference
CSC Academic All-Region
Aly Gurtiza - Sophomore - Libero - Lee’s Summit West - Central Michigan Univ. - Mid-American Conference
Conference No. 2 digs per set
Nationally No. 8 digs per set
Academic All-Mid-America Conference
Alex Haffner - Graduate Student - Setter - Lee’s Summit North - Kent State - Mid-American Conference
Conference No. 6 assists per set
Academic All-Mid-America Conference
CSC Academic All-Region
Kaitlyn Hamilton - Junior - OH - Free State - Indiana State - Missouri Valley Conference
Missouri Valley Conference Scholar Athlete Honorable Mention
Emily Henken - Junior - OH - Cor Jesu Academy - Saint Louis University - Atlantic-10 Athletic Conference
Conference No. 7 points per set
Conference No. 10 kills per set
CSC Academic All-District
Torri Henry - Junior - Setter - St. Teresa’s Academy - Stony Brook - Colonial Athletic Association
Conference No. 4 assists per set
CSC Academic All-District
Rachel Hickman - Senior - OH - Free State - Northern Colorado - Big Sky Conference
Conference No. 5 hitting percentage
First Team All-Big Sky Conference
AVCA Honorable Mention All-Region
Loren Hinkle - Senior - Libero - De Soto (KS) - Kansas State - Big 12 Conference
Conference No. 5 assists per set
Conference No. 7 service aces per set
Academic All-Big 12
CSC Academic All-Region
Kailey Jo Ince - Graduate Student - OH - Hesston - Northen Colorado - Big Sky Conference
Conference No. 3 points per set
Conference No. 3 kills per set
First Team All-Big Sky Conference
AVCA All-Region
Courtney Jackson - Sophomore - Libero - Olathe Northwest - Univ. of Arkansas - Southeastern Conference
Conference No. 10 digs per set
Rebecca Janke - Junior - MB - Rolla - Lindenwood University - Ohio Valley Conference
Conference No. 10 hitting percentage
Audrey Klemp - Sophomore - OPP - St. James Academy - Loyola Marymount - West Coast Conference
Honorable Mention All-West Coast Conference
Lindsay Lahr - Junior - OH - Blue Valley - Missouri State - Missouri Valley Conference
CSC Academic All-Region
Ella Larkin - Sophomore - Libero - Bishop Carroll - Louisiana State - Southeastern Conference
Conference No. 2 digs per set
Torrence Lovesee - Freshman RS - OH - Bluestem - Texas-El Paso - Conference USA
Second Team All-Conference USA
Ashlyn Lovett - Sophomore - Defensive Specialist - St. James Academy - Georgia Southern Univ. - Sun Belt Conference
Conference No. 2 digs per set
CSC Academic All-District
Ava Martin - Freshman - OH - St. Thomas Aquinas - Creighton University - Big East Conference
Big East Freshman of the Year
First Team All-Big East
Big East All-Freshman Team
Jillian Mattingly - Junior - MB - Cor Jesu Academy - St. Louis University - Atlantic-10 Athletic Conference
Conference No. 2 hitting percentage
Second Team All-Atlantic-10 Athletic Conference
Academic All-Atlantic-10 Athletic Conference
CSC Academic All-District
Bryn McGehe - Freshman RS - Defensive Specialist - Platte County - Univ. of Kansas - Big 12 Conference
Academic All-Big 12
Carsen Murray - Sophomore - Middle Blocker - Blue Springs South - Marquette University - Big East Conference
Conference No. 1 hitting percentage
National No. 9 hitting percentage
Conference No. 2 blocks per set
First Team All-Big East
AVCA All-Region
CSC Academic All-District
Kate Owen - Sophomore - Defensive Specialist - Kickapoo - Missouri State - Missouri Valley Conference
Missouri Valley Conference Scholar Athlete Honorable Mention
CSC Academic All-District
Addi Pelham - Sophomore - RS - Maranatha Christian Academy - Lipscomb University - ASUN Conference
First Team All-ASUN Conference
Vanessa Polk - Freshman - MB - John Burroughs - Pepperdine University - West Coast Conference
Conference No. 4 blocks per set
West Coast Conference All-Freshman Team
Mikayla Powell - Junior - RSH - Raymore-Peculiar - Austin Peay University - ASUN Conference
CSC Academic All-District
Macey Putt - Graduate Student - OH - Ozark - Arkansas State - Sun Belt Conference
Conference No. 10 points per set
Conference No. 7 kills per set
CSC Academic All-District
Carlie Rogers - Junior - Defensive Specialist - Lindbergh - St. Louis University - Atlantic-10 Athletic Conference
Conference No. 1 service aces per set
Conference No. 2 digs per set
Sophia Rohling - Junior - OPP - Neodesha - Wichita State - American Athletic Conference
Second Team All-American Athletic Conference
Madison Scheer - Freshman - Pin Hitter - Eureka (MO) - Auburn University -Southeastern Conference
Southeastern Conference All-Freshman Team
Callie Schwarzenbach - Senior - MB - Kearney - Long Beach State - Big West Conference
Conference No. 7 hitting percentage
Conference No. 8 blocks per set
Mackenzi Sifuentes - Senior RS - MB - Liberty-Wentzville - Lindenwood University - Ohio Valley Conference
Conference No. 1 hitting percentage
Conference No. 8 points per set
First Team All-Ohio Valley Conference
CSC Academic All-Region
Kenzie Smith - Junior RS - Setter - Manhattan - Univ. of Southern Mississippi - Conference USA
CSC Academic All-Region
Harper Snyder - Junior - MB - Lee’s Summit - Colgate University - Patriot League
Conference No. 8 blocks per set
Serena Sparks - Senior - Liberto - Biship Miege - Bradley University - Missouri Valley Conference
Conference No. 10 digs per set
Morgan Sprague - Sophomore - Setter - Parkway South - Missouri State - Missouri Valley Conference
Conference No. 7 assists per set
Brooke Stonestreet - Sophomore - Defensive Specialist - De Soto (KS) - Iowa State - Big 12 Conference
Conference No. 4 digs per set
Academic All Big 12
Morgan Stout - Sophomore RS - MB - Nickerson - Wichita State - American Athletic Conference
Conference No. 3 blocks per set
Anna Taylor - Sophomore - OH - Nerinx Hall - Xavier University - Big East Conference
CSC Academic All-District
Amaya Tillman - Senior - MB - Shawnee Heights - Univ. of Louisville - Atlantic Coast Conference
Conference No. 9 hitting percentage
Conference No. 1 blocks per set
First Team All-Atlantic Coast Conference (Fourth year for this honor)
Atlantic Coast Conference Defensive Player of the Year (Second year for this honor)
AVCA All-Region
AVCA Third Team All-American
Camryn Turner - Sophomore - Setter - Seaman - Univ. of Kansas - Big 12 Conference
Conference No. 7 assists per set
Academic All-Big 12
Second Team All-Big 12
AVCA Honorable Mention All-Region
Amelia Van Der Werff - Junior - MB - Lansing - Univ. of Utah - Pac-12 Conference
CSC Academic All-District
Gracie Van Driel - Senior - MB - Rose Hill - Univ. of Kansas -Big 12 Conference
Academic All-Big 12
Peyton Van Nest - Senior - Setter - Lutheran South - Missouri-Kansas City - Summit League
Conference No. 9 assists per set
Abby VanBuskirk - Sophomore - Setter - Rockwood Summit - Lindenwood University - Ohio Valley Conference
Conference No. 3 assists per set
Conference No. 5 service aces per set
Katie Vorhies - Junior - OH - Ozark - Harvard University - Ivy League
Conference No. 9 kills per set
Claire Wagner - Senior - OH - Lee’s Summit - Univ. of Rhode Island - Atlantic-10 Athletic Conference
Conference No. 5 points per set
Conference No. 5 kills per set
Kendra Wait - Sophomore - Setter - Gardner-Edgerton - Creighton University - Big East Conference
Conference No. 1 assists per set
First Team All-Big East
AVCA All-Region
AVCA Honorable Mention All-American
CSC Academic All-District
CSC Second Team Academic All-American
Odyssey Warren - Junior - OH - Lee’s Summit West - Missouri-Kansas City - Summit League
Conference No. 7 points per set
Conference No. 8 kills per set
Conference No. 8 service aces per set
Honorable Mention All-Summit League
Kelsey Watson - Junior - MB - Cor Jesu Academy - Loyola-Chicago - Atlantic-10 Athletic Conference
Conference No. 4 hitting percentage
Conference No. 10 blocks per set
Kathryn Wesolich - Graduate Student - Middle Blocker - Lafayette-Wildwood - High Point University - Big South Conference
Conference No. 10 blocks per set
Madeline Williams - Graduate Student - MB - Westminster Christian Academy - Louisiana-Monroe - Sun Belt Conference
Conference No. 9 hitting percentage