Rio places six on All-RSC Volleyball teams; Stewart named Freshman of the Year
Rio Grande/RSC Sports Information
MIDDLETOWN, Ohio - The University of Rio Grande is well-represented on the 2023 All-River States Conference Volleyball Teams.
The All-RSC First, Second and Third teams, as well individual award winners, were announced prior to the league's Championship Final last Saturday in Kokomo, Ind. The all-conference teams and award winners were selected through balloting of the league's head coaches.
Rio Grande placed three players on both the second and third units.
The RedStorm's second team honorees included juniors Jordan Brooks (Reynoldsburg, OH) and Ashton Webb (Gallipolis, OH), as well as freshman outside hitter Kelli Stewart (Waverly, OH), who was also named the RSC Freshman of the Year.
Stewart finished second on the team with 280 kills and was second among its regulars in attack percentage at .227, while finishing third in total blocks with 46. Brooks was Rio's third-leading killer with 236 and led the team in both swing percentage at .300 and total blocks with 82.
Webb led the RedStorm and ranked fourth in the conference with 548 digs, while tying for second on the team with 30 service aces.
Third team selections from Rio included senior Amanda Rarick (Canal Winchester, OH), junior Avery Huntzinger (Canal Winchester, OH) and freshman Averie Bruce (Baltimore, OH).
Rarick recorded a team-best 312 kills, while Huntzinger had a team-best 616 assists and equaled Webb's mark of 30 service aces. Bruce had 201 kills and was third among regulars with a .205 attack percentage.
Jessica Swimm from Indiana University East headlined the All-RSC First Team and was named the league's Player of the Year. Her teammate, Reece Shirley, was also a First Team selection and was chosen as the Setter of the Year.
The duo led the Red Wolves to the RSC East Division Championship, a runner-up finish in the confernce tournament and to an at-large selection to the NAIA National Championship Tournament.
Dunja Madjarevic from Oakland City (Ind.) University was voted as the Defensive Player of the Year as the Mighty Oaks' libero and was also a member of the First Team.
The remainder of the All-RSC First Team included Lexi Broyles, Audrey Strawsma, Kaley Lyons an Alyvia Smith of Indiana University Kokomo; Teah Barrett Matthews from IU East; Midway's Aubry Koester; Ella Brooks and Emilee Organ from IU Southeast; Kylee Barney and Haidyn Wamsley of Shawnee State; and Hannah Zuege from St. Mary-of-the-Woods.
The IU Kokomo coaching staff took home both of the coaching awards with head coach Heather Hayes being named Coach of the Year and Lori Elson earning Assistant Coach of the Year honors. They led the Cougars to the RSC regular-season and tournament championship, in addition to qualilfying for the national tournament.
The league also announced a Champions of Character Team and its Scholar-Athlete Team
The Champions of Character Team featured one honoree from each school who best exhibits the NAIA's five character values of respect, responsibility, integrity, servant leadership and sportsmanship.
Rio's representative was sophomore Olivia Smith (Bainbridge, OH).
The Scholar-Athlete Team is also among the awards program. Volleyball student-athletes with a 3.25 GPA or higher who have been at their institution at least one year earn the honor.
The RedStorm was represented on the list by Huntzinger, Webb and Rarick, as well as seniors Shalea Byrd (Canal Winchester, OH), Kyli Ricker (Plain City, OH) and Darcie Walters (Sparta, OH); and the sophomore duo of Jillian Gardner (Marysville, OH) and Kayla Sedgwick (Richwood, OH).