The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor volleyball team named six athletes to the American Southwest Conference All-Conference Volleyball teams, released today. Jenna Gillean was named West Division Most Valuable Player, Cory Jo Martin earned West Division Newcomer of the Year and Rob Frost and Madeline Odom were named Coaching Staff of the Year.
Frost is in his eighth season with the Cru and earning his fifth consecutive Coach of the Year award. He and Odom guided UMHB to its fourth consecutive West Division title this season. UMHB currently leads the ASC in hitting percentage (.261) and blocks (230.5). The Cru also ranks among the top three in assists (1,247), kills (1,350) and digs (1,792.)
Gillean, a junior outside hitter from Midland, Texas (Midland H.S.), was named West Division Most Valuable Player, All-ASC and First Team All-West Division. She holds a .236 hitting percentage this season with 287 kills, ranking her eighth among ASC hitters. Gillean has averaged 2.9 kills per set in 2018 with 12 double-doubles. Defensively, Gillean ranks 10th in the conference with 346 digs, averaging 3.5 digs per set. She’s added 18 assists, 28 service aces and 33 blocks in her first year with the Cru.
Martin, a junior setter/right side from Manvel, Texas (Manvel H.S.), was named West Division Newcomer of the Year, All-ASC and First Team All-West Division. Martin anchored UMHB’s conference-leading offense this season with 800 assists for an 8.9 assists per set average. She ranks third individually among ASC setters in 2018. Martin added 83 kills and 12 service aces for UMHB, contributing defensively with 226 digs and 42 blocks.
Junior middle blocker Sarah Paolini and sophomore outside hitter Corinne Novak joined Gillean and Martin on the All-ASC Team and First Team All-West Division. Paolini, a native of Kalispell, Montana (Stillwater Christian) ranks fifth among all ASC hitters with a .369 hitting percentage in 2018, slamming 227 kills for the Cru. She is also tied for first in the conference with 113 total blocks with a 1.18 blocks per set average. Paolini is a two-time ASC Player of the Week with five assists, five service aces and 30 digs on the year. Novak, a Georgetown, Texas (East View H.S.), native, ranks seventh in the conference with 291 kills, averaging 3.0 kills per set with a .218 hitting percentage. She recorded seven double-doubles this season, adding 253 digs and 19 total blocks. Novak also earned ASC Player of the Week honors this season.
Miranda Klein and Haleigh Evans were named Second Team All-West Division. Klein, a junior setter/right side from Georgetown, Texas (East View H.S.), ranks among the top three for the Cru in assists (391), blocks (84), aces (30) and digs (310). She recorded 14 double-double and two triple-doubles this season, hitting .256 with 223 kills. Evans, a junior libero from Edna, Texas (Edna H.S.), ranks fourth in the ASC with a 4.3 digs per set average. She totaled 405 digs on the year with 14 assists and 25 service aces.
Sul Ross State’s Annika Canaba earned West Division Freshman of the Year honors while Hardin-Simmons’ Morgan Prince was named Sportsmanship Athlete of the Year. This is the third all-ASC honor for Evans, Klein and Paolini, second for Novak and first for Gillean and Martin.
UMHB won the 2018 ASC West Division title and right to host the ASC Volleyball Championship Tournament. Play opens on Thursday, November 1st with the Cru playing its first postseason match at 1:30 p.m. on Friday. All matches will be played at the Mayborn Campus Center in Belton.
