Volleyball

MIAC announces 2023 Volleyball Awards

BLOOMINGTON, Minn. – The Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) announced its annual volleyball awards on Wednesday.
 
Conference coaches selected Gustavus senior setter Kasie Tweet as the MIAC Offensive Player of the Year, while Hamline junior defensive specialist Jenna Rubbelke received MIAC Defensive Player of the Year honor, and Bethel first-year middle blocker Peyton Howie was named MIAC Rookie of the Year. Gustie head coach Rachelle Sherden was celebrated by her peers as the MIAC Coach of the Year.
 
Tweet (Sr. | Adrian, Minn.) was named MIAC Offensive Player of the Year after leading all setters with an average of 11.71 assists per set in conference matches. Tweet surpassed 3,000 career assists in 2023, helping the Gusties to a third straight regular-season MIAC title. She is the third consecutive Gustie to receive Offensive Player of the Year honors in volleyball, joining Kate Holtan (2021) and Marlee Turn (2022).
 
Rubbelke (Jr. | North St. Paul, Minn.) was selected MIAC Defensive Player of the Year after leading the conference in digs (265) and digs per set (6.63). The junior libero exceeded 30 digs in four MIAC matches and collected four single-match program records this fall. She is the second Piper to be named MIAC Defensive Player of the Year in volleyball, joining 2013 recipient Lynsey Reimer.
 
Howie (Fy. | Blaine, Minn. | Irondale) received MIAC Rookie of the Year honors after playing in every set in her debut season for the Royals. She ranked third among all MIAC players with a 0.329 hitting percentage in conference matches, recording 95 kills in 225 total attacks. Howie is the fourth Royal in program history to receive MIAC Rookie of the Year honors and the first since Hannah Wilhite in 2018.
 
Sherden (14th season) was recognized by her peers as MIAC Coach of the Year for the fourth time in her career and the second straight season after guiding Gustavus to an undefeated season in conference play. Sherden's Gusties dropped just one MIAC set en route to the program's ninth regular-season title all-time. Sherden was previously awarded MIAC Coach of the Year in 2015, 2018, and 2022.
 
In addition to the individual awards, 22 players were named All-Conference and six received honorable mention distinctions. All awards were nominated by and voted on by the 12 MIAC head volleyball coaches; any nominated player not selected as All-Conference but still receiving votes from at least three coaches was named honorable mention.
 
Six of the 22 All-Conference selections also received the honor in 2022. Four players – Hamline junior libero Jenna Rubbelke, St. Catherine senior outside hitter Maggie Rosen, Saint Mary's senior outside hitter Ciarra McNally, and St. Olaf opposite Catherine Moore – received All-MIAC honors for the third time, a feat achieved by 61 volleyball players in recorded conference history.
 
The MIAC Volleyball All-Playoff Team will be announced the week following the MIAC Playoff Championship.

| 2023 MIAC Volleyball Awards |