Six CSM volleyball players earn recognition from the GPAC
SIOUX CITY, Iowa – Six College of Saint Mary volleyball student-athletes have been honored by the Great Plains Athletic Conference. The GPAC announced its volleyball All-Conference teams Tuesday morning.
Azaria Green and Kamryn Willman were both named to the All-GPAC First Team and Green was also selected as the GPAC Freshman of the Year. Teammates Rachel Cushing and Grace Werner were both selected to the All-GPAC Second Team, while Lauren Anderson and Lexie Langley were both recognized as All-GPAC Honorable Mention.
Jazlin De Haan from Northwestern was selected as the Hauff Mid-America Sports/GPAC Player of the Year. Kyle Van Den Bosch from Northwestern was named the Hauff Mid-America Sports/GPAC Coach of the Year. Northwestern, Concordia and Jamestown shared the regular season championship for 2023 with 14-2 records. Northwestern won the GPAC Tournament title over the weekend.
The NAIA Opening Round is scheduled for Saturday, with the NAIA National Volleyball Tournament scheduled in Sioux City Nov. 30 – Dec. 6 at the Tyson Events Center. Six GPAC teams have made the NAIA Postseason this fall. The GPAC All-Conference teams were selected by the league coaches.
GPAC Volleyball First Team 2023 (listed alphabetically)
Name Position School Class Hometown
Bree Burtwistle S Concordia Sr. Stanton, Neb.
*Jazlin De Haan OH Northwestern Jr. Orange City, Iowa
Alysen Dexter OH Northwestern Jr. Urbandale, Iowa
Ady Dwight MB Dakota Wesleyan Sr. Langford, S.D.
Olivia Granstra L Northwestern Jr. Sheldon, Iowa
Azaria Green MB College of Saint Mary Fr. Council Bluffs, Iowa
Ellie Holen L Jamestown Sr. Lamoure, N.D.
Sydney Marlow OH Morningside Jr. Burlington, Iowa
Zavyr Metzger MB Northwestern So. Larchwood, Iowa
Gabi Nordaker MB Concordia Sr. Omaha, Neb.
Camryn Opfer OH Concordia Sr. Seward, Neb.
Abbey Ringler MB Midland Jr. Seward, Neb.
Kamryn Willman MB College of Saint Mary Sr. Grand Island, Neb.
Aleah Zieske OH Jamestown Jr. Spicer, Minn.
*Hauff Mid-America Sports/GPAC Volleyball Player-of-the-Year:
Jazlin De Haan, Northwestern
GPAC Volleyball Co Defenders-of-the-Year:
Ellie Holen, Jamestown and Zavyr Metzger, Northwestern
GPAC Volleyball Setter-of-the-Year:
Bree Burtwistle, Concordia
GPAC Volleyball Freshman-of-the-Year:
Azaria Green, College of Saint Mary
GPAC Attacker-of-the-Year:
Ady Dwight, Dakota Wesleyan
Hauff Mid-America Sports/GPAC Volleyball Coach-of-the-Year:
Kyle Van Den Bosch, Northwestern
GPAC Volleyball Second Team 2023 (listed alphabetically)
Name Position School Class Hometown
Jacki Apel RS Midland Jr. Bellevue, Neb.
Makenna Asher S Hastings Sr. Hastings, Neb.
Rachel Cushing L College of Saint Mary Sr. Council Bluffs, Iowa
Aleksandra Dalach S Morningside Fr. Opacz-Kolonia, Poland
Kayleigh Hybertson S Dakota Wesleyan Fr. Sioux Falls, S.D.
Darienne Johnson MB Jamestown Sr. Eastpointe, Mich.
Ashley Keck OH Concordia So. Kearney, Neb.
Liv Reitsma S Northwestern So. Papillion, Neb.
Carly Rodaway RS Concordia Sr. Lincoln, Neb.
Logan Sherman RS Jamestown Sr. Marshall, Minn.
Macay Van't Hul MB Northwestern Sr. Rock Valley, Iowa
Majesta Valasek OH Hastings Sr. Broken Bow, Neb.
Julia Weber OH Mount Marty Sr. Emery, S.D.
Grace Werner OH/RS College of Saint Mary Jr. Omaha, Neb.
Honorable Mention
Briar Cliff – Samantha Wasmund (MB) and Victoria Andre (MB)
College of Saint Mary – Lauren Anderson (S) and Lexie Langley (OH)
Concordia – Becca Gebhart (L) and Cassidy Knust (DS)
Dakota Wesleyan – Tya Weideman (DS) and Elizabeth Tyler (OH/DS)
Doane – Sophia McKinney (L) and Taylor Sluka (RS)
Dordt – Makenna Kooima (DS) and Riley Doenhoefer (OH)
Hastings – Miriam Miller (DS) and Ilse Benne (OH)
Jamestown – Lexi Olson (MB) and Grace Hegerle (OH/DS)
Midland – Lauren Williams (RS) and Lauryn Samuelson (MB)
Morningside – Payten Lode (OH) and Payton Shoquist (DS)
Mount Marty – Ally Whitmire (S) and Ivy Mines (DS)
Northwestern – Savonne Sterk (RS) and Jori Hajek (DS)
Key: S-Setter, OH-Outside Hitter, MB-Middle Blocker, RS-Right Side/Opposite Hitter, L-Libero,
DS – Defensive Specialist