Volleyball All-OVC Release (PDF)
Austin Peay’s
Ashley Slay was selected as the 2017 Ohio Valley Conference Player of the Year while Murray State’s
Katirah Johnson earned Freshman of the Year honors as voted on by the league’s head coaches and sports information directors. Eastern Kentucky’s Chloe Rojas was named the Defensive Player of the Year while Austin Peay’s
Kristen Stucker was selected as the Setter of the Year. OVC Coach of the Year honors went to the Governors’
Taylor Mott.
Slay, a senior middle/right side hitter from Nashville, Tenn., is second in the league with 443 kills and third with 3.79 kills per set. The 2017 All-OVC First Team selection also had 21 service aces, 112 digs and 91 blocks. In OVC play, Slay registered 3.75 kills per set to finish third in the league. She reached double-digits in kills 27 times this season, including hitting the 20-plus mark four times. She recorded a season-high 27 kills at UAB. Slay becomes the fourth Governor to win the award and the first since 2009.
A freshman middle blocker from Scott Air Force Base, Ill, Johnson ranks second in the league with a .366 attack percentage. She recorded 114 kills on 235 attempts in the regular-season. She has totaled 45 blocks so far this season, including 10 solo blocks. The 2017 All-OVC Second Team pick notched double-digit kills in four matches, including a season-best 12 at Southeast Missouri. She is the third Racer to earn Freshman of the Year honors, joining Jade Guo (2008) and Nikki Wong (2002.)
Rojas, a junior defensive specialist from St. Charles, Ill., is third in the OVC with 4.52 digs per set in the regular season. In OVC play, the 2017 All-OVC First Team selection recorded 354 digs (5.71 dps) to lead the league. Rojas has reached double-digit in digs in all but five matches so far this season. She reached the 30-dig mark twice this season. Rojas is the third different Colonel to win Defensive Player of the Year and first since 2014.
Stucker, a senior from Johnston, Iowa, earns her second straight Setter of the Year honor. She is second in the nation with 1,338 total assists while ranking 16th in the NCAA with 11.44 assists per set. A 2017 All-OVC First Team selection, she has dished out 669 assists in OVC play to lead the league. Stucker has recorded 12 double-doubles so far this season. She recorded 50-plus assists six time, including a season-best 58 at SIUE.
Mott earns her first OVC Coach of the Year honor after leading her team to 14-2 league mark and a 27-5 overall record en route to their third regular-season title and first since 1992. The Governors rank fourth in the nation with 1,631 kills and 1,538 assists. Austin Peay also is 12th in the NCAA with a league-leading 179 service aces. The Govs enter the tournament having won nine of their last 10 matches. Mott is she second Austin Peay coach to win the honor joining Cheryl Holt who won the award four times.
ALL-CONFERENCE TEAMS
Joining Slay, Stucker and Rojas on the All-OVC First Team are: Eastern Illinois junior outside hitter/setter
Taylor Smith (Mattoon, Ill.) and senior middle hitter
Allie Hueston (Anderson, Ind.); Murray State sophomore outside hitter
Rachel Giustino (Algonquin, Ill.) and sophomore right side hitter
Rachel Holthaus (Winona, Mo); Southeast Missouri senior middle blocker
Nzingha Clarke (O’Fallon, Ill.) and senior outside hitter
Krissa Gearring (Boilingbrook, Ill.); Belmont senior outside hitter
Arianna Person (Lenexa, Kan.); Eastern Kentucky senior outside hitter
Celina Sanks (Butler, Pa.); Jacksonville State senior outside hitter
Allyson Zuhlke (Tomball, Texas); SIUE senior middle blocker
Taylor Joens (Johnston, Iowa); and UT Martin senior middle blocker
Jemima Ideumdia (Glendale, Ariz.)
Along with Johnson, earning All-OVC Second Team honors are Austin Peay redshirt junior outside hitter
Christina White (Memphis, Tenn.) and freshman outside hitter
Brooke Moore (Louisville, Ky.); Eastern Kentucky junior setter/right side hitter
Cassie Knutson (San Diego, Calif.); SIUE senior outside hitter Ashley Witt (Lincoln, Neb.); Tennessee State senior setter
Samantha Beltran (Mississauga, Ontario); and Tennessee Tech junior libero/defensive specialist
Kristen Brugere (St. Charles, Mo.)