EAST PEORIA, Ill. – University of Missouri-St. Louis junior outside hitter Charlotte Richards was named the 2020-21 Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) Volleyball Player of the Year, the league office announced on Thursday afternoon. In addition, Lewis University senior Jamie Poppen earned Libero of the Year accolades, while Missouri S&T outside hitter Jordan Burton was dubbed Freshman of the Year, and Lewis mentor Lorelee Smith was voted Coach of the Year.
In all, 30 student-athletes earned All-GLVC recognition, while 15 were named GLVC James R. Spalding Sportsmanship Award recipients, along with Southwest Baptist University and William Jewell College sharing the James R. Spalding Sportsmanship Team Award. The GLVC postseason awards were voted on by the league’s 15 head coaches.
Richards averaged a whopping 4.22 kills per set, topping the league in the category while attacking at a .232 clip from the outside. The now two-time All-GLVC First Team selection is the first Triton in league history to earn Player of the Year honors, and the fourth person in the program to earn a GLVC major award. The Cedar Rapids, Iowa, product tallied 253 points, leading the Conference with 4.69 per set while chipping in 18 blocks and 11 service aces. Richards scooped up 3.87 digs per set, averaging a double-double in each match in her junior campaign. The junior scored two Baden GLVC Offensive Player of the Week accolades this spring, adding the season’s final honor on April 12 to her distinction on Feb. 8.
Poppen earned her first All-GLVC nod as a senior, becoming the first Flyer to be voted Libero of the Year since Nicole Yuede in 2015 and first Lewis major award winner since Elizabeth Hyland was named Player of the Year in 2018. The Ballwin, Mo., native averaged 6.11 digs per set, tallying 330 throughout the season for the league’s East Division champion. The senior recorded 14 service aces this spring, while handing out 78 assists. Poppen was voted Baden GLVC Defensive Player of the Week on three occasions this season, earning the honor on Feb. 8, Feb. 15, and Feb. 22.
Burton earned the league’s top rookie honor following her freshman campaign at S&T. The outside hitter ranked seventh among league constituents with 3.23 kills per set, totaling 226 in 18 matches on .198 hitting. Burton is the second Miner to be awarded Freshman of the Year accolades after Krista Haslag in 2012. The Olathe, Kan., product totaled 31 blocks (0.44 per set) and 72 digs (1.03 per set).
Smith was voted by her peers as the league’s Coach of the Year for the fourth time in her career and first since 2016. At the helm of the Lewis program for 14 seasons, Smith guided the Flyers to their eighth No. 1 seed in the GLVC Championship Tournament this spring, including their fourth in the past five seasons. Four Flyers were named All-GLVC for the 2020-21 season, as seniors Caroline Stefanon and Ava Venema join Poppen on the First Team, while Amanda Greening was among the Second Team honorees. Venema topped the league with 1.22 blocks per set, totaling 67 in 55 frames.
Joining Richards, Poppen, Stefanon, and Venema on the First Team include UMSL senior Kaileen Herman and junior Megan Woll, as well as three from Quincy University: juniors Makayla Knoblauch and Mattie Norris, as well as sophomore Emily Rehagen. Additionally, Lindenwood University sophomores Mackenzi Sifuentes and Allie Otten were named All-GLVC First Team, while Drury University sophomore Chloe Rear, S&T senior Payton Gannaway, and University of Southern Indiana sophomore Leah Anderson capped the 14-player top squad.
As a result from a tie in voting, 16 were named All-GLVC Second Team. University of Indianapolis and Southern Indiana each landed three on the list, while Lindenwood, S&T, and Truman State University each had two. Drury, Lewis, UMSL, and Rockhurst University each snagged one spot on the Second Team.
Southwest Baptist and William Jewell earned the sport’s GLVC James R. Spalding Sportsmanship Team Award, while 15 student-athletes who have distinguished themselves through sportsmanship and ethical behavior were also recognized. These individuals must be in good academic standing and have demonstrated good citizenship outside of the sports-competition setting. The honorees from full-time GLVC member institutions are now eligible to become one of their school's two Spalding Sportsmanship Award winners, which will be announced at the end of the academic year.
A complete list of the 2020-21 All-GLVC team and postseason honors can be found below.
GLVC Player of the Year: Charlotte Richards, Jr., Attacker, Missouri-St. Louis
GLVC Libero of the Year: Jamie Poppen, Sr., Lewis
GLVC Freshman of the Year: Jordan Burton, Attacker, Missouri S&T
GLVC Coach of the Year: Lorelee Smith, Lewis
All-GLVC First Team
Chloe Rear, So., Attacker, DU
JAMIE POPPEN, Sr., Libero, LEWIS
Caroline Stefanon, Sr., Attacker, LEWIS
Ava Venema, Sr., Attacker, LEWIS
Allie Otten, So., Setter, LWU
Mackenzi Sifuentes, So., Attacker, LWU
PAYTON GANNAWAY, Sr., Attacker, S&T
Kaileen Herman, Sr., Setter, UMSL
CHARLOTTE RICHARDS, Jr., Attacker, UMSL
MEGAN WOLL, Jr., Libero, UMSL
Makayla Knoblauch, Jr., Setter, QU
Mattie Norris, Jr., Attacker, QU
Emily Rehagen, So., Attacker, QU
Leah Anderson, So., Attacker, USI
UNANIMOUS SELECTION |
All-GLVC Second Team*
Makina Wratten, Jr., Attacker, DU
MaKenna Barnhart, Jr., Libero, UINDY
Elizabeth Eads, So., Attacker, UINDY
Alex Equihua, Jr., Setter, UINDY
Amanda Greening, Jr., Attacker, LEWIS
Hannah Borchelt, Jr., Attacker, LWU
Sadie Kosciuk, Sr., Attacker, LWU
Jordan Burton, Fr., Attacker, S&T
Hannah Merjil, Jr., Setter, S&T
Mya Elliott, So., Attacker, UMSL
Morgan Conner, Sr., Attacker, RU
Casey Cepicky, Sr., Setter, USI
Taylor Litteken, Jr., Attacker, USI
Katherine Koch, So., Attacker, USI
Ellie Kaat, Sr., Attacker, TSU
Lindsay Woltering, So., Libero, TSU
*Extra Members Due to Tie |
GLVC JAMES R. SPALDING SPORTSMANSHIP NOMINEES
Faith Alwardt, DU
Kenzie Hendon, UIS
Gillian Santana, UINDY
Jamie Poppen, LEWIS
Kat Finnerty, LWU
Mikaela Kues, MU
Lauren McCurley, MCK
Sophie Straatmann, S&T
Karlyn Hannewald, UMSL
Alaina Rothermich, QU
Morgan Conner, RU
Callie Gubera, USI
Rachel Francis, SBU
Emma Berthold, TSU
Maddie Wingert, WJC
GLVC JAMES R. SPALDING SPORTSMANSHIP TEAM AWARD
Southwest Baptist and William Jewell