BRIDGEPORT, W.Va. -- Regular season champion Wheeling Jesuit took top honors as the Mountain East Conference announced its annual awards and all-conference teams. Senior Haley Kindall was named the league's Player of the Year, while teammate Kayce Krucki was recognized as the Libero of the Year. Freshman Bre Kramer was chosen as the Freshman of the Year, and Christy Benner was selected as the Coach of the Year.
Kindall, a senior middle blocker from Westerville, Ohio, earned Player of the Year honors leaders after accounting for over 400 points for WJU this year. She ranked fourth in the conference in kills per set (3.16) and blocks per set (1.05). She led the MEC and ranks third in the country with a hitting percentage of .412.
Krucki, a senior from Findlay, Ohio, was the Player of the Year last year before taking over libero duties for the Cardinals. She averaged 4.23 digs per set and finished the year with 516 total digs. She also excelled on serve receive for WJU allowing the Cardinals to set up their attack.
Kramer, an outside hitter from Norwalk, Ohio, posted 284 kills (2.33 per set) in her freshman season at WJU. She also managed 376 digs on the year (3.08 per set) and 33 service aces (0.27) -- making her one of just two freshmen to rank in the top 20 in the league in all three categories.
Benner is the MEC Coach of the Year for the fourth time in as many years after leading WJU to a 35-2 overall record. The Cardinals also completed their fourth-straight undefeated record in MEC play and won the regular season championship. The Cardinals are the top seed in this week's MEC Tournament and are currently the the top team in the most recent NCAA Atlantic Region rankings. The defending national champions have also been ranked in the top 10 for the entire 2016 season.
In addition to the individual awards, the MEC also released its all-conference teams. Wheeling Jesuit had three first team selections, followed by Urbana with two. Charleston, Concord, Fairmont State and West Liberty each had one first team selection.
The All-MEC teams are selected by a vote of the league's coaches.
| 2016 MEC Individual Awards |
Player of the Year: Haley Kindall (Wheeling Jesuit)
Libero of the Year: Kayce Krucki (Wheeling Jesuit)
Freshman of the Year: Bre Kramer (Wheeling Jesuit)
Coach of the Year: Christy Benner (Wheeling Jesuit) |
| 2016 All-MEC First Team |
| Pos. |
Name |
School |
Cl. |
Hometown |
| OH |
Mikaela Beck |
Urbana |
Sr. |
Detroit, Mich. |
| OH |
Katlynn Dunlap |
Urbana |
Jr. |
Zoarville, Ohio |
| RS |
Mackenzie Harrison |
Fairmont State |
Jr. |
Twinsburg, Ohio |
| MB |
Brooke Heck |
Concord |
So. |
Huntington, W.Va. |
| MB |
Haley Kindall |
Wheeling Jesuit |
Sr. |
Westerville, Ohio |
| L |
Kayce Krucki |
Wheeling Jesuit |
Sr. |
Findlay, Ohio |
| MB |
Sydney Scherer |
West Liberty |
Jr. |
Brookville, Ohio |
| S |
Andrea Thobe |
Wheeling Jesuit |
Sr. |
Sidney, Ohio |
| MB |
Jordan Wittekind |
Charleston |
Sr. |
Charleston, W.Va. |
|
|
|
|
|
| 2016 All-MEC Second Team |
| Pos. |
Name |
School |
Cl. |
Hometown |
| OH |
Karley Allen |
UVa-Wise |
Sr. |
Lanexa, Va. |
| S |
Jessica Furda |
Fairmont State |
Jr. |
Wintersville, Ohio |
| OH |
Carly Granger |
Charleston |
So. |
Fenton, Mich. |
| OH |
Lauran Graves |
Wheeling Jesuit |
So. |
Toledo, Ohio |
| RS/S |
Amanda Leonard |
West Liberty |
So. |
Milford, Mich. |
| OH |
Melissa Maczuzak |
Notre Dame |
Jr. |
Concord, Ohio |
| RS |
Emma Schleucher |
Wheeling Jesuit |
Sr. |
Findlay, Ohio |
| OH |
Shiann White |
Charleston |
Sr. |
Thatcher, Ariz. |
|
|
|
|
|
| 2016 All-MEC Honorable Mention |
| Pos. |
Name |
School |
Cl. |
Hometown |
| OH/RS |
Raimey Benson |
West Liberty |
So. |
Dublin, Ohio |
| L |
Megan Clerico |
Fairmont State |
So. |
Norristown, Pa. |
| L |
Ali Kaeberlein |
Notre Dame |
Fr. |
Massillon, Ohio |
| MB/OH |
Hannah King |
W.Va. Wesleyan |
Jr. |
Charleston, W.Va. |
| OH |
Bre Kramer |
Wheeling Jesuit |
Fr. |
Norwalk, Ohio |
| S |
Claire Lambert |
Charleston |
Jr. |
North Olmstead, Ohio |
| MB/OH |
Stephanie Leonard |
West Liberty |
So. |
Milford, Mich. |
| L |
Kelsey Matusic |
Charleston |
Fr. |
Winfield, W.Va. |
| L |
Erin Shannon |
Concord |
So. |
Frankfort, Ill. |
|
|
|
|
|
| 2016 MEC All-Freshman Team |
| Pos. |
Name |
School |
Cl. |
Hometown |
| L |
Kailee Cunningham |
West Liberty |
Fr. |
Independence, Ohio |
| MB |
Rebecca Feeney |
Fairmont State |
Fr. |
Douglassville, Pa. |
| L |
Ali Kaeberlein |
Notre Dame |
Fr. |
Massillon, Ohio |
| OH |
Bre Kramer |
Wheeling Jesuit |
Fr. |
Norwalk, Ohio |
| L |
Kelsey Matusic |
Charleston |
Fr. |
Winfield, W.Va. |
| OH |
Mary Kate McHugh |
Notre Dame |
Fr. |
North Canton, Ohio |
| S |
Alyssa Myers |
Urbana |
Fr. |
Whitehall, Mich. |