Dannemiller, Hunt Earn All-Big Ten Honors
11/29/2011 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Nov. 29, 2011
PARK RIDGE, Ill. -- The No. 22-ranked University of Michigan volleyball team had a pair of Wolverines earn All-Big Ten honors on Tuesday (Nov. 29), with freshman setter Lexi Dannemiller (West Chester, Ohio/Lakota West) being named to the all-freshman team and senior outside hitter Alex Hunt (Granger, Ind./South Bend St. Joseph) earning All-Big Ten honorable mention. In addition, senior libero Sloane Donhoff (Louisville, Ky./Assumption) was named Michigan's sportsmanship honoree.
Dannemiller led the conference in total assists (1,394) and ranked No. 2 in assists per set (11.62) at the conclusion of the regular season. She was named Big Ten Freshman of the Week four times and racked up 13 double-doubles (assists/digs). Dannemiller, a starter in all 32 matches, handed out a career-best 65 assists against Minnesota on Oct. 7 and recorded at least 50 assists in 11 matches. Dannemiller is the seventh freshman in U-M history to earn the honor, joining Hunt and sophomore middle blocker Jennifer Cross (Scarborough, Ont./Birchmount Park Collegiate) as current Wolverines to be named to the team.
Hunt was honored by the Big Ten for the third consecutive season after earning honorable mention in 2009 and first-team honors in 2010. The outside hitter averaged 3.23 kills per set on a .221 attack percentage, putting down at least 20 kills in five matches and going for at least 10 terminations in 20 matches. With 12 kills against Ohio State in the regular-season finale on Nov. 25, Hunt moved into second place on Michigan's all-time kills list with 1,573.
Donhoff, a three-time captain, was named Michigan's sportsmanship honoree for the first time in her career. Donhoff ended the regular season ranked No. 3 in the Big Ten in digs per set (4.53) and has recorded 544 digs this season, the fourth-best season mark in U-M history. For her career, the libero has reached the 10-dig plateau 105 times and ranks second on the all-time digs list at Michigan with 1,866.
Purdue's Ariel Turner was named the Player of the Year, with Boilermaker head coach Dave Shondell earning Coach of the Year honors by both the coaches and media. Penn State's Micha Hancock and Katie Slay earned the remaining two specialty awards, winning Freshman of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year, respectively.
Michigan earned its sixth consecutive NCAA bid and will take on Baylor in the first round of the tournament on Friday (Dec. 2) in Palo Alto, Calif. Match time is slated for 4:30 p.m. PST.
ALL-BIG TEN*
Michelle Bartsch, Sr., OH, ILL
COLLEEN WARD, SR., OH, ILL
JENILEE RATHJE, SR., OH, MSU
Tori Dixon, So., MB, MINN
ASHLEY WITTMAN, SO., OH, MINN
Lauren Cook, Jr., S, NEB
GINA MANCUSO, JR., OH, NEB
Hannah Werth, Jr., OH, NEB
Stephanie Holthus, So., OH, NU
Mari Hole, Jr., OH, OSU
Deja McClendon, So., OH, PSU
ARIEL SCOTT, SO., RS, PSU
Katie Slay, So., MB, PSU
TIFFANY FISHER, SR., MB, PUR
ARIEL TURNER, JR., OH, PUR
* Additional honorees due to a tie
Honorable Mention
Alex Hunt, Sr., OH, MICH
Kyndra Abron, Sr., OH, MSU
Morgan Broekhuis, So., RS, NEB
Brooke Delano, Sr., MB, NEB
Emily Danks, Jr., RS, OSU
Alexis Mitchell, Jr., MH, WIS
ALL-FRESHMAN TEAM
Liz McMahon, OPP, ILL
Lexi Dannemiller, S, MICH
Katie Dutchman, MB, NU
MICHA HANCOCK, S, PSU
Kierra Jones, MB, PUR
Ellen Chapman, OH, WIS
Courtney Thomas, S/OH, WIS
Unanimous selections in CAPS
PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Ariel Turner, PUR
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Katie Slay, PSU
FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR: Micha Hancock, PSU
COACH OF THE YEAR (COACHES AND MEDIA): Dave Shondell, PUR
SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD HONOREES: Rachel Feldman, ILL; Lindsay Enterline, IND; Mallory Husz, IOWA; Sloane Donhoff, MICH; Jenilee Rathje, MSU; Mia Tabberson, MINN; Brigette Root, NEB; Madalyn Shalter, NU; Kelli Barhorst, OSU; Maggie Harding, PSU; Emily Ehlers, PUR; Caroline Workman, WIS
Contact: Sarah VanMetre (734) 763-4423
