Cole, Welsh Earn All-B1G Conference Honors
11/29/2016 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Nov. 29, 2016
ROSEMONT, Ill. -- University of Michigan volleyball senior Abby Cole was selected to the 2016 All-Big Ten Conference First Team, and freshman MacKenzi Welsh received a selection to the All-Big Ten Freshman Team, it was announced by the Big Ten Conference office on Tuesday (Nov. 29). Michigan senior Kelly Murphy also earned postseason accolades as Michigan's Sportsmanship Award winner.
After earning a 2013 All-Big Ten Freshman Selection and selections to the 2014 and 2015 All-Big Ten Team, Cole wrapped up the 2016 regular season with her fourth straight Big Ten postseason honor. A native of Grand Haven, Michigan, the senior captain and middle blocker has led Michigan in attacking this season, averaging 3.16 kills per set at a .319 average. Playing in all of the Wolverines' 32 matches and starting all but one, Cole has tallied double-figure kills in 18 contests, finishing 15 matches hitting more than.300. She has also led Michigan starters in blocking, posting 30 solo blocks on the year with 1.03 blocks per set. Cole was also a unanimous 2016 All-Big Ten Preseason selection and was the MVP of the Michigan Invitational, K-State Invitational and Michigan/EMU Challenge tournaments.
In her debut season with the Wolverines, Welsh made an immediate impact from the setter position. A four-time Big Ten Freshman of the Week, Welsh has started every match and played every set for the Maize and Blue, finishing the regular season with 1,258 assists at 10.6 assists per set. The freshman setter has also recorded 12 assist-dig double-doubles, registering a career-high 73 assists in Michigan's five-set loss at No. 2 Minnesota two weeks ago. She also ranks second on the team with 272 digs at 2.29 digs per set and has totaled 55 blocks through the regular season.
After battling injuries throughout her first four years with Michigan volleyball, Murphy has played a key role in Michigan's success this season as a team captain and starter, earning the Big Ten Sportsmanship Award for the Wolverines. The outside hitter has played in all 32 matches for Michigan, making 27 starts and ranking third on the team with 2.43 kills per set. She is also a three-year captain for the Wolverines.
In the specialty awards, Minnesota's Sarah Wilhite was named the Big Ten Player of the Year, while Nebraska coach John Cook earned Coach of the Year Honors, and Wisconsin's Molly Haggerty was tabbed the Freshman of the Year. Minnesota also took home the Setter of the Year honor, awarded to Samantha Seliger-Swenson, and Nebraska's Justine Wong-Orantes was tabbed the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year for the second straight season.
Michigan (22-10) will host the first and second round of the NCAA Tournament after earning a program-best No. 12 seed. Making their 10th NCAA Tournament appearance in 11 years and their 16th overall, the Wolverines will kick off action in Ann Arbor against the visiting American University Eagles on Thursday (Dec. 1) at 7:30 p.m. in Crisler Center. [ Regional Central ]
ALL-BIG TEN
Ali Bastianelli, So., MB, ILL
Jordyn Poulter, So., S, ILL
ABBY COLE, Sr., MB, MICH
Alyssa Garvelink, Jr., MB, MSU
SARAH WILHITE, Sr., OH MINN
SAMANTHA SELIGER-SWENSON, So., S, MINN
Hannah Tapp, Sr., MB, MINN
Kelly Hunter, Jr., S, NEB
Amber Rolfzen, Sr., MB, NEB
KADIE ROLFZEN, Sr., OH, NEB
JUSTINE WONG-ORANTES, Sr., L, NEB
TAYLOR SANDBOTHE, Sr., MB, OSU
SIMONE LEE, Jr., OH, PSU
HALEIGH WASHINGTON, Jr., MB, PSU
DANIELLE CUTTINO, Jr., OH, PUR
LAUREN CARLINI, Sr., S, WIS
Haleigh Nelson, Sr., MB WIS
Tionna Williams, So., MB, WIS
HONORABLE MENTION
Brandi Donnelly, Jr., L, ILL
Jazzmine McDonald, Sr., MB, IND
Loxley Keala, Sr., S, IOWA
Gia Milana, Fr., OH, MD
MacKenzi Welsh, Fr., S, MICH
Autumn Bailey, Jr., OH, MSU
Rachel Minarick, Jr., S, MSU
Molly Lohman, Jr., MB, MINN
Mikaela Foecke, So., OH, NEB
Briana Holman, Jr., MB, NEB
Symone Abbott, Jr., OH, NU
Taylor Hughes, So., S, OSU
Faye Adelaja, Sr., MB, PUR
Molly Haggerty, Fr., OH, WIS
ALL-FRESHMAN TEAM
Jacqueline Quade, OH, ILL
GIA MILANA, OH, MD
MacKenzi Welsh, S, MICH
Alexis Hart, OH, MINN
Tori Gorrell, MB, PSU
Kendall White, L, PSU
MOLLY HAGGERTY, OH, WIS
Unanimous selections in CAPS
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Sarah Wilhite, MINN
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Justine Wong-Orantes, NEB
SETTER OF THE YEAR
Samantha Seliger-Swenson, MINN
FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR
Molly Haggerty, WIS
COACH OF THE YEAR (COACHES AND MEDIA)
John Cook, NEB
SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD HONOREES
Katie Stadick, ILL
Jessica Leish, IND
Ashley Mariana, IOWA
Samantha Higginbothem, MD
Kelly Murphy, MICH
Alyssah Fitterer, MSU
Paige Tapp, MINN
Brooke Smith, NEB
Caleigh Ryan, NU
Kylie Randall, OSU
Faye Adelaja, PUR
Laura Broerman, PSU
Mikaela Matthews, RU
Tori Blake, WIS
Communications Contact: Katie Gwinn Hewitt
