2015 All-KIAC Volleyball Teams & Awards Honor First Team, Second Team, Individuals
FLORENCE, Ky. -- The 2015 All-Kentucky Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Volleyball Teams & Awards have named six players to the All-KIAC First Team and seven players to the All-KIAC Second Team as well as recognizing the marquee, individual awards in the conference.
The All-KIAC First Team is led by a repeat selection as the 2015 KIAC Volleyball Player of the Year, senior outside hitter Mallory Livingston of IU East. The native of Union City, Ohio, led the KIAC in kills with 548, a number that ranks fifth in the NAIA. She was also 25th in the nation in kills per game with 3.30.
Livingston, also the 2014 KIAC Player of the Year, took home top honors again this year by leading the Red Wolves to a season of 24-15 overall and 10-2 KIAC as the conference's second-place team in the regular season. She also had 355 digs on the year and led IU East to the KIAC Tournament semifinals.
The KIAC Coach of the Year is also a repeat selection with IU Kokomo's Heather Hayes earning the honor for the second year in a row. She guided the Cougars to the KIAC Regular Season and Tournament championships and the NAIA National Championship Opening Round. Hayes led IU Kokomo to a final record of 34-5 overall and 11-1 KIAC.
The KIAC Libero of the Year is Chandler Brown from the University of Rio Grande, who also earned a spot on the All-KIAC First Team. The junior from Stockdale, Ohio, tied for the KIAC lead with 6.0 digs per set and was second in the conference with 675 total digs. Her digs per set were fifth in the nation.
The KIAC Newcomer of the Year is Nicole Sandmann, a freshman middle hitter from IU Kokomo. The only freshman on the All-KIAC First Team, Sandmann was fifth in the KIAC with a hitting percentage of .263 and seventh with 114 total blocks. She posted 257 total kills.
The KIAC Comeback Player of the Year went to Brooke Bostelman of Rio Grande. The freshman outside hitter totaled 193 kills and 224 digs in a comeback season.
The All-KIAC First Team had six players. Joining KIAC Player of the Year Livingston, Libero of the Year Brown and Newcomer of the Year Sandmann were Lindi Thomas of IU Kokomo, Kayla Morlan of Asbury (Ky.) and Kayla Briley of Rio Grande (Ohio).
Thomas, the second-overall vote getter, is a sophomore outside hitter for IU Kokomo. She was the only player to rank in the Top 10 of the KIAC in kills and digs. She was fifth in the KIAC with 355 kills and sixth with 470 digs.
Morlan is a sophomore middle hitter for Asbury (Ky.). She was sixth in the KIAC with 329 kills and second in hitting percentage at .304.
Briley is a junior setter for Rio Grande (Ohio). She led the KIAC in assists per set at 9.4 and was third in the conference with 1,060 total assists. She also had 364 digs to rank second among setters in the KIAC.
The seven players on the All-KIAC Second Team included one player each from seven different schools. Below is a listing of the 2015 All-KIAC Volleyball Teams & Awards as well as the 2015 KIAC Volleyball Champions of Character Team.
The members of the KIAC Champions of Character Team were chosen as one representative from each team who upholds the five character values of the NAIA's Champions of Character program of respect, responsibility, integrity, servant leadership and sportsmanship.
2015 KIAC VOLLEYBALL AWARDS & TEAMS
Player of the Year -- Mallory Livingston, Sr., OH, IU East
Coach of the Year -- Heather Hayes, IU Kokomo
Libero of the Year -- Chandler Brown, Jr., L, Rio Grande
Newcomer of the Year -- Nicole Sandmann, Fr., MH, IU Kokomo
Comeback Player of the Year -- Brooke Bostelman, Fr., OH, Rio Grande
2015 All-KIAC VOLLEYBALL FIRST TEAM
| Name | Pos. | Cl. | School |
| Mallory Livingston | OH | Sr. | IU East |
| Lindi Thomas | OH | So. | IU Kokomo |
| Kayla Morlan | MH | So. | Asbury (Ky.) |
| Kayla Briley | S | Jr. | Rio Grande |
| Nicole Sandmann | MH | Fr. | IU Kokomo |
| Chandler Brown | L | Jr. | Rio Grande |
2015 ALL-KIAC VOLLEYBALL SECOND TEAM
| Name | Pos. | Cl. | School |
| Cortney Hanson | S | Sr. | IU Kokomo |
| Kellianne Crouse | L | Sr. | Asbury (Ky.) |
| Kelsey Bonk | L | Sr. | Carlow (Pa.) |
| Hannah Joly | OH | Fr. | IU Southeast |
| ShaKyra Young | MH | Sr. | Midway (Ky.) |
| Alisha McBride | MH | So. | Brescia (Ky.) |
| Christy Andrews | MH | Jr. | CCU |
2015 KIAC VOLLEYBALL CHAMPIONS OF CHARACTER TEAM
| Name | School |
| Sarah Huber | Alice Lloyd (Ky.) |
| Anne Haley-Pendleton | Asbury (Ky.) |
| Paige Mingus | Brescia (Ky.) |
| Carly Bonk | Carlow (Pa.) |
| Grace White | CCU |
| Morgan Steinbrunner | IU East |
| Rachel Allen | IU Kokomo |
| Katie Fischer | IU Southeast |
| ShaKyra Young | Midway (Ky.) |
| Olivia Davis | Ohio Christian |
| Paige Baker | Point Park |
| Aleah Pelphrey | Rio Grande |
| Chelsea Dean | WVU Tech |
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