Annika Black Graduate Assistant | Western Illinois University Leathernecks Website
Annika Black Graduate Assistant | Western Illinois University Leathernecks Website
Western Illinois outside hitter Keyana Cruse has been named to the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) All-First Team, as announced by the league on Sunday. Cruse, a native of Bonner Springs, becomes the first Leatherneck volleyball player to achieve this honor since 2007. Earlier in the season, she was also recognized as the OVC Offensive Player of the Week.
Cruse leads her team in several offensive categories with 379 kills and an average of 3.45 per set. She also averages 4.03 points per set. Defensively, she ranks second on her team with 342 digs and third with a total of 65 blocks.
The OVC also announced other awards for the season: "OVC Player of the Year: Giovana Larregui López, Eastern Illinois," "OVC Defensive Player of the Year: Tara Beilsmith, Southeast Missouri," "OVC Setter of the Year: Catalina Rochaix, Eastern Illinois," "OVC Freshman of the Year: Lucy Arndt, Southeast Missouri," and "OVC Coach of the Year: Sara Thomas, Eastern Illinois."
The All-OVC First Team includes players from various schools such as Eastern Illinois' Giovana Larregui López and Southern Indiana's Leah Anderson among others. The Second Team features athletes like Abby Bednar from Southern Indiana and Jordan Karlen from Tennessee Tech.
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