KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association has announced its postseason awards and All-MIAA teams for the 2023 volleyball season, naming five Griffons to the list.

Forty-five volleyball student-athletes earned All-MIAA honors in the 2023 season, which concluded Saturday, November 11. Central Missouri captured the regular season title with an impressive league record of 18-2. The championship is the Jennie's second regular season title in the last three seasons and the program's 26th overall.

Three student-athletes highlighted the Association's four postseason awards. Olivia Olson of Central Missouri was named the MIAA Player of the Year and Setter of the Year. Jaedynn Evans of Central Oklahoma was voted the Association's Defensive Player of the Year and Holly Heldt of Missouri Western was selected the Freshman of the Year. Head Coach of the Jennies, Caitlin Peterson, was named the MIAA Coach of the Year.

Holly Heldt, a first-year from Hermann, Missouri, led Missouri Western in points, kills, and service aces – ranking in the MIAA's top five in each category. She concluded regular-season competition with 326 total kills for 3.31 kills per set to rank fifth in the MIAA. Her 31 service aces tied for third in the league. Her 392.5 total points was the fourth-most in the league and her 3.81 points per set ranked fifth. Heldt also added 3.34 digs per set to rank in the MIAA's top-15 defense. She is the fourth MIAA Freshman of the Year in MWSU history.
 
Olivia Olson, a redshirt senior from Malone, Wisconsin, is an all-around player for the Jennies. Starting every match this season, Olson ranked in the MIAA's top 20 in assists, kills, hitting percentage, blocks and service aces. She led the MIAA with 1163 total assists while her 10.77 assists per set ranked second in the league. The setter also averaged 1.86 points per set, 1.11 kills per set, 2.61 digs per set 0.81 blocks per set.
 
Jaedynn Evans, a junior from Kalona, Iowa, is the Division II leader with 6.35 digs per set. She was unanimously voted the Defensive Player of the Year by all MIAA coaches. Evans dominated the MIAA with 610 total digs. The Bronchos All-American also totaled 70 assists and nine service aces in the regular season. 
 
In just her second season leading the Jennies, Head Coach Caitlin Peterson led Central Missouri to the 2023 MIAA regular season title. Prior to being named head coach, Peterson served as the senior associate, associate, and assistant coach for the Jennies for nine seasons. She has been with the Central Missouri volleyball program for a combined 17 seasons as both a coach and a volleyball student-athlete.
 
Below is a complete list of the 2023 MIAA volleyball postseason awards and All-MIAA teams.
 
Central Missouri led the MIAA with eight individual awards followed by Nebraska Kearney (7), Central Oklahoma (6), Missouri Western (5), Washburn (4) and Northwest Missouri (4), Fort Hays State (3) and Missouri Southern (1), Emporia State (2) and Pittsburg State (2), and Newman (1).
 
2023 MIAA VOLLEYBALL POSTSEASON AWARDS 
Player of the Year: Olivia Olson, Central Missouri, S, R-Sr. 
Defensive Player of the Year: Jaedynn Evans, Central Oklahoma, L/DS, Gr.*
Setter of the Year: Olivia Olson, Central Missouri, R-Sr. 
Freshman of the Year: Holly Heldt, Missouri Western, OH
Coach of the Year: Caitlin Peterson, Central Missouri
*Indicates Unanimous Selection

2023 ALL-MIAA FIRST TEAM 
Abby Brunssen, MB – Northwest Missouri
Emersen Cyza, OH – Nebraska Kearney
Elinor Engel, MB – Central Missouri
Jaedynn Evans, L/DS – Central Oklahoma*
Jaden Ferguson, RS – Nebraska Kearney*
Holly Heldt, OH – Missouri Western
Sydney Huck, OH – Central Oklahoma
Jenna Karp, MB – Central Oklahoma
Peyton Neff, S – Nebraska Kearney
Kersti Nix, OH – Central Missouri*
Olivia Olson, S – Central Missouri*
Sandora Sasaki, OH/RS – Emporia State*
Rachel Schwensen, RS – Washburn
Jalyn Stevenson, OH – Washburn
Anna Weberg, L/DS – Missouri Western
Rachel Ziesman, MB – Central Missouri
-- Reflects Ties in Voting
*Indicates Unanimous Selection

2023 ALL-MIAA SECOND TEAM 
Mia Berg, MB – Nebraska Kearney
Fernanda Canedo, OH – Missouri Southern
Emily Ellis, MB – Fort Hays State
Lindsey Houran, S – Central Oklahoma
Nessa Johnson, S – Missouri Western
Avery Kemp, MB – Northwest Missouri
Mallorie Koehn, OH – Central Oklahoma
Sydney Lierz, OH – Central Missouri
Corinna McMullen, S – Washburn
Danielle Moje, MB – Missouri Western
Amelia Neels, MB – Missouri Southern
Taylor Rottinghaus, L/DS – Washburn
Taylor Russell, OH – Missouri Western
Emma Siron, OH/RS – Central Missouri
Lauren Taubenheim, L/DS – Nebraska Kearney
Janae Thurston, OH – Pittsburg State
Addison Wimmer, OH – Central Oklahoma
-- Reflects Ties in Voting
 
2023 ALL-MIAA HONORABLE MENTION 
Central Missouri: Grace Southern, MB; Grace Winkelmann, L/DS
Emporia State: Brailee Dogle, S
Fort Hays State: Riley Tinder, OH; Gracie Rains, OH
Missouri Southern: Kyla Randall, L/DS
Nebraska Kearney: Asha Regier, OH; Jensen Rowse, L/DS
Newman: Ozioma Ajekwu, MB
Northwest Missouri: Ella Caffery, S; Kyah Luhring, L/DS
Pittsburg State: Josie McCroskey, L/DS