Sherden, Taylor And Holtan Highlight 2015 MIAC Volleyball Awards

BLOOMINGTON, Minn. – The Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference announced its 2015 Volleyball Awards on Wednesday and Gustavus took home three of the top four honors. Rachelle Sherden earned Coach-of-the-Year, Alyssa Taylor (Sr., Trimont, Minn.) earned Player-of-the-Year and Nora Holtan (Fy., Rochester, Minn.) earned Rookie-of-the-Year. Along with Taylor and Holtan, Brittany Luethmers (Fy., Prior Lake, Minn.) and Taylor Trautman (Jr., Hutchinson, Minn.) were named to the All-Conference Team. This year’s four All-MIAC selections for Gustavus marks the second time in program history that four Gusties were selected.

Coach Rachelle Sherden, in her sixth season at the helm of the Gustavus volleyball program, has directed the Gusties to a program record 25-match winning streak en route to their first conference championship since 1986. The improvement from an 11-15 overall record last year to a 25-2 mark this season is the greatest turnaround in the 47-year history of Gustavus volleyball. The Gusties are currently ranked No. 2 in the Central Region and are set to host their first MIAC Playoff game since 2008. Coach Sherden has helped this season’s squad to fulfill its potential as it was picked to finish sixth in the MIAC Preseason Coaches’ Poll. Sherden’s MIAC Coach-of-the-Year award is the second by a Gustavus head coach as former coach Kari Eckheart shared the honor in 2006.

Alyssa Taylor becomes the first Gustavus volleyball player to earn the MIAC Player-of-the-Year honor (MIAC started the award in 1990). Taylor is also just the third Gustie to earn All-Conference honors three times after the duo of Linn Erickson and Valerie Flom earned All-MIAC in 1985, ’86 and ’87. After 25 matches played this season, Taylor, a middle hitter, ranks second in the league and 17th in the nation in blocks per set (1.14) and is second in the MIAC in hitting percentage (.346). The Martin County West product leads the team in kills (276), kills per set (3.07) and total blocks (103). Throughout her three seasons wearing the Black and Gold, Taylor has a combined 910 career kills, which ranks 16th in program history.

Nora Holtan becomes the first Gustavus volleyball player to earn the MIAC Rookie-of-the-Year honor (MIAC started the award in 2001). In her first season at Gustavus, Holtan ranks second in the league in both assists (840) and assists per set (8.84). The Rochester, Minn. native has also proven to be a solid defender with 238 digs, which are third most on the team. Holtan is not afraid to send the ball quickly over the net if she sees an opening. Throughout the season she has recorded multiple kills on set-dumps and has totaled 106 kills (1.12 per set). On the serve, Holtan has a team-leading 28 aces in 27 matches this year.

In her first season wearing the Black and Gold, Brittany Luethmers earns a spot on the All-MIAC Team. The Prior Lake, Minn. native has been the team’s libero all season and leads the Gusties on the back line with 467 digs and a 4.81 digs per set average, both of which rank eighth in the MIAC. To go along with her defensive stats, Luethmers has recorded 67 assists, 23 service aces, and five kills in 27 matches played this season.

In her second season on the Gustavus varsity roster, Taylor Trautman joins three teammates on the All-Conference Team. Trautman has the third most kills on the team with 226 and averages 2.43 kills per set from her ride side position. The Hutchinson product has been a go-to hitter on the Gustie offense as she is arguably the hardest hitting attacker in the MIAC. Trautman is also a solid contributor on the serve with 25 aces, which are second most on the team. She also has recorded 175 digs, 42 blocks and 14 assists as a true all-around player.

As part of a conference-wide sportsmanship initiative, the MIAC announced the 10th-annual All-MIAC Sportsmanship team for volleyball. Members of the All-MIAC Sportsmanship team are selected by their coaches and teammates as individuals who demonstrate ideals of positive sportsmanship both on and off the field of competition. This season’s representative from Gustavus is Sarah Scheutz (Sr., Eagan, Minn.).

MIAC Release