(Photos courtesy of David Faulkner, SPX Sports)
BLOOMINGTON, Minn. – The Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) came out with its annual volleyball awards Wednesday, and juniors Hailey Embacher (Jr., Mankato) and Kate Holtan (Jr., Rochester) were named MIAC all-conference. It is Holtan’s third consecutive all-conference honor while Embacher is making her first appearance.
Embacher took over as the team’s libero with the departure of Brittany Luethmers in 2019 and had a solid junior campaign in the back row for the Black and Gold. The Mankato native ranked third in the MIAC this year with 552 digs in 29 matches, averaging 5.26 per set. Embacher was also strong on the serve, notching 40 service aces which were the fifth most in the conference, while also adding 68 set assists. The junior notched double-digit digs in all but two matches for the Gusties, eclipsing 15-plus in 23 of the teams 29 matches, including a career high of 31 on Oct. 12 in the team’s match versus UW-La Crosse. In her first three seasons in the Black and Gold, Embacher has 737 digs, 90 assists, and 53 service aces.
For the third consecutive year, Holtan was named all-conference after leading the MIAC in kills with 402, which is the fifth most in a season in Gustavus history. The junior had a record-breaking year as the had 24 matches with double-digit kills, which is the third most in school history, and she also had 14 matches with double-digit kills and digs. She ended the season with 13 straight games with at least 10 kills, and she eclipsed 20 four times in that span, including a career-high 25 versus Hamline on Oct. 5. To go along with the 402 kills, Holtan added 317 digs, 40 service aces, and 43 assists in 2019. The Rochester native has climbed the Gustavus leaderboard through her first three seasons, as she has compiled the eighth most kills in school history with 1,177 and has more kills per set (3.50) than any other Gustie volleyball player who has ever eclipsed 500 kills. Holtan, who has 923 career digs, will look to join Katie Olstad in her senior campaign as the only other Gustie to have 1,000 career kills and digs.
As part of a continued conference-wide sportsmanship initiative, the MIAC announced the 14th-annual All-MIAC Sportsmanship team for volleyball. Members of the All-MIAC Sportsmanship team are selected by their coaches as individuals who demonstrate ideals of positive sportsmanship both on and off the court with Ella Johnson (Sr., Paynesville) being selected for the Gusties.