Volleyball Breaks Program Record with Five Athletes Named to All-Conference Teams
November 15, 2023 | Volleyball
Runnin’ Bulldogs earn multiple spots on All-Conference teams
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The Big South announced the selections for the 2023 All-Conference Teams on Wednesday afternoon with five Runnin' Bulldogs being named to the rosters. The five total honorees set a new program record for number of postseason awards players have received, last set by the 'Dawgs 2022 team.
Sophomore libero Sophia Kotsovolos was named the Defensive Player of the Year and secured a spot on First Team after posting career-highs in digs and digs per set. Kotsovolos' Defensive Player of the Year award is the first time a Runnin' Bulldog has earned this honor. Kotsovolos, a three-time Libero of the Week this season, led the Big South in overall digs with 474 (4.89 dig/s) and digs within the conference with 253 (4.87 dig/s). Against Presbyterian on Senior Day, she recorded a career-high 37 digs, which tied her for the seventh most digs in a match in GWU program history.
Kotsovolos is also the program's first player to make a First Team All-Conference Team. Her efforts have helped lead Gardner-Webb make its first semifinal appearance in program history and a secure a program record eight conference wins in a season. Kotsovolos currently sits at 11th in program history for digs in a season with 474 and 6th for digs per set with 4.89. Her efforts have helped lead Gardner-Webb make its first semifinal appearance in program history and a secure a program record eight conference wins in a season.
After combining for three freshman of the week awards this season, outside hitters Jenna Otts and Madison Smith were selected to the All-Freshman Team. Otts ended league play in 2nd in kills with 327 and 3.37 per set. Otts currently sits at 6th in program history for kills per set in a season with 3.37. She also remains in the top 10 in points per set with 3.59. Otts was also runner-up for the Freshman of the Year award.
In her freshman campaign, Smith compiled 274 points (2.91 pts/s), 221 kills (2.35 k/s), 42 service aces, and 224 digs. She finished league play 2nd in service aces and 10th in kills throughout conference competition. The Winter Garden, Florida native ended league play with eight double-doubles as well.
Junior middle blocker Autumn Flowers made the most of her time in Boiling Springs being named Honorable Mention after joining the team from Butler University. Flowers ended Big South play in 6th for hitting percent at .263 with 109 kills against conference competition. She had the third-highest point total on the team with 218.5 and led the Runnin' Bulldogs with 67 total blocks at the net.
Sophomore setter Morgan Hornaday was named to the All-Academic Team after posting a 3.97 GPA pursing a degree in exercise science. Hornaday ranks 1st on the team in assists per set with 5.25 and 2nd on the team in total assists with 310.
The selections cap off a 2023 season that saw Gardner-Webb collect their most conference wins in program history. In addition to the student-athlete honorees, GWU's Head Coach Eric Plunkett was the runner-up in the Coach of the Year voting.
2023 Big South Conference Volleyball Award Winners
First-Team All-Conference
Dylan Maberry, OH, Sr., High Point
Brookelynn Thomas, MB/OH, Sr., Winthrop
Eve Wilson, MB, Fr., High Point
Jordyn Schilling, DS, Soph., High Point
Christine Graf, RS/OH, Gr., High Point
Allie Gray, S, Jr., High Point
Sophia Kotsovolos, LIB, Soph., Gardner-Webb
Second-Team All-Conference
Avery Jolley, OH/OPP, Soph., Winthrop
Jenna Otts, OH/RS, Fr., Gardner-Webb
Ady O'Grady, MB, Soph., USC Upstate
Kasey Battle, OPP, Sr., Presbyterian College
BayLea Sparks, MB, R-Fr., High Point
Isabella Murray, S, R-Soph., Winthrop
Hannah Rowe, OH, Jr., Presbyterian College
Honorable Mention All-Conference
Autumn Flowers, MB, Jr., Gardner-Webb
Sophie Paspal, MB, Jr., Radford
Ashleigh Nicoll, OH, Jr., USC Upstate
Kayla Spangler, S, Jr., USC Upstate
Riley Oglevie, OH/OPP, Sr., Winthrop (tie)
Hailey Grocholski, MB, Sr., Presbyterian College (tie)
All-Freshman Team
Eve Wilson, MB, Fr., High Point
Jenna Otts, OH/RS, Fr., Gardner-Webb
BayLea Sparks, MB, R-Fr., High Point
Madison Smith, OH/RS, Fr., Gardner-Webb
Ashley Miller, OH, Fr., Presbyterian College
Teagan Sychterz, MB, Fr., Winthrop
Albertine van der Goot, S/RS, Fr., UNC Asheville
All-Academic Team
Indigo Young, Sr, Charleston Southern
Morgan Hornaday, Soph., Gardner-Webb
Evy Eckensberger, Sr., High Point
Kinsey Bailey, Sr., Presbyterian College
Sophie Paspal, Jr., Radford
Ona Elkins, Sr., UNC Asheville
Julia Gladhill, Jr, USC Upstate
Karli Shepherd, Jr., Winthrop
Player of the Year
Dylan Maberry, OH, Sr., High Point
Setter of the Year Allie Gray, Jr., High Point
Defensive Player of the Year Sophia Kotsovolos, LIB, Soph., Gardner-Webb
Freshman of the Year
Eve Wilson, MB, Fr., High Point
Newcomer of the Year
Christine Graf, RS/OH, Gr., High Point
Coach of the Year
Ryan Meek, High Point
Scholar-Athlete of the Year
Ona Elkins, Sr., UNC Asheville
Voting Results
Player of the Year (based on top vote-getter for All-Conference)
Dylan Maberry, OH, Sr., High Point (133 points, 7 first-place votes)
Brookelynn Thomas, MB/OH, Sr., Winthrop (113 points, 1 first-place vote)
Eve Wilson, MB, Fr., High Point (96 points)
Setter of the Year (nominated and voted on separately, automatically named to First-Team All-Conference)
Allie Gray, S, Jr., High Point (18 points, 5 first-place votes)
Isabella Murray, S, R-Soph., Winthrop (14 points, 1 first-place vote)
Ilaria Durante, Charleston Southern (9 points, 2 first-place votes)
Defensive Player of the Year (nominated and voted on separately, automatically named to First-Team All-Conference)
Sophia Kotsovolos, LIB, Soph., Gardner-Webb (16 points, 4 first-place votes)
Jordyn Schilling, DS, Soph., High Point (15 points, 3 first-place votes)
Brookelynn Thomas, MB/OH, Sr., Winthrop (7 points)
Freshman of the Year (based on top vote-getter for All-Freshman Team)
Eve Wilson, MB, Fr., High Point (45 points, 4 first-place votes)
Jenna Otts, OH/RS, Fr., Gardner-Webb (43 points, 3 first-place votes)
BayLea Sparks, MB, R-Fr., High Point (31 points)
Newcomer of the Year (nominated and voted on separately)
Christine Graf, RS/OH, Gr., High Point (20 points, 6 first-place votes)
Autumn Flowers, MB, Jr., Gardner-Webb (12 points)
Hannah Rowe, OH, Jr., Presbyterian College (10 points)
Coach of the Year
Ryan Meek, High Point (18 points, 4 first-place votes)
Eric Plunkett, Gardner-Webb (12 points, 2 first-place votes)
Heather Gearhart, Winthrop (9 points, 1 first-place vote)
Sophomore libero Sophia Kotsovolos was named the Defensive Player of the Year and secured a spot on First Team after posting career-highs in digs and digs per set. Kotsovolos' Defensive Player of the Year award is the first time a Runnin' Bulldog has earned this honor. Kotsovolos, a three-time Libero of the Week this season, led the Big South in overall digs with 474 (4.89 dig/s) and digs within the conference with 253 (4.87 dig/s). Against Presbyterian on Senior Day, she recorded a career-high 37 digs, which tied her for the seventh most digs in a match in GWU program history.
Kotsovolos is also the program's first player to make a First Team All-Conference Team. Her efforts have helped lead Gardner-Webb make its first semifinal appearance in program history and a secure a program record eight conference wins in a season. Kotsovolos currently sits at 11th in program history for digs in a season with 474 and 6th for digs per set with 4.89. Her efforts have helped lead Gardner-Webb make its first semifinal appearance in program history and a secure a program record eight conference wins in a season.
After combining for three freshman of the week awards this season, outside hitters Jenna Otts and Madison Smith were selected to the All-Freshman Team. Otts ended league play in 2nd in kills with 327 and 3.37 per set. Otts currently sits at 6th in program history for kills per set in a season with 3.37. She also remains in the top 10 in points per set with 3.59. Otts was also runner-up for the Freshman of the Year award.
In her freshman campaign, Smith compiled 274 points (2.91 pts/s), 221 kills (2.35 k/s), 42 service aces, and 224 digs. She finished league play 2nd in service aces and 10th in kills throughout conference competition. The Winter Garden, Florida native ended league play with eight double-doubles as well.
Junior middle blocker Autumn Flowers made the most of her time in Boiling Springs being named Honorable Mention after joining the team from Butler University. Flowers ended Big South play in 6th for hitting percent at .263 with 109 kills against conference competition. She had the third-highest point total on the team with 218.5 and led the Runnin' Bulldogs with 67 total blocks at the net.
Sophomore setter Morgan Hornaday was named to the All-Academic Team after posting a 3.97 GPA pursing a degree in exercise science. Hornaday ranks 1st on the team in assists per set with 5.25 and 2nd on the team in total assists with 310.
The selections cap off a 2023 season that saw Gardner-Webb collect their most conference wins in program history. In addition to the student-athlete honorees, GWU's Head Coach Eric Plunkett was the runner-up in the Coach of the Year voting.
2023 Big South Conference Volleyball Award Winners
First-Team All-Conference
Dylan Maberry, OH, Sr., High Point
Brookelynn Thomas, MB/OH, Sr., Winthrop
Eve Wilson, MB, Fr., High Point
Jordyn Schilling, DS, Soph., High Point
Christine Graf, RS/OH, Gr., High Point
Allie Gray, S, Jr., High Point
Sophia Kotsovolos, LIB, Soph., Gardner-Webb
Second-Team All-Conference
Avery Jolley, OH/OPP, Soph., Winthrop
Jenna Otts, OH/RS, Fr., Gardner-Webb
Ady O'Grady, MB, Soph., USC Upstate
Kasey Battle, OPP, Sr., Presbyterian College
BayLea Sparks, MB, R-Fr., High Point
Isabella Murray, S, R-Soph., Winthrop
Hannah Rowe, OH, Jr., Presbyterian College
Honorable Mention All-Conference
Autumn Flowers, MB, Jr., Gardner-Webb
Sophie Paspal, MB, Jr., Radford
Ashleigh Nicoll, OH, Jr., USC Upstate
Kayla Spangler, S, Jr., USC Upstate
Riley Oglevie, OH/OPP, Sr., Winthrop (tie)
Hailey Grocholski, MB, Sr., Presbyterian College (tie)
All-Freshman Team
Eve Wilson, MB, Fr., High Point
Jenna Otts, OH/RS, Fr., Gardner-Webb
BayLea Sparks, MB, R-Fr., High Point
Madison Smith, OH/RS, Fr., Gardner-Webb
Ashley Miller, OH, Fr., Presbyterian College
Teagan Sychterz, MB, Fr., Winthrop
Albertine van der Goot, S/RS, Fr., UNC Asheville
All-Academic Team
Indigo Young, Sr, Charleston Southern
Morgan Hornaday, Soph., Gardner-Webb
Evy Eckensberger, Sr., High Point
Kinsey Bailey, Sr., Presbyterian College
Sophie Paspal, Jr., Radford
Ona Elkins, Sr., UNC Asheville
Julia Gladhill, Jr, USC Upstate
Karli Shepherd, Jr., Winthrop
Player of the Year
Dylan Maberry, OH, Sr., High Point
Setter of the Year Allie Gray, Jr., High Point
Defensive Player of the Year Sophia Kotsovolos, LIB, Soph., Gardner-Webb
Freshman of the Year
Eve Wilson, MB, Fr., High Point
Newcomer of the Year
Christine Graf, RS/OH, Gr., High Point
Coach of the Year
Ryan Meek, High Point
Scholar-Athlete of the Year
Ona Elkins, Sr., UNC Asheville
Voting Results
Player of the Year (based on top vote-getter for All-Conference)
Dylan Maberry, OH, Sr., High Point (133 points, 7 first-place votes)
Brookelynn Thomas, MB/OH, Sr., Winthrop (113 points, 1 first-place vote)
Eve Wilson, MB, Fr., High Point (96 points)
Setter of the Year (nominated and voted on separately, automatically named to First-Team All-Conference)
Allie Gray, S, Jr., High Point (18 points, 5 first-place votes)
Isabella Murray, S, R-Soph., Winthrop (14 points, 1 first-place vote)
Ilaria Durante, Charleston Southern (9 points, 2 first-place votes)
Defensive Player of the Year (nominated and voted on separately, automatically named to First-Team All-Conference)
Sophia Kotsovolos, LIB, Soph., Gardner-Webb (16 points, 4 first-place votes)
Jordyn Schilling, DS, Soph., High Point (15 points, 3 first-place votes)
Brookelynn Thomas, MB/OH, Sr., Winthrop (7 points)
Freshman of the Year (based on top vote-getter for All-Freshman Team)
Eve Wilson, MB, Fr., High Point (45 points, 4 first-place votes)
Jenna Otts, OH/RS, Fr., Gardner-Webb (43 points, 3 first-place votes)
BayLea Sparks, MB, R-Fr., High Point (31 points)
Newcomer of the Year (nominated and voted on separately)
Christine Graf, RS/OH, Gr., High Point (20 points, 6 first-place votes)
Autumn Flowers, MB, Jr., Gardner-Webb (12 points)
Hannah Rowe, OH, Jr., Presbyterian College (10 points)
Coach of the Year
Ryan Meek, High Point (18 points, 4 first-place votes)
Eric Plunkett, Gardner-Webb (12 points, 2 first-place votes)
Heather Gearhart, Winthrop (9 points, 1 first-place vote)
Players Mentioned
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