Image Gallery:

UI Volleyball Media Day 2012

» more

Photo by: John Dixon

Annie Luhrsen (11) at UI Volleyball Media Day at Huff Hall on Friday Aug. 10, 2012.

PARK RIDGE — Illinois volleyball players Liz McMahon and Jocelynn Birks were honored Tuesday by the Big Ten in the conference’s annual presentation of postseason awards.

McMahon, a sophomore right-side hitter/outside hitter, was named to the 16-player All-Big Ten team. Birks, a redshirt freshman outside hitter, was a unanimous choice for the All-Freshman Team as well as being voted All-Big Ten honorable mention.

McMahon was a first-time All-Big Ten selection. The Liberty Township, Ohio, native previously was named to the 2011 All-Freshman Team and was a  2012 Preseason All-Big Ten honoree. With McMahon’s latest honor, the UI extended its streak of representatives on the All-Big Ten team to five consecutive years.

McMahon ranked second among Illini players in kills (400) and points (470.5), and was third on the team in hitting percentage (.270), blocks (97) and service aces (16). On Nov. 21 at Northwestern, she recorded Illinois’ first 30-kill match since 2008.

In her first collegiate season, Birks led the Illini with 510 kills, averaging 4.15 per set, and in aces with 27. She also ranked second in digs (262). The Willow Springs native became the 10th Illini to reach 500 kills in a season during the team’s final match at Iowa.

Birks finished the year ninth on the all-time UI list for single-season kills and totaled the second-most kills ever by a UI freshman. The four-time Big Ten Freshman of the Week had 20 or more kills 11 times, which ranks sixth in UI history, as well as 13 double-doubles. Birks finished the regular season ranked fifth in the Big Ten in kills and sixth in points.

Illini middle blocker Jessica Jendryk was one of 12 players, one from each conference team, to earn the Big Ten Sportsmanship Award in women’s volleyball.

The lists of honorees:

ALL-BIG TEN*

Liz McMahon, So., OPP, ILL

Jennifer Cross, Jr., MB, MICH

Lexi Erwin, Jr., OH, MICH

LAUREN WICINSKI, JR., OH, MSU

TORI DIXON, JR., MB, MINN (2)

KATHERINE HARMS, SR., OPP, MINN

Lauren Cook, Sr., S, NEB (2)

GINA MANCUSO, SR., OH, NEB (2)

Hannah Werth, Sr., OH, NEB (2)

Stephanie Holthus, Jr., OH, NU (2)

MARI HOLE, SR., OH, OSU (2)

DEJA McCLENDON, JR., OH, PSU (3)

Micha Hancock, So., S, PSU

Katie Slay, Jr., MH, PSU (2)

ARIEL SCOTT, Jr., OH, PSU (2)

ARIEL TURNER, Sr., OH, PUR (2)


Honorable Mention

Jocelynn Birks, Fr., OH, ILL

Jordan Haverly, Jr., OH, IND

Kori Moster, So., LIB, MSU

Ashley Wittman, Jr., OH, MINN

Emily Danks, Sr., RS, OSU

Kaitlyn Leary, Jr., OH, OSU

Carly Cramer, Jr., LIB, PUR


ALL-FRESHMAN TEAM

JOCELYNN BIRKS, OH, ILL

TIFFANY MORALES, LIB, MICH

Halle Peterson, S, MSU

DALY SANTANA, OH, MINN

MEGHAN HAGGERTY, MB, NEB

MEGAN COURTNEY, OH, PSU

Annie Drews, OPP, PUR


* Additional honorees due to a tie

Unanimous selections in CAPS

PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Ariel Scott, PSU

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Kori Moster, MSU

SETTER OF THE YEAR: Micha Hancock, PSU

FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR: Megan Courtney, PSU

COACH OF THE YEAR (COACHES AND MEDIA): Russ Rose, PSU

SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD HONOREES

Jessica Jendryk, ILL

Samantha Thrower, IND

Allison Straumann, IOWA

Claire McElheny, MICH

Kristen Kelsay, MSU

Mia Tabberson, MINN

Allison McNeal, NEB

Madalyn Shalter, NU

Alyssa Winner, OSU

Kristen Carpenter, PSU

Rachel Davis, PUR

Julie Mikaelsen, WIS