St. Paul, Minn. -- The Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) announced the 2009 MIAC Volleyball Awards today, November 4, 2009. University of St. Thomas junior setter Emily Foster leads the award winners after being named the MIAC Player of the Year. Foster helped the Tommies to a share of the MIAC title by averaging a league-leading 12.30 set assists per set.
Carleton College senior libero Laura Barsness was named the MIAC Defensive Player of the Year. Barsness averaged 5.31 digs per set during conference play. St. Catherine University first-year setter Nina Lindquist was named the MIAC Rookie of the Year. Lindquist averaged 10.75 set assists per set during the MIAC season for the Wildcats.
College of Saint Benedict head coach Michelle Blaeser and St. Catherine University head coach Nicole Hess were named the MIAC Volleyball Co-Coaches of the Year for 2009. Blaeser guided the Blazers to a 10-1 MIAC record and a share of the MIAC title, their first since 1998. Hess led St. Catherine to a 6-5 record in conference play, good for a tie for fourth place in the standings.
As part of a conference-wide sportsmanship initiative, the MIAC announced the fourth 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.
2009 MIAC Volleyball Awards
Player of the Year - Emily Foster, St. Thomas (Jr., S, Minnetonka, Minn./Hopkins)
Defensive Player of the Year - Laura Barsness, Carleton (Sr., L/DS, Lakeville, Minn./North)
Rookie of the Year - Nina Lindquist, St. Catherine (Fy., S, St. Cloud, Minn./Cathedral)
Co-Coaches of the Year - Michelle Blaeser, Saint Benedict (10th season) & Nicole Hess, St. Catherine (7th season)
2009 MIAC All-Conference
| Name | Team | Year | Position | Hometown/High School |
| Nicki Ainsworth | Gustavus | Jr. | OH | Eden Prairie, Minn. |
| Kyley Crotty | St. Thomas | Sr. | OH | Maplewood, Minn./North St. Paul |
| Annie Eckhoff | Carleton | Sr. | MH | Northfield, Minn. |
| Emily Foster | St. Thomas | Jr. | S | Minnetonka, Minn./Hopkins |
| Sarah Gardner | Saint Mary's | Jr. | RS | Rochester, Minn./Mayo |
| Jenna Green | Concordia | So. | OH | Dilworth, Minn./Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton |
| Beth Hanson | Saint Benedict | Sr. | S | Faribault, Minn./Bethlehem Academy |
| Maria Hoffman | St. Catherine | Sr. | MB | Montgomery, Minn./Montgomery-Lonsdale |
| Emma Jaynes | Saint Benedict | Sr. | OH | Hibbing, Minn. |
| Jessica Mate | Saint Mary's | Jr. | OH | St. Charles, Ill./East |
| Jill Osborne | St. Thomas | Jr. | MB | Lakeville, Minn./South |
| Kelly Prunty | St. Olaf | Jr. | S | Welcome, Minn./Martin County West |
| Shanna Reed | Augsburg | Sr. | S | Eagan, Minn./Holy Angels |
| Kayli Schumacher | Saint Benedict | Jr. | RS | East Grand Forks, Minn./Sacred Heart |
| Tasha Simmons | Hamline | Sr. | OH | Eagan, Minn. |
| Kim Smisek | St. Olaf | Jr. | OH | Northfield, Minn. |
| Katie Vohnoutka | Concordia | So. | OH/MH | Eden Prairie, Minn. |
| Nicole Wriedt | Bethel | So. | OH | Pewaukee, Wis./Hartland Arrowhead |
2009 All-MIAC Volleyball Sportsmanship Team
Augsburg - Barbara Simmons (Sr., Minneapolis, Minn./South)
Bethel - Hannah Parks (Jr., Plymouth, Minn./Wayzata)
Carleton - Annie Eckhoff (Sr., Northfield, Minn.)
Concordia - Dana Wermers (Sr., Rapid City, S.D./Stevens)
Gustavus - Tara Kramer (Sr., Hayfield, Minn.)
Hamline - Tasha Simmons (Sr., Eagan, Minn.)
Macalester - Jessica Baier (So., Seeley Lake, Mont./Seeley-Swan)
Saint Benedict - Alex Lenzen (So., St. Cloud, Minn./Cathedral)
St. Catherine - Nicole Neumann (Jr., Le Sueur, Minn./Le Sueur-Henderson)
Saint Mary’s - Lindsey Legatt (Jr., Sartell, Minn.)
St. Olaf - Paige Olson (Sr., Brainerd, Minn.)
St. Thomas - Alesha Nelson (Jr., Milaca, Minn.)