LOCK HAVEN, Pa. – Five members of the PSAC Eastern Division Champion Shepherd University volleyball team have been named to the 2024 PSAC East Volleyball team as announced by the league office on Thursday. Additionally, Shepherd head coach
Alex Hoekstra Was named PSAC East Coach of the Year.
Hoekstra is the Eastern Division Coach of the Year after leading the Rams to an unbeaten 14-0 conference record (24-4 overall), an improvement over 2023's 9-5 PSAC finish and 14-15 overall mark. The team leads the East in many statistical categories, including points (16.96 per set), opponent hitting percentage (.133), team hitting percentage (.231), blocks (2.64). Hoekstra earned PSAC East Coach of the Year honors for the second time in his career (2022).
Senior right side
Joi Fairweather (Tamarac, Fla./Calvary Christian Academy), sophomore middle hitter
Rylee Lenz (Earleville, Md./Bohemia Manor), and sophomore middle hitter/right side
Sophia Ryan (Monroe, N.Y./Monroe Woodbury) were first team honorees.
Fairweather leads the Rams with 269 kills and a 2.56 kills per set average. She adds 121 blocks (12 block solos) and 37 digs. Fairweather was named PSAC East Defensive Athlete of the Week (Sept. 9) and PSAC East Athlete of the Week (Nov.18) this season.
Lenz has recorded 244 kills, 112 blocks (19 solos), 16 digs, six assists, and a pair of service aces. Lenz was a two-time PSAC Athlete of the Week honoree this season.
Ryan has recorded 228 kills and a team-best 145 blocks with a team-best 21 block solos. She has added 15 digs and one assist. Ryan was named PSAC East Athlete of the Week for Oct. 7.
Junior setter
Macy Buso (Parker, Colorado/Chaparral) and senior defensive specialist/libero
Harli Zeitz (Lake Worth, Fla./Somerset Academy Canyons) were second team selections.
Buso has recorded a team-best 976 assists this season. She has added 251 digs, 43 blocks (two solos), and 28 service aces.
Zeitz tops the team in digs with 405. She adds 68 assists and 34 service aces. Zeitz is a three-time PSAC East Defensive Athlete of the Week honoree this season.
The complete All-Conference teams are listed below.
2024 PSAC Women's Volleyball All-Conference: Eastern Division
Athlete of the Year: Anna Coulter, East Stroudsburg
Defensive Player of the Year: Shay Kolivoski, Shippensburg
Freshman of the Year: Kylee Schurig, Millersville
Coach of the Year: Alex Hoekstra, Shepherd
PSAC WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL EASTERN DIVISION ALL-CONFERENCE FIRST TEAM
| Player |
School |
Cl. |
| Isabelle Bombas |
Shippensburg |
Jr. |
| Anna Coulter** |
East Stroudsburg |
Jr. |
| Kearstin Davis^* |
Shippensburg |
Jr. |
| Joi Fairweather |
Shepherd |
Sr. |
| Emily Gardner |
Shippensburg |
Sr. |
| Shay Kolivoski |
Shippensburg |
So. |
| Rylee Lenz |
Shepherd |
So. |
| Emma Ludwig^ |
Millersville |
Sr. |
| Sophia Ryan |
Shepherd |
So. |
*Nine players on First Team due to a tie
PSAC WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL EASTERN DIVISION ALL-CONFERENCE SECOND TEAM
| Player |
School |
Cl. |
| Macy Buso |
Shepherd |
Jr. |
| Leonor Chambel |
East Stroudsburg |
Gr. |
| Taylor Haan* |
East Stroudsburg |
Sr. |
| Zoe Haines |
West Chester |
Jr. |
| Emma Kerwin |
Millersville |
So. |
| Taylor Welter^ |
Millersville |
Jr. |
| Harli Zeitz |
Shepherd |
Sr. |
* Indicates previous All-PSAC first team selection
^ Indicates previous All-PSAC second team selection
2024 PSAC Women's Volleyball All-Conference Western Division
Athlete of the Year: Cassidy Snider, Clarion
Defensive Player of the Year: Emma Hall, Gannon
Freshman of the Year: Jessica Neiman, IUP
Coach of the Year: Matt Darling, Gannon
PSAC WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL WESTERN DIVISION ALL-CONFERENCE FIRST TEAM
| Player |
School |
Cl. |
| Adiamar Beaz^ |
Pitt-Johnstown |
Sr. |
| Journey Blevins* |
Gannon |
Sr. |
| Paige Cole |
Seton Hill |
Sr. |
| Catie Flohr* |
Seton Hill |
So. |
| Emma Hall*^ |
Gannon |
Sr. |
| Cassidy Snider*** |
Clarion |
Sr. |
| Ali Sorenson |
Gannon |
Sr. |
| Lauren Valentic* |
IUP |
5th |
PSAC WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL WESTERN DIVISION ALL-CONFERENCE SECOND TEAM
| Player |
School |
Cl. |
| Lualis Alvarado* |
Pitt-Johnstown |
Sr. |
| Bengisu Arslan* |
Gannon |
Jr. |
| Gabriella DeRenzo |
Pitt-Johnstown |
R-Sr. |
| Hailey Koch^ |
Gannon |
Sr. |
| Erika Lindqvist |
Edinboro |
Gr. |
| Makayla Neelands |
Edinboro |
So. |
| Jessica Neiman |
IUP |
Fr. |
| Erica Selfridge^^ |
Slippery Rock |
Sr. |
* Indicates previous All-PSAC first team selection
^ Indicates previous All-PSAC second team selection
