Abby Grohmann and Haylie Schnake take home the conference's top player of the year awards for the 2026 SLIAC volleyball season.
Grohmann, a senior outside hitter from Greenville University, wins her second straight Player of the Year award; becoming the 11th player to accomplish that feat. Grohmann led the conference at 4.06 kills per set, hitting .249 in conference matches, and totaled 142 kills. She added eight service aces and 11 total blocks, giving her 156 points on the season.
The 2026 SLIAC Defensive Player of the Year is Haylie Schnake from Westminster College. Schnake, a libero, totaled 199 digs in conference play, averaging 5.10 per set. Both numbers led the conference this fall. She is just the third player in program history to win the award and the first since Jordan Berry in 2012.
Kylie Minnis, from Spalding University, is this year's Freshman of the Year. Minnis, an outside hitter, recorded 159 kills in her conference matches; averaging 3.61 kills per set. She hit .216 and registered 18 total blocks and 30 digs. This is just the second time in Spalding history they have won the award, following Jayda Branch in 2021.
The 2026 SLIAC Coach of the Year is Tom Ackermann. This marks the 9th time in his coaching career he has won the league's coaching award, a conference record. Ackerman led Greenville to a perfect 12-0 conference record this season while extending the program's consecutive regular season champinship title streak to nine seasons.
This year's Team Sportsmanship award goes to Lyon College, marking the first time in program history they have received the award.
First Team All-Conference
Alyssa Company, Greenville University
Kenadee Frey, Blackburn College
Abby Grohmann, Greenville University
Samantha Hansen, Westminster College
Emma Ratermann, Greenville University
Haylie Schnake, Westminster College
Landrey VanOverschelde, Westminster College
Second Team All-Conference
Rylea Black, Blackburn College
Claudia Bonacorsi, Greenville University
Mea Bystrom, Webster University
Lexi Filkins, Webster University
Kennedy Legendre, Greenville University
Kylie Minnis, Spalding University
Erica Vogel, Westminster College
Third Team All-Conference
Ella Appel, Blackburn College
Alena Loesch, Eureka College
Leah McGrath, Webster University
Marissa Perez, Blackburn College
Paige Rowland, Westminster College
Mackenzie Sansone, Westminster College
Maddie Sidwell, Blackburn College
Jobi Smith, Spalding University
All-Sportsmanship Team
Jessi Wright, Blackburn College
Kendall Kolff, Eureka College
Emily Ruppert, Greenville University
Ryan Russell, Lyon College
Brooks Watson, Spalding University
Lauren Brown, Webster University
Hannah Luketmeyer, Westminster College