GLIAC Sweeps AVCA Midwest Region Volleyball Postseason Awards

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LEXINGTON, Ky. – Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) representatives swept the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Division II Midwest Region Postseason Awards led by Grand Valley State University senior Rebeccah Rapin (Saginaw, Mich./Nouvel), who was named the region's "Player of the Year".

Northern Michigan University outside hitter Ana Lopes (Belo Horizonte, Brazil) was tabbed Midwest Region “Freshman of the Year” while Hillsdale College’s Chris Gravel was named “Coach of the Year” by his peers.

Rapin has guided GVSU back to the NCAA Elite Eight for the first time since 2008 and the eighth time since 2000. She leads the Lakers in hitting percentage (.349), kills (372), solo blocks (26), total blocks (139), and points per set (4.19). In terms of Grand Valley State history, Rapin is first all-time in total blocks (524) and block assists (436), while ranking seventh in kills (1,356) and total attacks (3,161), and eighth in hitting percentage (.318). She also was named to the All-GLIAC First Team for the third consecutive year, becoming just the second GVSU player ever (along with Carly Miller) to earn that distinction.

Lopes led nationally-ranked Northern Michigan to a 22-7 overall record and a 15-4 mark in the GLIAC for a third-place finish. The freshman outside hitter from Belo Horizonte, Brazil played in all 29 matches for the ‘Cats and appeared in all but one set this season. Lopes currently led the Wildcats in kills (329), digs (323) and service aces (50). She also posted 33 assists and 35 total blocks this season.

In his 15th year as the taskmaster at Hillsdale College, Gravel has once again proven why he is considered one of the top Division II volleyball coaches in the nation by registering his 300th career win. He led the Chargers to a team-record 28-match winning streak and also took home back-to-back GLIAC regular season and tournament championships for the first time in school history.  The squad was ranked as high as No. 8 in the AVCA Division II Coaches Top 25 Poll and finished the season with the best conference record in the history of the GLIAC.  This is his first AVCA Division II Midwest Region Coach of the Year honor.

The complete 2010 AVCA Division II Midwest Region Team is below:

Region Freshman of the Year: Ana Lopes, Northern Michigan, OH

Honorable Mention: Carolyn  Holstein (Missouri-St. Louis, DS/Lib., Sr.), Kristina Kerrigan (Indianapolis, OH, So.), Krysta Kornak (Grand Valley State, RS/Opp., Sr.), Abby Lovell (Northern Michigan, S, So.),Apryl Schmucker (Hillsdale, S, Jr.), Jenna Schreiver (Northern Kentucky, S, So.)