BRIDGEPORT, W.Va. -- The Mountain East Conference today announced its all-conference teams and top honorees for the 2021 season with West Virginia State's Jenna Dufresne earning Player of the Year honors and Wheeling's Audrey Francis being selected as the league's Libero of the Year. Wheeling's Mady Winters was named the MEC Freshman of the Year, and WVSU's Kris Kern was tabbed as the Coach of the Year.
For UC it marks their most all conference selections since 2016.
McKenzie Carpenter
Kenzie led the MEC in Hitting Percentage this year and ranked at No. 18 in all of Divison II. She had the highest hitting percentage for a Golden Eagles since the inception of the Mountain East Conference. This is the second postseason award for Carpenter after she earned All-MEC honorable mention last season.
18
th in NCAA DII and 1
st in the MEC in Hitting Percentage
Maria Hernandez
Hernandez, a native of Bayamon, Puerto Rico came in at second in the MEC in Assists Per Set and 35
th in DII. She also holds the record for most assists per set, total assists and assists in a single match for UC since the formation of the Mountain East Conference.
35
th in NCAA DII and 2
nd in the MEC in Assists Per Set. Hernandez was also twice selected as MEC Offensive Player of the Week.
Sage Bearnson
Bearnson was one of two players in the MEC who placed top five in three statistical categories (Kills, Aces and Points Per Set). She was also one of three UC attackers who averaged three kills per set since the birth of the Mountain East Conference.
Reagan Phillips
Reagan hit over .300 in seven matches this year including a sixteen kill, .341 hitting percentage performance in a win over regionally ranked West Liberty. She also marks the first All Freshman Team selection for the Golden Eagles since 2017.
The All-MEC teams are selected by a vote of the league's coaches.
| 2021 MEC Individual Awards |
Player of the Year: Jenna Dufresne (W.Va. State)
Libero of the Year: Audrey Francis (Wheeling)
Freshman of the Year: Mady Winters (Wheeling)
Coach of the Year: Kris Kern (W.Va. State) |
| 2021 All-MEC First Team |
| Pos. |
Name |
School |
| OH |
Beverly Braun |
Frostburg State |
| MB |
Madison Clayton |
West Liberty |
| OH |
Julia DiPaola |
Fairmont State |
| OH |
Jenna Dufresne |
W.Va. State |
| L |
Audrey Francis |
Wheeling |
| S |
Lilianna Keber |
Fairmont State |
| OH |
Macie Magallon |
Davis & Elkins |
| MH |
Grace Martin |
W.Va. State |
| RS |
Lexi Reinert |
Wheeling |
| X |
|
|
| 2021 All-MEC Second Team |
| Pos. |
Name |
School |
| OH |
Sage Bearnson |
Charleston |
| OH |
Gabrielle Bullock |
W.Va. State |
| MH |
McKenzie Carpenter |
Charleston |
| RS |
Molly Jandris |
Davis & Elkins |
| S |
Maria Hernandez |
Charleston |
| L |
Amelia Kaeberlein |
Notre Dame |
| S |
Karly Niesen |
Wheeling |
| L |
Nyia Setla |
West Liberty |
| x |
|
|
| 2021 All-MEC Honorable Mention |
S: Brilane Manchego (DE)
S/RS: Kirsten Bogunovich (WLU), Kierston Eggleston (WVSU)
MB: Lexi Smith (WU), Mady Winters (WU)
OH: Keara Lewis (FAIR), Hannah Steele (CU)
OPP/RS: Kelsey Palmer (NDC) |
| x |
|
|
| 2021 MEC All-Freshman Team |
| Pos. |
Name |
School |
| OH |
Riley Cudnik |
West Liberty |
| DS/L |
Karli Edwards |
Fairmont State |
| RS |
Reagan Phillips |
Charleston |
| MB |
Gracjana Rozanska |
Davis & Elkins |
| OH |
Hannah Steele |
Concord |
| MB |
AJ Thompson |
Frostburg State |
| MB |
Mady Winters |
Wheeling |
