Contact Chassidy Holloway, Associate Executive Director, holloway@midwestconference.org
 
GRINNELL, Iowa – Grinnell College senior defensive specialist Payton Lowrey was named Midwest Conference (MWC) Volleyball Player of the Year, headlining the 2022 All-Conference Teams, announced Friday at the MWC Tournament.
 
Lowrey leads the league in digs with 204 in conference play and digs per set averaging 7.56. Nationally, Lowrey ranks sixth in total digs with 622 on the season and eighth in digs per set with 6.16.
 
Joining Lowrey on the First Team is teammate Hayley Taka who also received the MWC Newcomer of the Year award. The first-year outside hitter leads the MWC in kills with 90 in league play for an average of 3.33 kills/set and sits fourth in average points/set with 3.54. 
 
Second Team selections for the Pioneers include juniors Emily Brewer and Malaina Miles.
 
The MWC Volleyball Champion Cornell College received three First Team selections in sophomore Clare Green, senior Rory Light, and junior Ilah Perez-Johnson. First-year Ella McLaughlin and senior Grace Marti picked up Second Team selections for the Rams.
 
Lake Forest College picked up two First Team selections with junior Mary Gegen and senior Madison Stevens, while senior Izzi Visnjevac represents the Foresters on the Second Team. Gegan also received recognition as the recipient of the MWC Elite 20 Award, given to the student-athlete competing in the season-culminating event with the highest grade-point average.
 
Lake Forest College head coach Katie Rueffer and staff received the MWC Volleyball Coaching Staff of the Year award. Led by Rueffer, the Foresters went 7-1 in Conference play for a second-place finish.  
 
Representing Illinois College, senior Jennifer Humbolt received First Team honors, while junior Paige Knuffman picked up Second Team recognition.
 
Also receiving Second Team honors, Knox College senior Catessa Duran and Ripon College senior Inesha Wiseman.
 
The Beloit College Buccaneers were recognized as the league’s Team Sportsmanship award.
 
All-MWC and individual awards are determined by a vote of the league’s nine volleyball head coaches.
 
The full list of honorees can be found below:
 
First Team All-Conference
Mary Gegen, Lake Forest College - Junior
Clare Green, Cornell College - Sophomore
Jennifer Humbolt, Illinois College - Senior
Rory Light, Cornell College - Senior
Payton Lowrey, Grinnell College - Senior
Ilah Perez-Johnson, Cornell College - Junior
Madison Stevens, Lake Forest College - Senior
Hayley Taka, Grinnell College - First Year
 
Second Team All-Conference
Emily Brewer, Grinnell College - Junior
Catessa Duran, Knox College - Senior
Paige Knuffman, Illinois College - Junior
Grace Marti, Cornell College - Senior
Ella McLaughlin, Cornell College - First Year
Malaina Miles, Grinnell College - Junior
Izzi Visnjevac, Lake Forest College - Senior
Inesha Wiseman, Ripon College - Senior
 
Player of the Year
Payton Lowrey, Grinnell College - Senior
 
Newcomer of the Year
Hayley Taka, Grinnell College - First Year
 
Coaching Staff of the Year
Lake Forest College - Head Coach: Katie Rueffer
 
Team Sportsmanship Award
Beloit College
 
Elite 20 Award Recipient
Mary Gegen, Lake Forest College - Junior