Contact: Chassidy Holloway, Associate Executive Director, holloway@midwestconference.org
 
MOUNT VERNON, Iowa – The Midwest Conference (MWC) announced the 2023 Volleyball All-Conference Teams and individual awards after the conclusion of the first semifinal during the season-culminating tournament on Friday.
 
Cornell College senior outside hitter Ilah Perez-Johnson headlined the awards as the 2023 MWC Volleyball Player of the Year and a First Team All-Conference honoree. Perez-Johnson led the league in points per set (4.83), while ranking second in kills per set (4.08), sixth in aces per set (.50), eighth in hitting efficiency (.274), and ninth in digs per set (3.58).
 
Illinois College junior outside hitter Ligaya Garibay was named the 2023 MWC Volleyball Newcomer of the Year. The first-timer ranked third in hitting efficiency (.364), fourth in kills per set (3.80), and eighth in digs per set (3.68).
 
Illinois College head coach Alicia Wood and assistant coach Alexis Chambers received the 2023 MWC Volleyball Coaching Staff of the Year Award. In her fourth year as head coach, Wood led the Lady Blues to a 7-1 record against conference opponents and a second-place finish in the standings. 
 
Grinnell College sophomore Kylie Snell received the 2023 MWC Volleyball Elite 20 Award, presented to the student-athlete competing in the Tournament with the highest cumulative grade-point average.
 
The Beloit College Buccaneers were recognized for their tremendous display of sportsmanship this season with the Team Sportsmanship Award.
 
Cornell led all teams with five All-MWC honorees, including two on the First Team, while Illinois College landed four and two on the First Team. All three of Grinnell’s selections earned First Team honors, and Lake Forest picked up two with one representative on each Team. The final two spots went to Monmouth and Ripon, each with one player on the Second Team. 
 
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
Emily Brewer, Grinnell - Sr
Grace Franz, Lake Forest - Sr
Ligaya Garibay, Illinois College - Jr
Clare Green, Cornell - Jr
Jenna Keller, Grinnell - Sr
Paige Knuffman, Illinois College - Sr
Ilah Perez-Johnson, Cornell - Sr
Sophie Weber, Grinnell - Jr
 
Second Team All-Conference
Ella Becker, Cornell - So
Summer Brandis, Illinois College - So
Lydia Ellis, Ripon - Sr
Mary Gegen, Lake Forest - Sr
Jen Humbolt, Illinois College - Sr
Kiana Manson, Cornell - Jr
Grace Marti, Cornell - Sr
Layne Wright, Monmouth - Jr
 
Coaching Staff of the Year -- Illinois College
Sportsmanship Award -- Beloit College
Player of the Year -- Ilah Perez-Johnson, Cornell College - Sr
Newcomer of the Year -- Ligaya Garibay, Illinois College – Jr
Elite 20 Award Recipient -- Kylie Snell, Grinnell College - So