Contact: Brock Reisler, Assistant Executive Director, breisler@midwestconference.org
 
HILBERT, Wisconsin – Cornell College junior middle blocker Ally Olmstead was named the Midwest Conference Volleyball Player of the Year as the league’s all-conference teams and major award winners were announced on Thursday afternoon.
 
Helping Cornell win its 14th consecutive Midwest Conference regular season title, Olmstead was one of the top players in the league all season long. Olmstead led the MWC in blocks per set (1.1) and was second overall in blocks with 97. She paced the conference in hitting percentage (.291) and was fourth in points (312.5) while finishing fifth in kills (244) and sixth in kills per set (2.77).
 
Illinois College freshman setter Kennedy Ostendorf was named the league’s Newcomer of the Year. Ostendorf led the MWC with 713 assists (8.1 per set) and was fourth in service aces (42) and 11th in hitting percentage (.226). She was also 14th in the conference with 103 kills.
 
Lawrence University head coach Jeff Van Lannen and assistants Emma Kane, Alaina Beimborn-Hahn and Adam Hahn earned the 2026 MWC Volleyball Coaching Staff of the Year award. In his third season as head coach, Van Lannen has led Lawrence to a 17-10 record (8-1 MWC) and the No. 2 seed in the Midwest Conference for the second consecutive season, as well as back-to-back Coaching Staff of the Year honors.
 
The full list of honorees can be found below.
 
2026 Midwest Conference Volleyball All-Conference
 
First Team
Ally Olmstead, Cornell - Junior
Kensie Staats, Cornell - Senior
Selia Stein, Cornell - Sophomore
Millie Leonard, Grinnell - Senior
Delani Klaas, Illinois College - Junior
Kennedy Ostendorf, Illinois College - Freshman
Lilly Robinson, Lake Forest - Fifth Year
Bella Van Lannen, Lawrence - Senior
Emma Nilson, Lawrence - Sophomore
Kaylee Celus, Monmouth - Junior
 
Second Team
Ashlin Nottestad, Cornell - Sophomore
Nia Howard, Cornell - Senior
Kylie-Ann Smith, Grinnell - Senior
Keira Sullivan, Grinnell - Senior
Alivia Barker, Lake Forest - Freshman
Meg Pfannerstill, Lawrence - Junior
Audrey Weier, Lawrence - Sophomore
Ruby Gerhard, Luther - Junior
Melina Teunis, Monmouth - Junior
Bryn Carlson, Ripon - Sophomore
 
Player of the Year
Ally Olmstead, Cornell
 
Newcomer of the Year
Kennedy Ostendorf, Illinois College
 
Coaching Staff of the Year
Lawrence - Head Coach: Jeff Van Lannen