Minnesota Volleyball Announces Postseason Team Awards
The Minnesota volleyball team announced its postseason awards at the team banquet on Saturday, Feb. 3. Minnesota's team awards included MVP, the Maurice Batie Award for most inspirational player, the Golddiggers Booster Club Award and the Golden Country Award for the highest GPA during the fall semester.
Seniors Meghan Cumpston (Red Bluff, Calif.) and Meredith Nelson (St. Croix Falls, Wis.) were named the team MVPs.
This year, Nelson was one of only five middle blockers to be named to the first or second All-American teams. She was also one of four players in the Big Ten to receive First-Team honors unanimously.
Nelson, who also received the Golddiggers Award, finished the season averaging 3.29 kpg, hitting .325, 0.93 blpg and tallying 0.26 sapg. She ended the season eighth in the Big Ten in hitting percentage. In Big Ten play, she averaged 3.47 kpg, hit .335, had 0.97 blpg and 0.34 sapg. Nelson was sixth in the conference in hitting percentage and eighth in service aces in Big Ten play.
She finished her career tied atop Minnesota's career block list with 536 in four years with the Golden Gophers. Nelson also ended her career as the school's all-time leader in block assists at 456. In Minnesota's NCAA Regional Final match against No. 1 Nebraska, Nelson tied Paula Gentil for the most matches played by a Golden Gopher in a career with 142. She finished eighth on the career solo blocks list with 80, and was fifth on the Golden Gopher career list in hitting percentage at .303.
Cumpston finished third in the Big Ten with 0.40 sapg, thanks in large part to a five service-ace effort at Florida in the NCAA Regional Semifinals. She also averaged 2.56 kpg and 2.04 dpg this season. Over the course of the final 18 matches, she averaged 3.55 kpg and helped lead the Golden Gophers to a 15-3 record. Cumpston recorded double figures in 15 of her final 18 matches.
Freshman Christine Tan (Palm Harbor, Fla.) received the Maurice Batie Award. Tan played in 124 of 125 games for Minnesota as a freshman this year. She averaged 2.46 dpg and 0.27 sapg as a freshman. Tan finished the season second on the team in service aces and third in digs, and played in every match during the season as either a defensive specialist or a libero.
Cumpston also received the Golden Country Award to go along with Co-MVP honors. She just recently received an offer and started playing professionally in Puerto Rico. Cumpston finished her career with 548 kills for Minnesota in two seasons with the program.
