University of Minnesota Athletics
Gophers Receive B1G Laurels
12/1/2015 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
After winning the Big Ten Conference title on Saturday, the University of Minnesota is highly decorated in the post-season awards, announced today by the league office. Daly Santana was named the Big Ten Player of the Year, Samantha Seliger-Swenson was named Freshman of the Year and Hugh McCutcheon was named Big Ten Coach of the Year.
Santana and Seliger-Swenson join junior opposite/middle blocker Hannah Tapp as All-Big Ten selections, while Paige Tapp was named All-Big Ten honorable mention and received the Minnesota Sportsmanship award.
The last time a Golden Gopher received the Big Ten Player of the Year award was in 2003 (Cassie Busse), while the last time a Minnesota student-athlete was named Freshman of the Year was 1993 (Katrien DeDecker). Hugh McCutcheon received votes as the Coach of the Year from both the coaches and media, the first Minnesota honor since 2002 (Mike Hebert).
With McCutcheon at the helm, the Golden Gophers went 18-2 in the Big Ten season and enter the NCAA Tournament as the No. 2-overal seed with a 26-4 record. Minnesota won an impressive 15 straight matches during conference play from Sept. 30 to Nov. 21, which included seven wins against ranked teams. Minnesota was 9-11 in 2014 and was predicted to finish fifth in the conference this year. Instead, the Golden Gophers won their first Big Ten title since 2002. In the 3-2 win over Ohio State on Nov. 25, McCutcheon earned his 100th career win at Minnesota and is now 101-31 since leading the Golden Gophers.
Santana, a 6-foot, 1-inch senior outside hitter led the league in kills (494) and kills-per-set (4.44) this season. A two-time Big Ten Player of the Week, Santana was also the NCAA leader in kills in a single match with 39 against Louisville earlier this year. With 1,557 career kills, Santana ranks seventh in school history and 14th among active NCAA leaders. The Corozal, Puerto Rico native leads the team in kills (497) and aces (26) and ranks second in digs (319). Recording a team-best 18 double-doubles this season, Santana has also hit over .300 in 11 matches and has led the Gophers in kills 25 times.
Seliger-Swenson, a 5-foot, 11-inch setter, has started in all 30 matches for the Maroon and Gold this season. A six-time Big Ten Freshman of the Week honoree, Seliger-Swenson also garnered setter of the week twice this season. The Minnetonka, Minn., native, has helped Minnesota to a .261 hitting clip in her rookie campaign. She ranks second in the Big Ten in assists-per-set (11.47), which also ranks 12th nationally. Seliger-Swenson ranks fourth on the team in digs (244) and has 12 double-doubles this year. In 30 matches, the rookie has had more than 40 assists in 14 matches this year.
Hannah Tapp, a 6-foot, 2-inch junior opposite/middle blocker, was one of seven unanimous selections. Playing at both the middle and opposite position this season, Tapp hit .331 during the regular season and ranked 10th among league leaders. Tapp was named the AVCA Division I Player of the Week once this season and received two weekly Big Ten awards in her junior campaign. Tapp ranked second on the team in kills (297), kills per set (2.72) and third in blocks-per-set (1.06). A marketing major in the Carlson School of Management, the Stewartville, Minn., native was also named a CoSIDA Academic All-District selection.
Paige Tapp, a 6-foot, 1-inch middle blocker, receives honorable mention accolades as a year. In 112 sets played, Tapp had 261 kills to average 2.33 per set. She ranked second on the team in blocks-per-set (1.20), which tied for eighth in the Big Ten. Earning one Big Ten weekly accolade, Tapp was named a Preseason All-Big Ten selection. A marketing major in the Carlson School of Management, from Stewartville, Minn., Tapp was also named a CoSIDA Academic All-District selection.
ALL-BIG TEN
Jocelynn Birks, Sr., OH, ILL
Abby Cole, Jr., OPP, MICH
DALY Samantha Seliger-Swenson, Fr., S, MINN
HANNAHAmber Rolfzen, Jr., MB, NEB
KADIE ROLFZEN, Jr., OH, NEB
TAYLOR SANDBOTHE, Jr., MB, OSU
Megan Courtney, Sr., OH, PSU
HALEIGH WASHINGTON, So., MB, PSU
Aiyana Whitney, Sr., MB, PSU
ANNIE DREWS, Sr., OPP, PUR
LAUREN CARLINI, Jr., S, WIS
Haleigh Nelson, Jr., MB, WIS
HONORABLE MENTION
Adreene Elliott, Sr., OH, MD
Chloe Reinig, Jr., OH, MSU
Paige Tapp, Jr., MB, MINN
Justine Wong-Orantes, Jr., L, NEB
Taylor Tashima, So., S, NU
Elizabeth Campbell, Sr., OPP, OSU
Faye Adelaja, Jr., MB, Purdue
Taylor Morey, Sr., L, WIS
ALL-FRESHMAN TEAM
Ali Bastianelli, MB, ILL
Jordyn Poulter, S, ILL
SAMANTHAMIKAELA FOECKE, OH, NEB
AUDRA APPOLD, OH, OSU
Taylor Hughes, S, OSU
TIONNA WILLIAMS, MB, WIS
Unanimous selections in CAPS
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Daly Santana, MINN
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Justine Wong-Orantes, NEB
SETTER OF THE YEAR
Lauren Carlini, WIS
FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR
Samantha Seliger-Swenson, MINN
COACH OF THE YEAR (COACHES AND MEDIA)
Hugh McCutcheon, MINN
SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD HONOREES
Ali Stark, ILL
Courtney Harnish, IND
Erin Radke, IOWA
Abigail Bentz, MD
Kelly Murphy, MICH
Halle Peterson, MSU
Paige Tapp, MINN
Sydney Townsend, NEB
Kayla Morin, NU
Emily Ruetter, OSU
Kendall Pierce, PSU
Amanda Neill, PUR
Ali Schroeter, RU
Taylor Morey, WIS
