Gibbons, Szucs Earn All-MIAA Distinctions

  • Meaghan Gibbons was named First Team All-MIAA.
  • Kaylin Szucs was a Second Team All-MIAA honoree.
  • It is the sixth time overall Saint Mary's has had multiple student-athletes earn all-conference accolades since 1998.

FREELAND, Mich. - Meaghan Gibbons and Kaylin Szucs were both voted as All-Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) performers for the 2016 season by the league's head coaches prior to the start of the conference tournament on Friday.

Gibbons, a senior outside hitter for the Belles, was one of eight student-athletes to be named First Team All-MIAA. Szucs, a freshman libero for the team, was one of eight players to earn Second Team All-MIAA honors. It is the first All-MIAA selection of each player's career.

Gibbons finished the 16-match conference season in the top ten in seven categories. She was second in both kills per set (3.84) and points per set (4.5), third in total kills (196) and total points (230.5), seventh in service aces (23) and aces per set (0.45), and eighth in hitting percentage (.231) in conference play. Moreover, she was eleventh in digs per set (3.59) and 13th in total digs (183) as a six-rotation player for the Belles. Gibbons had double-digit kills in 14 of the 16 MIAA matches on the year, and posted at least ten digs in 10 different contests. She posted a .938 reception percentage and a .932 serve percentage during the 2016 season.

Szucs, meanwhile, was in the top five in the conference in a pair of categories while leading the defensive efforts. She led all players in the MIAA in digs per set (5.73) and was fourth overall in total digs (292) on the year. Szucs registered 11 service aces to hold a share of 30th place in the rankings among all players in the league. She had double-digit digs in each of the team's 16 conference matches and posted at least 20 digs in six contests. She finished the conference season with a .963 reception percentage and a .952 serve percentage in her first year.

It is the first time since the 2013 season the Belles have had multiple All-MIAA honorees. Additionally, it is the sixth time overall Saint Mary's has had multiple student-athletes earn all-conference accolades since 1998.

First Team All-MIAA
Laura Danhoff, Calvin
Meaghan Gibbons, Saint Mary’s
Sophia Hackett, Hope
Margo Joubran, Adrian
Anna Kamp, Calvin
Jenna Lodewyk, Calvin
Ami Milligan, Albion
Alexis Thompson, Hope

Second Team All-MIAA
Keilahna Castillo, Calvin
Sarah DeVries, Calvin
Sarah Feldpausch, Hope
Dakota Pelach, Alma
Cassadine Reed, Adrian
Monica Shuk, Albion
Kaylin Szucs, Saint Mary’s
Courtney Van Houzen, Hope

Defensive Player of the Year
Keilahana Castillo, Calvin

Freshman of the Year
Sarah DeVries, Calvin

2016 MIAA Most Valuable Player
Laura Danhoff, Calvin

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