The Fighting Illini volleyball team gathered at the Round Barn Banquet Center on Friday night (Jan. 20) to celebrate the 2016 season as the Illini Networkers hosted the 34th annual Volleyball Awards Banquet, providing an opportunity to thank supporters and staff as well as honoring a number of award winners and recognizing the 2016 senior class.
The Illini coaching staff presented four individual awards to member of the team who exemplified the excellence required for each honor. Sophomore Ali Bastianelli earned the Jimmy & Jeanne Seyler Top Gun Award, giving to the player with the best hitting percentage on the season. Bastianelli posted a .326 hitting percentage during the 2016 campaign.
For the third-consecutive season, senior Allison Palmer was awarded the Jim Bayne Award for Academic Excellence after registering a 3.95 GPA this past year. Redshirt-freshman Beth Prince took home the Sandy Scholtens Award for Athletic Achievement, Effort and Attitude. Head coach Kevin Hambly then gave out the final accolade of the night as Katie Stadick was honored with the Jess Jendryk Coach’s Award.
In addition to the player awards, Illini Networkers president Rick Borup named Kathy Bowersox as the Networker of the Year.
To wrap up the event, Hambly reflected on seniors Palmer, Stadick, Naya Crittenden, Danielle Davis, McKenna Kelsay, Katie Roustio, and Michelle Strizak and senior manager Maddie Siambekos before the Fighting Illini Productions-produced 2016 season highlight video and annual senior video debuted for those in attendance.
For more Fighting Illini volleyball news, stay tuned to FightingIllini.com and follow the team on Twitter @IlliniVBall or like Fighting Illini Volleyball on Facebook.
News courtesy of Illinois Athletics.
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