Justine Wong-Orantes Earns Second Big Ten Defensive Player Of The Year

The Big Ten has announced their 2016 postseason volleyball awards, with standout picks coming from the top three teams in the nation: Nebraska, Minnesota and Wisconsin.

Sarah Wilhite has been named the Big Ten Player of the Year, the fifth player in Minnesota history to receive the honor and second consecutive after Daly Santana earned last seasons award. Wilhite also a unanimous All-Big Ten selection finished the regular season ranked second in the Big Ten in kills per set (4.13). This season, Wilhite has recorded 11 double-double.

Justine Wong-Orantes has earned her second consecutive Defensive Player of the Year accolade, making her the first Nebraska player to earn the award. Wong-Orantes also earns unanimous All-Big Ten honors and ranks second in the Big Ten in digs per set (4.22) during Big Ten play.

Earning the Setter of the Year award is Minnesota’s Samantha Seliger-Swenson, who posted an average of 11.09 assists per set during Big Ten play and ranks ninth nationally with 11.45 assists per set. Seliger-Swenson also earns unanimous All-Big Ten honors and Minnesota’s first Setter of the Year award.

Nebraska’s John Cook was named as the Big Ten Coach of the Year, after leading his team to the Big Ten Championship. This award marks Nebraska’s and Cook’s first Coach of the Year honors.

Gia Milana and Molly Haggerty were unanimous picks to the All-Freshman Team for the Big Ten.

Also awarded in the Big Ten are 14 players who displayed great sportsmanship and ethical behavior through the conferences Sportsmanship Award. To qualify, the players must exhibit tremendous sportsmanship, be in good academic standing and have demonstrated good citizenship outside of sporting events.

The complete list of All-Big Ten honorees, individual award winners and Sportsmanship Award Honorees can be found below.

ALL-BIG TEN

Ali Bastianelli, So., MB, ILL

Jordyn Poulter, So., S, ILL

ABBY COLE, Sr., MB, MICH

Alyssa Garvelink, Jr., MB, MSU

SARAH WILHITE, Sr., OH MINN

SAMANTHA SELIGER-SWENSON, So., S, MINN

Hannah Tapp, Sr., MB, MINN

Kelly Hunter, Jr., S, NEB

Amber Rolfzen, Sr., MB, NEB

KADIE ROLFZEN, Sr., OH, NEB

JUSTINE WONG-ORANTES, Sr., L, NEB

TAYLOR SANDBOTHE, Sr., MB, OSU

SIMONE LEE, Jr., OH, PSU

HALEIGH WASHINGTON, Jr., MB, PSU

DANIELLE CUTTINO, Jr., OH, PUR

LAUREN CARLINI, Sr., S, WIS

Haleigh Nelson, Sr., MB WIS

Tionna Williams, So., MB, WIS

HONORABLE MENTION

Brandi Donnelly, Jr., L, ILL

Jazzmine McDonald, Sr., MB, IND

Loxley Keala, Sr., S, IOWA

Gia Milana, Fr., OH, MD

MacKenzi Welsh, Fr., S, MICH

Autumn Bailey, Jr., OH, MSU

Rachel Minarick, Jr., S, MSU

Molly Lohman, Jr., MB, MINN

Mikaela Foecke, So., OH, NEB

Briana Holman, Jr., MB, NEB

Symone Abbott, Jr., OH, NU

Taylor Hughes, So., S, OSU

Faye Adelaja, Sr., MB, PUR

Molly Haggerty, Fr., OH, WIS

ALL-FRESHMAN TEAM

Jacqueline Quade, OH, ILL

GIA MILANA, OH, MD

MacKenzi Welsh, S, MICH

Alexis Hart, OH, MINN

Tori Gorrell, MB, PSU

Kendall White, L, PSU

MOLLY HAGGERTY, OH, WIS

Unanimous selections in CAPS

PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Sarah Wilhite, MINN

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Justine Wong-Orantes, NEB

SETTER OF THE YEAR

Samantha Seliger-Swenson, MINN

FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR

Molly Haggerty, WIS

COACH OF THE YEAR (COACHES AND MEDIA)

John Cook, NEB

SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD HONOREES

Katie Stadick, ILL

Jessica Leish, IND

Ashley Mariana, IOWA

Samantha Higginbothem, MD

Kelly Murphy, MICH

Allyssah Fitterer, MSU

Paige Tapp, MINN

Brooke Smith, NEB

Caleigh Ryan, NU

Kylie Randall, OSU

Faye Adelaja, PUR

Laura Broerman, PSU

Mikaela Matthews, RU

Tori Blake, WIS

ALL CAPS denotes unanimous selection