Holterhaus named MVC Volleyball Scholar-Athlete of the Year

ST. LOUIS --- UNI's Emily Holterhaus headlines 50 student-athletes as the senior outside hitter was named the Missouri Valley Conference's (MVC) Scholar-Athlete of the Year on Monday morning. The Panthers earned five MVC Scholar-Athlete Team selections, as voted on by the league's sports information directors.

The criterion for the honor parallels the College Sports Communicators (CSC) standards for Academic All-America voting. Nominees must be starters or important reserves with at least a 3.50 cumulative grade-point average (on a 4.00 scale). Student-athletes also must have participated in at least 75-percent of the regular-season matches, and must have reached sophomore status in both athletic and academic standing at their institution (true freshmen and redshirt freshmen are not eligible).

This year's Panther honorees include first team selections in Holterhaus, Tayler Alden and Kira Fallert, second team selection Erin Powers and honorable mention team selection Grace Mikota.

With a 4.00 grade point average majoring in kinesiology and sport performance, Holterhaus, four-time MVC Scholar-Athlete Team selection is UNI first Scholar-Athlete of the Year winner since the award was created for volleyball in 2019 by the conference. Holterhaus, who leads the Panthers with 400 kills, also earned First Team All-MVC honors this season.

Alden, a junior with a 3.79 GPA majoring in accounting was named the MVC Setter of the Year for a second straight season, becoming the first player in conference history to win the award multiple times and in consecutive years. The 2023 MVC Tournament MVP, Alden notched 1,157 total kills this season, and surpassed both the 3,000 and 4,000 career assists marks during the year.

Fallert, a junior studying communications disorders with a 4.00 GPA, earned Second Team All-MVC recognition after another solid season with 382 kills and 307 digs. The Maplewood, Minnesota native and MVC All-Tournament team selection also earned the MVC Elite 17 Award for a second consecutive year, given to the student-athlete with the highest cumulative GPA competing in the MVC Tournament's championship round.

Powers, a junior transfer from UAB majoring in psychology with a 3.89 GPA, led the Panthers defensively with 542 total digs this season. She was also named Second Team All-MVC and selected to the MVC All-Tournament Team.

Mikota, a junior defensive specialist studying recreation, tourism and nonprofit leadership, notched a 3.95 GPA during her first season on consistent play, recording 258 digs this year. The Grimes, Iowa native is a two-time MVC Honor Roll recipient and received both the MVC Board of Directors' and Commisioner's Academic Excellence Awards in 2023.

UNI returns to action on Thursday, November 30 as the Panthers battle Miami (FL) in the first round of the NCAA Tournament in Madison, Wisconsin at 5 p.m. CT. Live coverage of the match can be found on ESPN+ and the Panthers Sports Radio Network.

2023 MVC SCHOLAR-ATHLETE FIRST TEAM

Rachel McBride (Belmont)
Jada Wills (Drake)
Jaclyn Oblena (UIC)
Becca Oldendorf (UIC)
Aida Shadewald (Illinois State)
Maddy Bushnell (Missouri State)
Bailey DeMier (Murray State)
Dahlia Miller (Murray State)
Tayler Alden (UNI)
Kira Fallert (UNI)
Emily Holterhaus (UNI)
Miranda Strongman (Valparaiso)

2023 MVC SCHOLAR-ATHLETE SECOND TEAM

Kendal Minta (Bradley)
Kacie Rewerts (Drake)
Addison Beagle (Drake)
Kora Ruff (Evansville)
Kaitlyn Hamilton (Indiana State)
Kate Owens (Missouri State)
Ella Vogel (Murray State)
Erin Powers (UNI)
Tatum Tornatta (Southern Illinois)
Imani Hartfield (Southern Illinois)
Bella Ravotto (Valparaiso)
Emma Hickey (Valparaiso)

2023 MVC SCHOLAR-ATHLETE HONORABLE MENTION

Francesca Venturini (UIC)
Hannah Reichensperger (Illinois State)
Cassie Jordan (Illinois State)
Karinna Gall (Indiana State)
Emma Kaelin (Indiana State)
Lindsay Lahr (Missouri State)
Katie Wemhoener (Missouri State)
Grace Mikota (UNI)

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