Jan. 29, 2016
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IOWA CITY, Iowa — The University of Iowa volleyball team celebrated the 2015 season at the annual awards banquet inside the press box at Kinnick Stadium on Thursday evening.
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Second-year head coach Bond Shymansky reflected on the team’s 2015 accomplishments, thanked each student-athlete and staff member for their individual roles, and announced the team award winners.
Sophomore Annika Olsen was named team MVP after leading the Hawkeyes and Big Ten Conference with a 4.75 digs per set average. The Johns Creek, Georgia, native compiled 546 digs on the season — the third highest total in the Big Ten. She became just the sixth Hawkeye in program history to surpass 500 digs in a single season, and recorded 20 or more digs in 11 matches, including a career-high 26 in Iowa’s win over Rutgers on Oct. 31.
Ashley Mariani took home the Most Improved Award. The junior started every match and appeared in every set for the Hawkeyes. She led the team with 32 services aces and a 0.28 aces per set average — the ninth best average in the Big Ten. The Arlington, Texas, native reached double digits in kills eight times, including a season-high 13 at Purdue on Nov. 7.
Senior Erin Radke was honored with the Coaches Award. The right-side hitter played in 58 matches and 175 sets for the Hawkeyes in her four-year career. She tallied 206 kills and 97 blocks, and was a 2015 Academic All-Big Ten honoree. The Sioux Falls, South Dakota, native was also Iowa’s recipient of the Big Ten Sportsmanship Award.
