INDIANAPOLIS – University of Missouri-St. Louis junior outside hitter Charlotte Richards has been named the 2020-21 Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) Volleyball Player of the Year, the league office announced on Thursday afternoon.
 
Additionally, senior setter Kaileen Herman and junior libero Megan Woll joined Richards on the All-GLVC First Team, while sophomore middle blocker Mya Elliott was a second team selection.
 
Richards averaged 4.22 kills per set, topping the league in that category while attacking at a .232 clip from the outside. The now two-time All-GLVC First Team selection is the first Triton in league history to be earn Player of the Year honors, and the fourth person in the program to earn a GLVC major award. The Cedar Rapids, Iowa, product tallied 253 points, leading the conference with 4.69 per set, while chipping in 18 blocks and 11 service aces. Richards scooped up 3.87 digs per set, averaging a double-double in each match in her junior campaign. The junior scored two Baden GLVC Offensive Player of the Week this spring, adding the season's final honor on April 12 to her distinction on Feb. 8.
 
Herman, an All-GLVC First Team repeat selection, led the league with 11.28 assists per game and was third with 25 service aces. The Tinley Park, Ill., native added 2.64 digs per set and 28 blocks. Herman was named the Baden GLVC Offensive Player of the Week and the AVCA National Player of the Week the week of March 1.
 
Woll, another All-GLVC First Team repeat selection, led the conference with 6.24 digs per set and had nine matches with 20 or more digs. The Edwardsville, Ill., native also finished with 42 assists and 10 service aces. She earned two Baden GLVC Defensive Player of the Week accolades this spring (March 1, April 5).
 
Elliott earns All-GLVC honors for the first time in her career after averaging 2.26 kills and 0.96 blocks per set. The Indianapolis, Ind., product recorded 48 total blocks, including 11 solo, and hit at a .274 clip. She averaged a team second-best 2.85 points per set.
 
Additionally, junior Karlyn Hannewald was one of 15 student-athletes named as their team's James R. Spalding Sportsmanship Award honoree for distinguishing themselves through sportsmanship and ethical behavior. These individuals are also in good academic standing and have demonstrated good citizenship outside of the sports competition setting. They are now eligible to become one of their school's two Spalding Sportsmanship Award winners, which will be announced at the end of the academic year.
 
UMSL finished the regular season with a 15-2 record and garnered the league's No. 2 seed in this weekend's GLVC Tournament in East Peoria, Ill. The Tritons will face No. 7 seed Rockhurst on Friday at 2 p.m. in one of four quarterfinal round matches.

A complete list of the 2020-21 All-GLVC team and postseason honors can be found below.

GLVC Player of the Year:  Charlotte Richards, Jr., Attacker, Missouri-St. Louis
GLVC Libero of the Year:  Jamie Poppen, Sr., Lewis
GLVC Freshman of the Year:  Jordan Burton, Attacker, Missouri S&T
GLVC Coach of the Year:  Lorelee Smith, Lewis
 

All-GLVC First Team Chloe Rear, So., Attacker, DU JAMIE POPPEN, Sr., Libero, LEWIS Caroline Stefanon, Sr., Attacker, LEWIS Ava Venema, Sr., Attacker, LEWIS Allie Otten, So., Setter, LWU  Mackenzi Sifuentes, So., Attacker, LWU PAYTON GANNAWAY, Sr., Attacker, S&T Kaileen Herman, Sr., Setter, UMSL  CHARLOTTE RICHARDS, Jr., Attacker, UMSL MEGAN WOLL, Jr., Libero, UMSL  Makayla Knoblauch, Jr., Setter, QU  Mattie Norris, Jr., Attacker, QU  Emily Rehagen, So., Attacker, QU Leah Anderson, So., Attacker, USI       UNANIMOUS SELECTION

All-GLVC Second Team Makina Wratten, Jr., Attacker, DU MaKenna Barnhart, Jr., Libero, UINDY Elizabeth Eads, So., Attacker, UINDY Alex Equihua, Jr., Setter, UINDY Amanda Greening, Jr., Attacker, LEWIS Hannah Borchelt, Jr., Attacker, LWU Sadie Kosciuk, Sr., Attacker, LWU Jordan Burton, Fr., Attacker, S&T Hannah Merjil, Jr., Setter, S&T Mya Elliott, So., Attacker, UMSL Morgan Conner, Sr., Attacker, RU Casey Cepicky, Sr., Setter, USI Taylor Litteken, Jr., Attacker, USI Katherine Koch, So., Attacker, USI Ellie Kaat, Sr., Attacker, TSU Lindsay Woltering, So., Libero, TSU   Extra Members Due to Tie

 
GLVC JAMES R. SPALDING SPORTSMANSHIP NOMINEES
Faith Alwardt, DU
Kenzie Hendon, UIS
Gillian Santana, UINDY
Jamie Poppen, LEWIS
Kat Finnerty, LWU
Mikaela Kues, MU
Lauren McCurley, MCK
Sophie Straatmann, S&T
Karlyn Hannewald, UMSL
Alaina Rothermich, QU
Morgan Conner, RU
Callie Gubera, USI
Rachel Francis, SBU
Emma Berthold, TSU
Maddie Wingert, WJC
 
GLVC JAMES R. SPALDING SPORTSMANSHIP TEAM AWARD
Southwest Baptist and William Jewell