NSIC Volleyball All-Conference Release

NSIC OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
#12 Devin Diedrich (MB, 6-0, Jr., Braham, Minn. / Braham HS)
SMSU

Devin Diedrich became the newest member of the 1,000 kill club at SMSU on Sept. 24 when she recorded a career-high 26 kills. She leads the NSIC in kills with 4.48 kills per set in 2010. As of Oct. 31 she ranked sixth in the nation in kills per set. Currently she ranks fourth all time at SMSU with 1,227 career kills, kills per set (3.74) and hitting percentage ( .313). Diedrich was named NSIC Freshman of the year in 2008 and was named All-NSIC honorable mention in 2008. She was named to the All-NSIC team, grabbed AVCA All-Central Region honors and was named AVCA All-America third-team in 2009. She has been named NSIC Offensive Player of the Week six times in her career and was also the AVCA Player of the Week once this season. She has played in 340 sets and 94 matches in her career at SMSU.

NSIC LIBERO OF THE YEAR
#1 Leigh Connot (Lib, 5-8, Jr., Lincoln, Neb. / Lincoln Pius X HS)
Wayne State

Leigh Connot has helped Wayne State lead the Northern Sun Conference in digs per set (18.21) while ranking 10th in NCAA Division II as a team. Individually, Connot ranks fourth in the NSIC in digs per set at 4.78, helping WSC to a 25-3 record and a #3 ranking in NCAA Division II. She has been a consistent player for the Wildcats in the back row all season with a season-high 31 digs vs. Minnesota State on October 8.

NSIC FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR
#4 Amanda Konetchy (S, 5-7, Fr., Victoria, Minn. / Chaska HS)
Concordia-St. Paul

Amanda Konetchy has emerged as one of the best setters in the nation as she is leading the NCAA in assists per set (12.93) and has guided the Golden Bears to a hitting percentage of .294. The Golden Bears hitting percentage is third amongst teams ranked in the top-25 in the nation. She has also helped three CU hitters to be ranked in the top-50 in the nation in hitting percentage. She is poised to become the third different CU setter to lead the nation in assists per set and it would mark the sixth straight year the CU setter would lead the country in that statistic.

NSIC COACH OF THE YEAR 
Brady Starkey (8th Season)
Concordia-St. Paul

Brady Starkey’s Golden Bears have won 70 straight NSIC regular season matches dating back to 2007 and 47 straight home matches as well. He has a career NSIC record of 135-2 and has guided the Golden Bears to eight straight NSIC titles. The Golden Bears are ranked #1 in the nation for the fourth year in a row. His team is two wins away from sweeping the NSIC for the sixth time in eight years. The Golden Bears are ranked number one in the nation in assists per set and number two in kills per set. His team also ranks in the 35th in blocks per set. His Golden Bears shine off the court as well, since 2003 his teams have won the AVCA’s Academic Team Award for having over a 3.3 GPA. He has coached eight ESPN Academic All-Americans.