Women's Volleyball | 11/13/2023 3:00:00 PM

HELENA, Mont.- The Frontier Conference has announced its Volleyball Awards and All-Conference Teams, and the Orediggers have accrued some significant hardware.

The 2023 Frontier Conference Player of the Year is Olivia Muir, Outside hitter for Montana Tech. The Senior from Smoot, Wyoming led the conference averaging 3.53 kills per set, and was third overall with 357 total kills. Muir also led the conference with a mark of 3.9 points per set, and finished the regular season with a .259 hitting percentage.

Setter Rhys Layton, was named the Frontier Conference Freshman of the Year. Rhys finished second in the conference with 696 assists on the year, averaging 6.89 assists per set. In her 27 matches, Rhys also compiled 28 service aces.

The Frontier Conference Coach of the Year was awarded to Brian Solomon, head coach of Montana Tech. Montana Tech won the Frontier Conference regular season with an 8-2 mark and a 22-5 overall record. Montana Tech reached its highest-ever ranking this year climbing to No. 9 in the nation. They will enter postseason play as the 11th-best team in the country.

Three Orediggers were named All-Conference First Team- Olivia Muir, Maureen Jessop, and Taylor Henley. Making it back-to-back years for all three athletes.

Jessop a graduate student, will leave Montana Tech as the all-time leader in Kills. This season she is averaging 3.47 kills per set (second only to Muir), 3.8 points per set, and is hitting .219.

Middle Blocker Taylor Henley has had another great year for the Diggs, averaging 1.95 kills per set, with a staggering .348 hitting percentage. She also has recorded 91 total blocks, for a .91 blocks per set average.

Middle Blocker Olivia LaBeau has been named to the Second Team All-Conference Team. The Junior from Billings has had a great season for the Diggs. Offensively she has accumulated 197 kills, with a 1.97 kills per set average. Defensively she has 90 total blocks, and 38 digs this year.

Here is a look at the full list of Awards and All-Conference teams:

2023 FRONTIER CONFERENCE VOLLEYBALL AWARDS
Player of the Year: Olivia Muir, Montana Tech, Sr, OH
Setter of the Year: Blythe Sealey, Rocky Mountain, Jr, S
Defensive Player of the Year: Brooke Ark, Rocky Mountain, Jr, L
Newcomer of the Year: Nina Janjic, Providence, Jr, OPP
Freshman of the Year: Rhys Layton, Montana Tech, Fr, S
Coach of the Year: Brian Soloman, Montana Tech
Co-Assistant Coach of the Year: Sacha Legros, Providence
Cassi Lowden, Rocky Mountain

First Team All-Conference
Brooke Ark, Rocky Mountain, Jr, L
Makenna Bushman, Rocky Mountain, Jr, OH
Alana Graves, MSU-Northern, Jr, MB
Taylor Henley, Montana Tech, Sr, MB
Nina Janjic, Providence, Jr, OPP
Mo Jessop, Montana Tech, Sr, OH
Danyel Martin, Montana Western, R-Jr, MB
Olivia Muir, Montana Tech, Sr, OH
Rhiannon Nez, Rocky Mountain, Sr, MB
Jordan Olson, Montana Western, So, OPP
Blythe Sealey, Rocky Mountain, Jr, S
Jazi Smith, Montana Western, Jr, OH

Second Team All-Conference
Bella Bryan, Rocky Mountain, Jr, OH
Julia Carr, Carroll, Sr, L
Olivia Labeau, Montana Tech, Jr, MB
Mara Lynch, Carroll, Sr, OH
Jenna Thorne, Providence, Sr, OH
Alyssa Pretty Weasel, MSU-Northern, Jr, OPP

All-Freshman Team
Josie Hasler, MSU - Northern, Fr, OH
Rhys Layton, Montana Tech, Fr, S
Paige Sawyer, Rocky Mountain, Fr, OPP
Cabry Taylor, Providence, Fr, MB
Kaitlyn Wood, Rocky Mountain, Fr, MB
Sophie Worden, Montana Western, Fr, S