FARMINGTON, Utah (November 16, 2021) – The Big Sky Conference announced the 2021 Big Sky Volleyball Individual Award winners and All-Conference Team selections on Tuesday.
This year’s all-conference teams feature four teams that placed four players across the two teams. Weber State was the only team to put four players on the All-Big Sky first team.
The Wildcat’s selections include three-time All-Big Sky selection Dani Nay (2019, 2020) and this season’s Most Valuable Player. Nay is ranked fourth in the conference this season with 3.37 kills per set, but her serving abilities have made the redshirt-sophomore stand out.
The Nampa, Idaho native ranks at the top of the conference in service aces per set, and her 0.64 average places her third nationally. In all, she has totaled 60 aces this season and has the second-best ace total nationally.
Joining Nay on the first team from Weber State is the 2020 season MVP and a two-time first-team selection Rylin Adams and teammate Sam Schiess. Ashlyn Power (2019, 2020) receives her third first-team All-Big Sky honor.
Portland State also placed four players on the All-Big Sky teams, with three receiving first-team honors.
Ellie Snook receives first-team recognition for the first time in her career after being an All-Big Sky second-team selection in 2019 and 2020. Snook was also named the Big Sky Libero of the Year for the second consecutive season. The West Linn, Ore. native, led the Big Sky with 5.40 digs per set and totaled 567 digs this season. Snook ranks eighth nationally in digs per set.
Joining Snook on the first team and also named the Big Sky Top-Newcomer is Makayla Lewis. The junior outside hitter helped propel her team to the top of the conference with her offensive play. Lewis averages 3.36 kills per set on the season, which is the fifth-best in the Big Sky. Lewis has also hit 23 aces this year.
Parker Webb joins Snook and Lewis as the other first-team selection from Portland State.
Northern Colorado had three players receive first-team all-conference honors. Kailey Jo Ince (2019) received her second career All-Big Sky first-team honor. Rachel Hickman and Lauren Strain each received first-team nods, which is the first one of their careers. Hickman was a 2020 second-team selection.
Sacramento State’s Bridgette Smith and Northern Arizona’s Taylor Jacobsen round out the final two spots on the All-Big Sky first team. This is the second first-team honor for Jacobsen, who was also named an All-Big Sky first-team selection in 2020. This is the first all-conference selection for Smith.
Montana State had four players named All-Big Sky second team, including Jordan Radick, who was also named this season’s Outstanding Freshman. Radick played in 26 matches this season with the Bobcats and had a hitting percentage of .284. For the year, she averaged 1.76 kills and 0.98 blocks per set.
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| 2021 Big Sky Volleyball All-Conference |
| First Team |
| Name |
School |
Class |
Position |
| Taylor Jacobsen # |
Northern Arizona |
Jr. |
Outside Hitter |
| Rachel Hickman |
Northern Colorado |
Jr. |
Outside Hitter |
| Lauren Strain |
Northern Colorado |
So. |
Middle Blocker |
| Kailey Jo Ince # |
Northern Colorado |
Sr. |
Outside Hitter |
| Ellie Snook |
Portland State |
Jr. |
Libero |
| Makayla Lewis |
Portland State |
Jr. |
Outside Hitter |
| Parker Webb |
Portland State |
R-Sr. |
Outside Hitter |
| Bridgette Smith |
Sacramento State |
So. |
Outside Hitter |
| Dani Nay % |
Weber State |
R-So. |
Outside Hitter |
| Rylin Adams # |
Weber State |
Sr. |
Outside Hitter |
| Ashlyn Power % |
Weber State |
Sr. |
Setter |
| Sam Schiess # |
Weber State |
Sr. |
Middle Blocker |
| # indicates 2-time All-Big Sky first-team selection |
| % indicates 3-time All-Big Sky first-team selection |
| Second Team |
| Ashlyn Blotzer |
Eastern Washington |
Jr. |
Middle Blocker |
| Paige Clark |
Montana |
Fr. |
Setter |
| Hannah Scott |
Montana State |
Sr. |
Outside Hitter |
| Emma Pence |
Montana State |
So. |
Middle Blocker |
| Kira Thomsen |
Montana State |
So. |
Outside Hitter |
| Jordan Radick |
Montana State |
Fr. |
Middle Blocker |
| Ryann Davis |
Northern Arizona |
Sr. |
Opposite Hitter |
| Morgan Gappmayer |
Northern Arizona |
R-Jr. |
Outside Hitter |
| Ally Wada |
Portland State |
Sr. |
Setter |
| Cianna Andrews |
Sacramento State |
Sr. |
Middle Blocker |
| Kalani Hayes |
Sacramento State |
So. |
Middle Blocker |
| Ashtin Olin |
Sacramento State |
Sr. |
Setter |
Individual Awards
MVP: Dani Nay, Weber State
Libero of the Year: Ellie Snook, Portland State
Outstanding Freshman: Jordan Radick, Montana State
Top-Newcomer: Makayla Lewis, Portland State