Additionally, a total of seven student-athletes also received the Elite Scholar Athlete award, presented by Conway Regional Health System, in Arkansas Tech’s Millie Allgood and Emma Kiser, Arkansas-Monticello’s Maelie Cook, Harding’s Avery Stanfill, Oklahoma Baptist’s Taya McReynolds, Ouachita Baptist’s Emily Adams and Southwestern Oklahoma State’s Cameron Turner. All seven have maintained perfect 4.00 grade-point averages.
Steffes, the first Reddie recognized as the league’s Player of the Year, led the GAC in kills and points per set. She finished the regular season with 479 kills, 135 more than any other GAC player. Partain closed the season ranked second in Division II in digs per set. She registered 19 20-dig games. Hanson ended the year ranked first in the league in assists and second in service aces. She moved into second place on the GAC’s all-time assists leaderboard. Hernandez’s attack percentage, .377, led the conference and ranked second amongst all Division II freshmen.
Steffes and Hanson added spots on the All-GAC First Team to their postseason honors. Leah Gardner gave the Tigers two members on the First Team. Arkansas Tech’s Henley Hooks, Harding’s Olivia Wiedower, Oklahoma Baptist’s Rylee Unruh, Southern Nazarene’s Kate Wright and Southwestern Oklahoma State’s Hailey Smith rounded out the team.
Gardner ranked in the top five in attack percentage and blocks per set. Hooks ranked fourth in kills per set. Wiedower ended the regular season just 0.10 assists per set behind Hanson. Unruh ranked third in both points and kills per set. Her 45 aces share third. Wright took second to Steffes in both kills and points per set. Smith recorded one the six 100-block seasons and averaged 3.57 points per set.
Hernandez and Partain headlined the All-GAC Second Team. Tech’s Savannah Meyer joined Hernandez on the team alongside Harding’s Jacey Lambert, Oklahoma Baptist’s Emily Boyer, Ouachita Baptist’s Emily Adams, Southern Arkansas’ Sadie Kabisch and Southwestern Oklahoma State’s Katja Blanchat.
The Honorable Mention Team consisted of East Central’s Faiana Halatoa, Emily Pena and Valentina Tijerina; SWOSU’s Jada Permenter and Mackenzie Sims, Ouachita Baptist’s Kylie Kisgen and Kailey Thedford, Arkansas-Monticello’s Mia Smalls, Harding’s Ella Drake, Northwestern Oklahoma State’s Ivanny Blackwood, Oklahoma Baptist’s Karsyn Hunter and Southern Arkansas’ Brinklee Dauenhauer.
The GAC Academic Honor Roll featured a total of 90 student-athletes to have achieved a cumulative grade-point average of 3.50, or higher, combined with at least one year of one-year of full-time college residency.
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