Photo by: Erin Boyette
Volleyball Announces 2017 Player Awards
Jan 19, 2018 | Volleyball
BRYAN, Texas – The Texas A&M volleyball annual player awards were presented at the team's end-of-the-season celebration dinner, held this evening at Christopher's World Grille.
Junior defensive specialist Amy Houser was the recipient of the prestigious Aggie Excellence award, which recognizes the player who best represents A&M's core values of respect, integrity, leadership, excellence, loyalty and selfless service. Texas A&M Senior Associate Athletics Director/Senior Woman Administrator Lori Williams presented the final and most esteemed award, which is voted on by the team members.
Williams describes Houser, an honor student from Houston, as one who embodies all the qualities that it takes to not only be an outstanding Aggie student-athlete, but also an exemplary teammate and person. Williams noted not only how Houser is always accountable and mentally prepared to put forth all-out effort throughout weight workouts, practices and matches and follows through on team vows, but also how Houser is an admired ambassador for Texas A&M and participates in numerous philanthropic activities. A member of the SEC Community Service Team, Houser, also maintains the highest grade-point average on the team while majoring in business honors.
Senior co-captain Amy Nettles was a double award winner, as she was named most valuable player and most inspirational. The libero from San Antonio, who was commended for her resiliency and resolve both on and off the court, led the Aggies and ranked ninth in the Southeastern Conference with 3.86 digs per set for the full season. She also was the team leader and ranked eighth in the SEC with 4.03 digs per set in league matches only and finished with an A&M-record holder 968 career digs in SEC matches.
Nettles also finished ranked fourth in the A&M career records with 1,441 digs in all matches, having led the Maroon and White in digs per set for a fourth consecutive year and in totals digs for a third straight year. Nettles, who took or tied for team-high honors in digs in a team-leading 19 of 25 matches in 2017, posted a career-high and a team season-high 34 digs against Tennessee, tying for sixth in the A&M single-match records.
Nettles ended her career as the school's all-time leader in consecutive sets played, having appeared in 362 consecutive sets dating back to her freshman season.
Senior outside hitter Kiara McGee was presented the best offensive award, having ranked in the top 10 in the SEC with 3.42 kills and 3.77 points per set in conference matches. From San Antonio, McGee tied for the team lead in total kills in league play and took or tied for team-high honors in kills in a team-best 13 matches. In addition, she led the team with 18 double-figure kill performances after closing out the season having recorded double-digit kills in eight of the final nine matches.
Senior defensive specialist Gabby Litwin was the recipient of the best defensive award. From Allen, Texas, Litwin appeared in 24 of 25 matches and drew 10 starts. She posted double-figure digs five times, and she was second on the team with 2.15 digs per set in SEC matches only. She twice took or tied for team-high honors in digs, and her career-high four aces at Arkansas were the most by an SEC player in a five-set conference match in 2017.
Freshman middle blocker Morgan Davis was presented the award for most improved. The Orlando, Florida, native had appeared in only three matches and four sets overall through the first 11 matches before making her first career start and playing in all three sets in the sweep against Mississippi State on Oct. 8. Her seven blocks against the Bulldogs tied for the most by an A&M player in all matches in 2017. Davis went on to lead or tie for the team lead in blocks in four matches and averaged 1.09 blocks per set for the full season as well as 1.16 blocks per set SEC action. She also showed her versatility, starting at opposite hitter for the first time at Ole Miss on Nov. 12 and responding with a career-high seven kills while hitting .312.
In addition to the individual player awards, 10 student-athletes were recognized for their academic prowess: Kaitlyn Blake, Camille Conner, Davis, Hollann Hans, Amanda Heller, Houser, Makena Patterson and Samantha Sanders, as well as Kiana Peroff and Haley Slocum.
The banquet concluded with the showing of the season highlight film, produced by Kolten Bergeron and others on the 12th Man Productions staff.
2017 Texas A&M volleyball team awards:
Aggie Excellence: Amy Houser
MVP: Amy Nettles
Best Offensive: Kiara McGee
Best Defensive: Gabby Litwin
Most Improved: Morgan Davis
Most Inspirational: Amy Nettles
Visit 12thMan.com for more information on Texas A&M volleyball. Aggie fans also can keep up to date with the A&M volleyball team on Facebook and on Twitter and Instagram by following @AggieVolleyball.
Junior defensive specialist Amy Houser was the recipient of the prestigious Aggie Excellence award, which recognizes the player who best represents A&M's core values of respect, integrity, leadership, excellence, loyalty and selfless service. Texas A&M Senior Associate Athletics Director/Senior Woman Administrator Lori Williams presented the final and most esteemed award, which is voted on by the team members.
Williams describes Houser, an honor student from Houston, as one who embodies all the qualities that it takes to not only be an outstanding Aggie student-athlete, but also an exemplary teammate and person. Williams noted not only how Houser is always accountable and mentally prepared to put forth all-out effort throughout weight workouts, practices and matches and follows through on team vows, but also how Houser is an admired ambassador for Texas A&M and participates in numerous philanthropic activities. A member of the SEC Community Service Team, Houser, also maintains the highest grade-point average on the team while majoring in business honors.
Senior co-captain Amy Nettles was a double award winner, as she was named most valuable player and most inspirational. The libero from San Antonio, who was commended for her resiliency and resolve both on and off the court, led the Aggies and ranked ninth in the Southeastern Conference with 3.86 digs per set for the full season. She also was the team leader and ranked eighth in the SEC with 4.03 digs per set in league matches only and finished with an A&M-record holder 968 career digs in SEC matches.
Nettles also finished ranked fourth in the A&M career records with 1,441 digs in all matches, having led the Maroon and White in digs per set for a fourth consecutive year and in totals digs for a third straight year. Nettles, who took or tied for team-high honors in digs in a team-leading 19 of 25 matches in 2017, posted a career-high and a team season-high 34 digs against Tennessee, tying for sixth in the A&M single-match records.
Nettles ended her career as the school's all-time leader in consecutive sets played, having appeared in 362 consecutive sets dating back to her freshman season.
Senior outside hitter Kiara McGee was presented the best offensive award, having ranked in the top 10 in the SEC with 3.42 kills and 3.77 points per set in conference matches. From San Antonio, McGee tied for the team lead in total kills in league play and took or tied for team-high honors in kills in a team-best 13 matches. In addition, she led the team with 18 double-figure kill performances after closing out the season having recorded double-digit kills in eight of the final nine matches.
Senior defensive specialist Gabby Litwin was the recipient of the best defensive award. From Allen, Texas, Litwin appeared in 24 of 25 matches and drew 10 starts. She posted double-figure digs five times, and she was second on the team with 2.15 digs per set in SEC matches only. She twice took or tied for team-high honors in digs, and her career-high four aces at Arkansas were the most by an SEC player in a five-set conference match in 2017.
Freshman middle blocker Morgan Davis was presented the award for most improved. The Orlando, Florida, native had appeared in only three matches and four sets overall through the first 11 matches before making her first career start and playing in all three sets in the sweep against Mississippi State on Oct. 8. Her seven blocks against the Bulldogs tied for the most by an A&M player in all matches in 2017. Davis went on to lead or tie for the team lead in blocks in four matches and averaged 1.09 blocks per set for the full season as well as 1.16 blocks per set SEC action. She also showed her versatility, starting at opposite hitter for the first time at Ole Miss on Nov. 12 and responding with a career-high seven kills while hitting .312.
In addition to the individual player awards, 10 student-athletes were recognized for their academic prowess: Kaitlyn Blake, Camille Conner, Davis, Hollann Hans, Amanda Heller, Houser, Makena Patterson and Samantha Sanders, as well as Kiana Peroff and Haley Slocum.
The banquet concluded with the showing of the season highlight film, produced by Kolten Bergeron and others on the 12th Man Productions staff.
2017 Texas A&M volleyball team awards:
Aggie Excellence: Amy Houser
MVP: Amy Nettles
Best Offensive: Kiara McGee
Best Defensive: Gabby Litwin
Most Improved: Morgan Davis
Most Inspirational: Amy Nettles
Visit 12thMan.com for more information on Texas A&M volleyball. Aggie fans also can keep up to date with the A&M volleyball team on Facebook and on Twitter and Instagram by following @AggieVolleyball.
Players Mentioned
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