By: Jake Krier, UWEC Sports Information
EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (blugolds.com) - With many of the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire fall sports teams holding their end-of-the-year awards banquets, the volleyball team was the latest to follow suit.
Being awarded the Most Valuable Player was Katrina Raskie (Sr.-Weston, WI/D.C. Everest). The senior outside hitter received All-Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) first team honors for the second consecutive year this past season. Raskie's .229 attacking percentage, 276 kills, and 2.34 kills per set all ranked in the top-20 within the conference. The three-time team captain also was a co-recipient of the 2016 WIAC Judy Kruckman Women's Volleyball Scholar-Athlete Award. Her 1,000th career kill came early in the 2016 campaign, as she was only the seventh Blugold to hit that milestone.
Though typically one recipient would receive the Top Newcomer Award, this year was an exception as both Madelyn Pashibin (So.-Minneapolis, MN/Minneapolis Southwest) and Heather Sawchuk (Jr.-Roseville, MN/Cretin-Derham Hall) were named as this year's winners. Both players made significant contributions to the Blugolds this past season in their debuts.
Pashibin's 238 kills finished third best on the squad, while her .269 hitting percentage topped that of the recurrent starters. The middle blocker's 61 total blocks ranked second on the team as well.
Sawchuk added this award to the many feats she accomplished this season. The outside hitter was named to the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Division III All-Region team and the All-WIAC team. She led the Blugolds in kills with 481, equalling to 4.08 per set, also a team-best.
Finally, Keagan Kinsella (Sr.-Chanhassen, MN) was given the Blugold Award. Additionally, she was previously announced to the conference's All-Sportsmanship Team. Kinsella accounted for 132 kills and a .216 hitting percentage, ranking in the top-20 for the WIAC.
The Blugolds completed their 2016 season with a record of 23-9.
Follow the action for all sports this season on Blugold Game Day.
