GLIAC -- The 2021 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) Volleyball postseason awards have been announced following a vote by the league's coaches.
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Anna Jonynas // Michigan Tech
Fifth-year senior outside hitter Anna Jonynas (Orland Park, Ill.) is the third GLIAC Volleyball Player of the Year in Michigan Tech history. She was named to the All-GLIAC First Team for the second straight season. Jonynas was a three-time pick for the GLIAC North Division Player of the Week this season and ranks second in the GLIAC in kills per set (4.08), fourth in service aces (43), 12th in digs per set (3.25), and 16th in hitting percentage (.275). Jonynas appeared in all 28 matches and tallied 13 double-doubles. She tallied double-digit kills 22 times with a career-high 25 kills versus Grand Valley State where she added 15 digs while hitting .302. Jonynas ranks third in program history with 1,650 digs and seventh with 1,185 kills.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Nina Gorgijevska // Ferris State
Senior libero Nina Gorgijevska (Potsdam, Germany) leads the GLIAC in total digs (491) and digs per game (5.29), which also ranks 11th nationally. A starter of every match this season, she is also second on the team in assists and service aces. Last season, the three-year starter earned GLIAC Libero of the Year honors and was named First Team All-GLIAC.
SETTER OF THE YEAR
Laura De Marchi // Michigan Tech
Laura De Marchi (Milan, Italy) is the GLIAC Setter of the Year and on the All-GLIAC First Team for the fifth straight year. De Marchi averaged 11.55 assists per set to lead the GLIAC and rank sixth in the nation. She has tallied 1,016 assists this season, 259 digs (2.94 d/s), 68 kills, 42 blocks, and 27 service aces. De Marchi is Michigan Tech's all-time leader in career assists with 5,329. Her 11.79 assists per set for her career is tops in program history and she also ranks seventh in Tech history with 1,324 digs.
FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR
Sarah Veale // Saginaw Valley State
Saginaw Valley State outside hitter Sarah Veale (Fowler, Mich.) appeared in 23 matches for the Cardinals this season. She recorded 111 kills for an average of 2.18 kills per set. She also tallied 46 digs and 13 blocks for SVSU at the outside hitter position. The highlight of the season came against Grand Valley State University, when Veale led the Cardinals to a big four-set win at home with 12 kills.
COACH OF THE YEAR
Tim Koth // Wayne State
Wayne State head coach Tim Koth earns the GLIAC Coach of the Year award for the second time (Northwood, 2012) in his career and is the first Warrior coach to collect the honor since Matt Peck in 1987. After a 4-8 season during the COVID-shortened spring 2021 campaign, Koth guide WSU to a 20-win season, the most since 1998, and the No. 3 seed in the GLIAC Tournament. Wayne State swept Saginaw Valley State in a GLIAC Tournament Quarterfinal contest on Nov. 17, the first home playoff game since 2010. Wayne State has its sights set on its first trip to the NCAA postseason since 1994 and for just the third time in program history.
