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| Bridget Williams |
The University of Missouri-Rolla volleyball team handed out its post-season awards at an on-campus banquet for its inaugural season, with several players earning honors that were selected by both the team and coaching staff.
Freshmen Ashlyn Balensiefer and Bridget Williams shared "The Rock" award for the 2007 season, while sophomore Lynsey Jorgenson was the winner of the Miner Heart and Spirit Award. Another freshman, Jessica Laughary, was named as the team's most improved player while junior Stephanie Harman was the winner of the Miner Strength Award.
Tory Smiley, a redshirt freshman and true freshman Annie Smith shared the Miner Hustle Award and Kaci Herron received the team's coaches award.
As far as the skill awards went, Williams was the recipient of three of the honors for being the team's top server with a team-high 35 services aces and top defensive player with 505 digs, which ranked sixth in the GLVC. Williams also shared the team's top passer award with Smith as the two finished with the highest grades on the team in that category.
Balensiefer earned the team's top setter award after averaging 9.3 assists per game, while Leandra Pelae was the Lady Miners' top offensive player. The freshman outside hitter finished ninth in the GLVC with her 3.8 kills per game and led the team in hitting percentage for the season.
Jorgenson won the top blocker award with a team-hgih 64 blocks on the campaign.
In their first season, the Lady Miners led the Great Lakes Valley Conference in home attendance, averaging 443 fans per home contest. UMR had two crowds of at least 1,000 fans during the season, including the 13th-best single-game mark of the season with 1,200 spectators at the home opening victory over Drury.
UMR had a total attendance of 5,311 fans in its 12 home matches, the highest net figure in the GLVC for the year.
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