Taya Beller, Maggie Brahmer, Kelsie Cada and Rachel Walker were each repeat selections to the 2023 NSIC All-Conference Volleyball First Teamwhile Wildcat head coach Scott Kneifl received NSIC Coach of the Year honors for a second straight season.
Beller, a 6-foot-2 junior middle hitter, was voted All-NSIC First Team for a third straight season. She currently ranks second in the NSIC in blocks per set (1.10), hitting percentage (.397) and points per set (4.47) while sitting sixth in kills per set (3.60). Beller has been named NSIC Offensive Player of the Week three times this season and in 17 NSIC matches this season is averaging 3.55 kills and 1.12 blocks per set while hitting .405. Earlier this season, Beller became the 20th player in school history to record 1,000 career kills and currently sits 19th with 1,073.
Brahmer, a 6-foot junior middle hitter, is also a three-time All-NSIC First Team selection. She leads the NSIC and ranks 10th nationally with a .420 hitting percentage and is fourth in the NSIC in points per set (4.19), fifth in blocks per set (1.02) and eighth in kills per set (3.56). Brahmer is a three-time NSIC Player of the Week selection this season and was named AVCA/GameChanger National Player of the Week Oct. 3. In NSIC games this season Brahmer leads WSC with 3.70 kills per set and a .429 hitting percentage while accounting for 1.05 blocks per set.
Cada, a 6-foot senior outside hitter, is a repeat All-NSIC First Team selection after named All-NSIC Second Team in 2021. She is averaging 4.05 points per set (6th NSIC), seventh in service aces per set (0.44), 10th in kills per set (3.40) and 11th in hitting percentage (.317) while posting seven double-doubles this season. In 17 NSIC matches this season Cada is producing 3.48 kills and 2.66 digs per set with a .326 hitting percentage and a team-high 26 service aces. Earlier this season Cada became the eighth player in school history to record 1,000 career kills and 1,000 digs and currently ranks 12th in career kills at 1,289.
Walker, a 5-foot-9 senior setter, is also a repeat All-NSIC First Team selection after selected All-NSIC Second Team in 2021. This season, Walker is third in the NSIC and ninth in NCAA Div. II averaging 11.10 assists per set and averages 2.48 digs per set while recording a team-high 10 double-doubles. Walker was named NSIC Setter of the Week Oct. 2, and in NSIC play accounts for 11.32 assists and 2.45 digs per set with five double-doubles. Walker is a four-year starter for the Wildcats and is third in all-time set assists with 4,429.
Kneifl was voted NSIC Coach of the Year for a second straight season after coaching the Wildcats to a second straight NSIC regular season title and No. 1 national ranking for eight straight weeks. WSC is the first outright, repeat champion in NSIC volleyball since Concordia-St. Paul won eight straight league titles from 2003-10. It’s the fourth time that Kneifl has earned NSIC Coach of the Year honors after winning the award in 2009 and 2005 (Co-Coach of the Year).
