2011 All-GLIAC Volleyball Release

November 12, 2011 - Hillsdale College senior Ashlee Crowder has enjoyed a career of historic proportions for the Charger volleyball team, and Saturday, cemented herself in that status.

Crowder was named the 2011 GLIAC Player of the Year during the conference tournament, held at Ferris State University. This is the second year in a row Crowder has been named the GLIAC’s top player, and marks the fourth time in the past six years a player from Hillsdale College has taken home the conference’s top individual honor in the sport of volleyball. She is pictured here holding both of her plaques - First-Team All-GLIAC and Player of the Year.

Crowder also earned her third straight First-Team All-GLIAC honor during the ceremony, held between Saturday’s two semifinal matches.

Joining Crowder on the First Team from Hillsdale were senior setter Apryl Schmucker and senior middle hitter Clara Leutheuser. Junior middle hitter Lauren Grover was named Second-Team All-GLIAC, the first conference postseason honor of her career. Sophomore outside hitter Caitlin Kopmeyer earned honorable mention All-GLIAC recognition, also the first of her career.

Crowder, a two-time All-American, finished the regular season leading the GLIAC in kills per set (3.92) and was third in hitting percentage, the latter stat even more remarkable because the top spots in any conference stat rankings for hitting percentage are typically reserved for middle hitters, who get fewer attack attempts than most outside hitters. Crowder was the 2008 GLIAC Freshman of the Year, and has been named the GLIAC South Division Player of the Week an incredible nine times in her career. She ranks second in school history in career kills.

Leutheuser also earned her third career First-Team All-GLIAC honor. She led Hillsdale to its third straight GLIAC South Division title by leading the conference in both hitting percentage and total blocks, both for the second year in a row. Leutheuser is a two-time All-American and ranks second in school history in total blocks.

The First-Team honor is a first in the fine career of Schmucker, who previously had been named Second-Team All-GLIAC in both 2009 and 2010. Schmucker led the GLIAC during the regular season in assists per set and service aces per set, and led an offense that led the GLIAC in team hitting percentage.

Grover had an outstanding campaign in 2011, finishing second on the team in kills and hitting percentage. She took her game to a completely new level this year, forming a devastating 1-2 punch at middle hitter along with Leutheuser. But Grover’s play stood on its own merits, as her hitting percentage of .393 ranked second in the conference. She was also second on the team with 81 total blocks.

Kopmeyer had a breakthrough year in her second season for Hillsdale, excelling with her all-around play, becoming one of the team’s best passers, along with being another reliable offensive weapon in the front row. She finished the regular season with 146 kills and 220 digs.