Three Bruins earn regional volleyball honors

BELLEVUE, Neb. -- Three Bellevue University volleyball players were recognized on the NAIA All-North Central Region Team that was announced today by the American Volleyball Coaches' Association.

Earning distinction on the All-Region team were junior middle Mikaylah Gillespie, sophomore right side Shayla Scanlan, and freshman setter Maddie Squiers. Squiers was also named the Region's Freshman of the Year while BU assistant coach Steve Field was recognized as the Region's Assistant Coach of the Year.

The North Central Region is composed of member schools in the North Star Athletic Association and the NAIA Association of Independent Institutions.

Gillespie was selected to the all-region team for the first time in her career after previously being named a first team all-NSAA selection. Her 363 kills and 2.27 kills per set both ranked second on the team. Gillespie led all Bruins with 156 total blocks and ranked second with a .289 hitting percentage on 863 attacks. She ranked among the nation's leaders in both blocks (ninth) and blocks per set (1.03).

Scanlan was named to the all-region team for the second-straight season. She was previously recognized as a first team all-NSAA selection. This season Scanlan ranked second for BU with 399 kills and 2.75 kills per set while leading the team and ranking 26^th nationally with a .326 hitting percentage on 886 attempts. Her 122 blocks ranked third on the team and 32^nd nationally.

Squiers' selection marks the second year in a row that the Bruins have had the Freshman of the Year in the region, as Scanlan was recognized with the honor last season. Squiers was previously named first team all-NSAA and was the league's freshman of the year. She set a Bellevue freshman record with 1,786 assists which was also good for the third-highest single-season total in program history. Her assist total and 11.16 assists per set rank first and sixth, respectively, among NAIA leaders. Additionally, she ranked third on the team with 391 digs.

Bellevue posted a final record of 32-12 this season and reached the NAIA National Tournament for the first time since 2013, advancing to the Pool Play portion of the event for the first time since 2012. BU loses just three seniors to graduation and has already signed a pair of recruits for next season where they'll be among the favorites to again qualify for the National Tournament.

North Central Region

Honorable Mention