I don’t know why I can never remember when these get released…but I think it’s Thursday. Dayton won’t dominate the awards this year, but we will be represented. Here are my best guesses who will either win or who is in the running.
ROY - there were lots of candidates this year and I have no idea who wins. Taylor Russell would have been in the running if her knee would have been healthy. She still reminds me a lot of JPete, who did not win ROY but dominated in future years. Future is bright for Taylor. I expect her to add work in the back row skills in the off season. I don’t know if she will be on the rookie team or not. Stats don’t go deep enough to compare her to other freshmen. If it was just freshman OHs, I could do it manually. But, with every position on the court, I don’t know the freshmen in the conference well enough to map that all out.
COY - Davidson or Loyola coach. (And I’m too lazy to look up their names - which is sad on my part.) I believe in honoring the person who won the award. That would be Loyola. But it doesn’t always work out that way. I could see the coaches honoring a coach they’ve known longer and who doesn’t have the type of team he built this year very often.
LOY - Brady from Davidson will win this. She’s the best defender in the conference and this one is easy. I’ve also read she shows up for practice early to put in extra work. You love players like that.
SOY - Between 2 players in my opinion. Duquense finished near the bottom of the conference, but their setter Poling finished first in assists per set at 9.07 - basically a full assist ahead of the Loyola setter Borum at 8.09. But I think Borum wins it. She set her team to the best hitting percentage at .246. Duquesne was way down the list at .167. Additionally, Duquesne used 1 setter. Loyola used 2 setters at least part of the time. I’ll be surprised if Borum from Loyola does not win this.
POY - It’s between 2 players. Loyola’s OH McNabb who finished 2nd in points per set at 4.23 and Almodovar who finished 1st at 4.86. Lexie wins POY. We’ve all seen it coming since her freshman year and this is the year.
Moore and Yates - I think Venuto from Loyola and Davis from Davison are the two MBs that make the 1st team. But both Moore and Yates have a shot at 2nd team. Moore finished 2nd in blocking at 1.32/set and 6th in hitting percentage at .335. Yates was just the opposite of that. 4th in hitting percentage at .365 and 6th in blocks at 1.13. Loyola’s other MB is also in the mix at 3rd in hitting percentage at .378 and 7th in blocks at 1.12. Moore also served and scored points off aces, so I think she makes the 2nd Team.
