Orange City, Iowa — Anna Wedel was named the NAIA Volleyball Player-Of-The-Year-Tuesday by the league office.
Wedel is the second Red Raider to earn the NAIA’s top honor, joining Amy Schutt who was named the NAIA’s Player of the Year in both 1992 and 1994. Wedel, now a two-time All-American, led the GPAC with a .345% hitting percentage and averaged 4.4 kills per set, 11th best in the NAIA. The junior hit for double figures in 31 matches and totaled 15 double-doubles this season. Wedel ranked second on the team in digs (2.7 per set) and put down 55 blocks. She was nearly unstoppable at the national tournament last week, ranking among the championships top five in kills and hitting percentage, and was named to the all-tournament team. Wedel was also named the GPAC Player of the Week and first team all-conference.
Wedel, a redshirt Junior, was a First Team All-American, named to the NAIA-All-Tournament Team, three time GPAC Volleyball player of the week, and named GPAC Player of the Year.
Wedel led in the GPAC in both kills (4.2) and hitting percentage (.342) and hit for double figures in 26 of her 28 matches played. The junior was second on the team in digs (2.6) and posted 12 double-doubles. Wedel accounted for 45 blocks.
Wedel averaged a remarkable 5.2 kills per set, fifth best at the championship, and hit .358 in the five matches played. The junior recorded a double-double (kills/digs) in the first three matches and hit for double figures in all five. Wedel put down 29 kills in the Red Raiders’ final match, one shy of matching her career-high, in a four-set loss to Jamestown.
Northwestern lost in the quarterfinals to Jamestown and finished 32-2 on the season.
