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Posted by Patrick Moore - Volleyball - Sun, Nov 15, 2009
Inta Grinvalds
Inta Grinvalds
WHAC RELEASE

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (MadonnaCrusaders.com) - - The Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference announced its annual volleyball awards early Sunday (Nov. 15) and five Madonna University volleyball student-athletes were among the honorees, led by WHAC Setter of the Year Inta Grinvalds (Portage, Mich.).

Joining Grinvalds on the All-WHAC first team were fellow senior Mary McGinnis (Fraser, Mich.) and junior Liz Dempsey (Westland, Mich.). Sophomore Karie Altman (Taylor, Mich.) was tabbed to the All-WHAC honorable mention and the league's Champions of Character team while junior Anna Gatt (Livonia, Mich.) was joined on the Academic All-WHAC team by Grinvalds and McGinnis.

Grinvalds set the school record for career assists, passing Ashley Frost (2002-05) and establishing the new MU mark with 7,009 career assists. Grinvalds leads the nation and the WHAC in total assists (1,687) and assists per set (11.55). The selection to the first team is the fourth straight for Grinvalds, making her just the second player in program history to earn a spot on the WHAC's top team joining Brandy Malewski (1997-00).

Dempsey's early season move back to an attacking role paid off as the junior set career highs kills and digs, ranking second on the team in both categories. The 5-8 outside hitter ranked fifth in the league in total kills with 402 terminations, sixth in the WHAC, averaging 3.2 kills per set and was ninth in hitting percentage, connecting at a .247 clip.

McGinnis is making her second appearance on the first team, repeating from 2008. McGinnis leads the loop in total kills posting 528 this season while ranking first in kills per set with 3.7 terminations and ended the season eighth in hitting percentage with a .248 average. Her 1,633 career kills ranks her eighth all-time at MU in just three seasons.

Altman is making her second All-WHAC team in as many years as a member of the second team after an all-freshman team selection in 2008. Altman ranked third among the Crusaders with 369 kills and posted a team best 110 total blocks. Altman was also named to the Champions of Character team as the MU student-athlete who best displays the NAIA's five core values of respect, responsibility, integrity, servant leadership and sportsmanship.

To be selected to the all-academic team a student-athlete must have a cumulative grade point average of 3.25 or higher and be a junior or senior academically and a trio of Crusaders were honored for their efforts in the classroom. Grinvalds (nursing) and McGinnis (art/education) are making their second appearances while Gatt (double major - graphic arts and computer technology) is making her first appearance.

The Crusaders ended the season with a 32-7 overall mark and a No. 22 national ranking.

Contact: Patrick Moore (734) 432-5834