TMU Women's Volleyball earns impressive awards haul from GSAC

Katie Emmerling continues to have a senior season to remember.
 
A week after being part of the first TMU Beach Volleyball duo ever to be named Golden State Athletic Conference Pair of the Year, senior setter Emmerling has made more history, this time in indoor volleyball.
 
Emmerling was announced on Tuesday morning as GSAC Women's Volleyball Player of the Year, becoming the first Mustang in program history to earn the honor.
 
Head coach Annett Davis was named GSAC Co-Coach of the Year, while senior opposite hitter Madi Maitland and sophomore middle blocker Jessi Swenning joined Emmerling on the All-GSAC Team.
 
"I am not surprised that Katie was named Player of the Year because she has been an instrumental part of our success," Davis said. "It's exciting that two other Lady Stangs were awarded All-GSAC honors. Madi and Jessi have both improved tremendously this season, and I am glad their hard work was recognized by the coaches in our conference."


 
Emmerling earns All-GSAC honors for the second-straight season, after receiving the recognition in her first year at Master's in 2019. She leads the conference in both assists per set (9.53) and service aces per set (0.57), while ranking third on TMU in digs with 144.
 
"She's an incredible athlete," Davis said of her senior setter. "Most people don't know that she started setting after going to college. It takes a special person with some incredible God-given talent to be able to learn that skill and to become the best in the league at it.
 
"She pushes herself to her limits and always strives for excellence. The honor is not only impressive, but well-deserved."
 
Earlier this season, Emmerling was named GSAC Setter of the Week three times in a row, becoming the first Mustang athlete in any sport to earn a conference weekly award three-straight times.
 
"Katie is the first person to come to mind when I think of a Christian athlete," Master's assistant coach Amy Buffham said. "She's fierce, loyal, competitive and an incredible teammate who leads by example. While awards may be stats-focused, I can't think of a more deserving and well-rounded player to earn this recognition."
 
In her first season at the helm of the TMU Women's Volleyball program, Davis led the Mustangs to a GSAC East Division title and with it an automatic berth into the national tournament. The Mustangs hold a 10-3 overall record, including an 8-2 mark within the GSAC.
 
"I am extremely honored and humbled to be nominated as Co-Head Coach of the Year," Davis said. "My assistant coach Amy Buffham deserves a ton of credit for helping me navigate our teams on and off the court, as does Alison Buchanan for being a sense of peace and always a reminder of God's grace when I stumbled.


 
"When I was weak, and there were many times that I was, God showed up and my staff certainly stepped in to help me with the load. This is an honor, but most definitely a shared one."
 
Davis is the third Master's head coach to be named GSAC Coach of the Year, joining Allan Vince (2018) and Bobby Blanken (2012). In 2019, Davis was selected as GSAC Assistant Coach of the Year.
 
"I always tell recruits that Annett leads our programs with grace, integrity, intelligence and a competitive fire that is contagious to our players," Buffham said. "She is a strong leader with high standards and is willing to serve our teams in any way possible.
 
"We are truly blessed with the best – the best example, teacher, counselor and coach that we could have asked for. She deserves this award more than she knows."


 
Maitland is recognized as an All-GSAC player for the second time in her career, having also earned the distinction in 2018. The senior ranks fourth in the GSAC in attack % (.250) and fifth in blocks per set (0.83). She is also fourth on the team with 89 kills this season.
 
"I am so proud of Madi's mental and physical performance this season," Buffham said. "With the odds stacked against her, her faith and trust in God's plan for her superseded it all. I'm so glad that she got recognition for her stellar season."
 
Swenning is just the fourth sophomore in program history to receive All-GSAC recognition and the first since Maitland two seasons ago. She ranks fourth in the GSAC in blocks per set (0.87) and sixth in attack % (.236), while recording the third-most kills (98) on Master's this year.


 
"If we had a Most Improved Player Award, it would go to Jessi," Buffham said. "She has come so far since last season and this is a testament to her hard work."
 
This marks the third-straight season that TMU has had three selections to the All-GSAC Team.
 
Master's, receiving votes in the latest NAIA Coaches' Poll, is set to take on 13th-ranked Corban University (Ore.) in the NAIA Women's Volleyball National Championship Opening Round on Saturday at 1 p.m. The match in Salem, Oregon will be live streamed at: https://portal.stretchinternet.com/corban/