More post-season honors were handed out to four Wayne State College volleyball players Wednesday afternoon as junior middle hitters Taya Beller and Maggie Brahmer, senior outside hitter Kelsie Cada and senior setter Rachel Walker each were named to the AVCA (American Volleyball Coaches Association) All-Central Region First Team.  All four players now advance to the All-American ballot.  And for the second straight season Wayne State head coach Scott Kneifl was voted the AVCA Central Region Coach of the Year.
            Beller, a 6-2 junior middle hitter from Lindsay (Humphrey HS), was named AVCA All-Central Region First Team for a second straight season after leading the NSIC in blocks this season at 1.11 per set.  She was third in the league in hitting percentage (.393) and points per set (4.39) and fifth in kills per set (3.53)  Beller was named NSIC Offensive Player of the Week three times this season.  Other post season honors for Beller include All-NSIC First Team for a third straight year and D2CCA All-Central Region First Team for a second straight season.
            Brahmer, a 6-0 junior middle hitter from Pierce (Pierce HS), is also a repeat AVCA All-Central Region First Team honoree.  This season she ranked first in the NSIC and is ninth nationally in hitting percentage at .414, fourth in the NSIC in blocks per set (1.08), fifth in points per set (4.11) and seventh in kills (3.47).  Brahmer is a three-time NSIC Player of the Week selection this season and was named AVCA/GameChanger National Player of the Week October 3^rd.  She is now a three-time All-NSIC First Team recipient and twice named D2CCA All-Central Region First Team.
            Cada, a 6-0 senior outside hitter from Wahoo (Bishop Neumann HS), is a repeat AVCA All-Region First Team selection after averaging 3.42 kills and 2.60 digs per set this season for the Wildcats.  She had eight double-doubles and ranked sixth in the league in points per set (4.06) and service aces (0.42) and was eighth in kills per set.  Earlier this season Cada became the eighth player in school history to record 1,000 kills and 1,000 digs at WSC.
            Walker, a 5-9 senior setter from Lincoln (Southwest HS), averaged 10.98 assists and 2.53 digs per set this season for the Wildcats with a team-high 12 double-doubles.  She ranks third in the NSIC and tied for 12^th nationally in assists per set and currently ranks third all-time at Wayne State with 4,506 set assists.  Other post season honors for Walker include All-NSIC First Team for a second straight season.
            Kneifl was voted AVCA Central Region Coach of the Year for a second straight season after guiding the Wildcats to a perfect 18-0 NSIC regular season and a second straight NSIC regular season title.  Wayne State was ranked #1 for nine straight weeks this season and the Wildcats became the first unbeaten NSIC regular season champion since 2014 and the first team to win consecutive, outright NSIC regular season titles since Concordia-St. Paul in 2009-10.  Kneifl was also voted NSIC Coach of the Year for a second straight season.
            Wayne State is 28-2 on the season and ranked third in the AVCA/TARAFLEX NCAA Division II Top 25 Coaches Poll entering the NCAA Central Region Tournament this weekend in St. Paul, Minnesota.  The Wildcats face #15 Minnesota Duluth Thursday afternoon at 2:30 p.m. in the opening round.