Kansas Wesleyan had four student-athletes named to the 2021 KCAC Volleyball Preseason All-KCAC team as selected by conference coaches and released by the conference office on Tuesday. The group is made up of returning 2020 All-KCAC first and second-team performers.

Emily Monson (SR/Cheney, Kan.), Maddy Beckett (JR/Halstead, Kan.), Morgan Bryand (JR/Wichita, Kan.) and Elizabeth Hardacre (JR/Kensington, Kan.) were selected to the Preseason team.

Monson had a monster 2020-21 season at the libero position for the Coyotes, earning the KCAC Defensive Player of the Year award. She led the KCAC in total digs and digs per set, totaling 804 on the season in 123 sets, averaging 6.5 digs per set. She set a new KWU school record for digs per set and a new total digs record as well. She broke the digs per set record of 6.34 set by Crystal Meadows in 2001 and bettered Haley Thompson’s 781 digs from 2015. She also set a new record for digs in a match with 47 at Sterling on October 16. Monson finished the season ranked No. 5 in the NAIA in digs per set. She was also named KCAC Defender of the Week eight times during the season.

Beckett finished the season ranked second in the KCAC in kills per set, averaging 4.2. She led the KCAC in total kills with 519. She becomes only the fourth KWU player to break the 500 kill plateau in a single season since rally scoring started in 2001. Her kills per set average ranks No. 5 all-time in KWU history. She notched a career high 28 kills on March 20 against Oklahoma Wesleyan, which ties for fifth best all-time in a single match. She ranks No. 2 in the NAIA in total kills and No. 9 in kills per set.

Bryand was another part of Wesleyan’s potent hitting attack. She averaged 2.8 kills per set on the season, which ranked No. 12 in the KCAC. She also had a .224 attack percentage, which ranked No. 14 in the conference. She twice had a season-best 16 kills against Saint Mary (Kan.) on March 24 and Saint Mary (Neb.) on September 5. She was also an adept server, notching four aces twice in matches, and had 39 service aces on the season. She ranks No. 20 in the NAIA in total kills with 342, and No. 27 in service aces.

Hardacre was a strong component up front for the Coyotes. The middle blocker averaged just under a block per set for the Coyotes with 118 total blocks in 123 sets played. She had a total of 10 blocks against Saint Mary (Neb.) on September 5 and twice more had six against Oklahoma Wesleyan and Sterling. She also had a season high 15 kills against Ottawa in October.

The team is made up of 13 seniors, six juniors, and five sophomores.

2021 KCAC Volleyball Preseason All-KCAC Team (listed by school)
Hannah Lentell, MB, Avila
D’Ovion Williams, MB/DS, Avila
Jordan Valentine, MH, Bethany
Sarah Lazar-St. John, MH, Friends
Emily Monson, DS, Kansas Wesleyan
Maddy Beckett, OH, Kansas Wesleyan
Morgan Bryand, OH, Kansas Wesleyan
Elizabeth Hardacre, MB, Kansas Wesleyan
Aidan Brown, OH, McPherson
Cynarah Rodriguez, S, McPherson
Sydney Burton, MB, McPherson
Morgan Watson, RS, McPherson
Ayona Tharps, RS, Ottawa
Katelyn Elstun, OH/RS, Ottawa
Ryleigh Burdick, OH, Ottawa
Rylee Kenitzer, OH, Saint Mary
Haydan Heuermann, S, Saint Mary
Emily Peterson, M, Sterling
Breanne Akiu, S, Sterling
Melody Valencia, S, Tabor
Olivia Duerksen, MB, Tabor
Taylor Quiring, OH, Tabor