Three Northern Illinois volleyball players earned All-Mid-American Conference recognition Thursday night at the MAC's annual awards banquet, as junior Maddie Hughes became NIU's first ever MAC Defensive Player of the Year and was named to the second team All-MAC, along with sophomore Allison McGlaughlin, while senior Meagan Schoenrock earned a spot on the first team All-MAC.
"Our 2009 team is really proud of the accomplishments that these three players have had this season," said NIU coach Ray Gooden.
Both honors for Hughes mark the first end-of-the-season awards that she has received from the MAC in her career. Setting a first at NIU has not been uncommon for her this year, as she was the first MAC and NIU player to ever be named MAC West Division Defensive Player of the Week in the award's first year of existence, earning the honor three times during the regular season for her outstanding play.
"These awards for Maddie reflect all of the hard work that she has put in from her first full spring as an active player to this point," Gooden said.
Hughes led the MAC in digs during the regular season, as she totaled 5.01 per set (526) and had double-figure digs in all but two matches. She totaled 30 or more digs twice this season, setting a new career-high with 34 against Western Michigan on Oct. 31, and had 20 or more digs 11 times. She currently ranks second to Gina Guide (2,249) at NIU in career digs with 1,620.
Schoenrock also set a first at NIU by becoming the only player in program history to garner first or second team All-MAC recognition four times in a career, as she was a second team and all-freshman team selection in her first year, a second teamer again as a sophomore and a first team selection in her final two years.
"I'm really happy for Meagan," said Gooden. "Every year she has made improvements to her game to become one of the top players in our conference."
Schoenrock ranked fourth in the MAC in kills (3.90/set) and points (4.31/set) during the regular season and had double-digit kills in all but seven matches, tallying 20 or more five times. She currently ranks third all-time at NIU with 1,674 kills.
McGlaughlin is off to a similar career as Schoenrock in that McGlaughlin was also a second team All-MAC and all-freshman selection in her first year and a second team selection as a sophomore. The two players are also the only in NIU history to accomplish that feat.
"Allison has followed up a very good freshman campaign with a solid sophomore season," said Gooden. "She has made improvements in her game that allows her to be mentioned with some of the better attackers in the MAC."
