Frias, O’Malley earn All-WIAC honors
Two student-athletes from the University of Wisconsin-Platteville volleyball team were honored in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference for their exceptional efforts this season.
PLATTEVILLE, Wis. — Two student-athletes from the University of Wisconsin-Platteville volleyball team were honored in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference for their exceptional efforts this season.
Lidia Frias, a junior building construction management major and middle hitter from Iola, Wis., received All-WIAC Honorable Mention while Katie O’Malley, a senior business administration and mathematics major and setter from Belvidere, Ill., was named to the All-Sportsmanship team.
This season, Frias totaled 226 kills, averaging 2.09 kills per set. She also logged 15 solo blocks and assisted in 76 other blocks, leading the team with a 91-block total. This is her second time being honored in the WIAC in her three-year career at UW-Platteville.
“For the second straight season, Lidia has played through injuries,” said head coach Deb Schulman. “She is a dominating player at the net and is the team's top blocker. When Lidia is healthy, she does a great job of going pin-to-pin and putting up a big block. She is such a special player because she always wants to get better at what she does.”
Throughout her time at UW-Platteville, O’Malley has played in 422 sets, recorded over 2,800 career assists, 564 digs and 67 service aces. To be nominated for the All-Sportsmanship team, a player from each team must display exemplary sportsmanship throughout the entire season.
“Katie has established herself as one of the most respected players on our team,” said Schulman. “She works hard, helps teach our younger players and is always willing to help in whatever way she can. Katie is very deserving of this award.”
As a team, the Pioneers went 11-20 this season, averaging 11.1 kills and 14.8 digs per set. The Pioneers also out-served their opponents this season, racking up 160 aces to their opponents’ 157 and averaging 1.3 aces per set.
“The team was disappointed in the outcome of this season,” said Schulman. “The first thing we hope for next season is that we are healthy, and secondly, that we can learn to finish sets and matches.”
With only four graduating seniors in Lauren Grady, Rachel Ambroch, Kelley Lynch and O’Malley, Schulman will welcome back 11 of her 15 players for her 23rd season with the Pioneers.
Written by: Carly Willman, University Information and Communications, 608.342.1194, willmanc@uwplatt.edu