2016 NSIC All-Conference Teams

The entire starting lineup for the University of Minnesota Duluth was recognized on Thursday by earning spots on All-Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference teams. In addition, freshman setter Emily Torve was awarded the NSIC Freshman of the Year award.

Senior middle blocker Sydnie Mauch was one of two UMD players named to the All-NSIC First Team. This is the third time Mauch has been recognized by the NSIC, earning second team honors in 2015 and being named an honorable mention in 2014. The Brainerd, Minn. native is averaging 2.29 kills and 0.92 blocks per set this season. Mauch has racked up a career 1,059 kills in her stellar collegiate career, which ranks 13th on the all-time Bulldog kills list. Aside from her offensive contributions, Mauch has also done a terrific job at the net over her four season, tallying up 374 blocks and ranking second in program history.

Sophomore right side hitter Sarah Kelly joins Mauch on the All-NSIC First Team while being one of the most efficient attackers on the Bulldogs this season. This is Kelly's second time being recognized by the NSIC - earning second team honors last season. The Chaska, Minn. native is putting together one of the best seasons of any Bulldog attacker, recording an attack percentage of .379 through 26 games this season and is currently just behind the UMD record of .383. Kelly is averaging 3.15 kills per set to lead the Bulldogs.

Five UMD players were named to the All-NSIC Second Team -- Makenzie Morgen, Allison Olley, Erin Schindler, Taylor Wissbroecker, and Torve. Morgen, a sophomore outside hitter, has been the go-to Bulldog attacker for much of the season. She has racked up 3.00 kills and 2.44 kills per set - both of which rank second on UMD. Junior middle blocker Allison Olley has been a force at the net all season, leading the Bulldogs with 93 blocks (1.03/set) on the season while adding 220 kills (2.39/set). Erin Schindler, a sophomore libero from Chaska, Minn., also joins the All-NSIC Second Team. Schindler is leading the Bulldogs in digs, averaging 4.6 per set, and has also earned NSIC Defensive Player of the Week honors on one ocassion this season. Senior outside hitter Taylor Wissbroecker makes her first appearance on the All-NSIC Second Team after putting together a great season on offense and defense. Wissbroecker is averaging 2.73 kills and 2.40 digs per set in 26 games this year.

Emily Torve was announced as the NSIC Freshman of the Year in addition to earning a spot on the All-NSIC Second Team. Torve has guided the Bulldogs to one of the best offenses in Division II, as UMD ranks third in the NSIC and fifth in the country in attack percentage. The Loretto, Minn. native has racked up 1,108 assists while adding 48 kills and 46 blocks. Torve's 11.90 assists per set are the most by any Bulldog freshman since the 2005 season, and her 46 blocks are second most by a setter in the NSIC. The freshman setter has been recognized as the NSIC's Setter of the week on two ocassions this season. Torve is the only freshman to appear on either the first or second team.

The Bulldogs' seven recognized players are the most of any team in the NSIC. Sophomore outside hitter Taylor Reiss of Southwest Minnesota State University take home NSIC Player of the Year honors, while her head coach Terry Culhane was named the NSIC Coach of the Year. 

UMD will cap off its 2016 regular season as it takes on Upper Iowa University and No. 6 Winona State University this weekend.