Kansas City, Mo. - For the fifth consecutive season, seven members of the Central Methodist Volleyball program were recognized as Heart All-Conference selections by the conference office this week.
Leading the way was junior opposite hitter Callie Henson, who was named the Heart Attacker of the Year and a First Team All-Conference selection. Joining Henson on the First Team was junior libero Krystal Brauner.
The duo of Delaney Miller and Annabelle Maassen earned Second Team honors, while Joana Milho and Shea Luby were recognized as Third Team selections.
Senior setter Marina Alonso earned Honorable Mention honors.
Henson was named the Heart Attacker of the Year and a First Team All-Conference selection after leading the Eagles in both kills (346), and kills/set (3.46) this season. The native of Jefferson City, Mo, has appeared in all 29 matches for CMU, racking up double-digit kills on 21 different occassions including a season's best 20 against Bellevue on Sept. 2. Henson is ranked second the Heart in kills/set, third in kills, and fifth in hitting percentage (.309). She has twice been named Heart Attacker of the Week, and is now a three-time First Team All-Conference selection in her career.
Brauner joins Henson on the First Team, earning the honors for the fourth consecutive season. The Jefferson City, Mo. native anchored Central's defense, racking up 508 total digs in all 29 of Central's matches this season. Brauner is the all-time career record holder in digs with 2,172 and ranks second in the conference in digs/set (5.18). She has been named the Heart Defender of the Week on three different occassions.
Maassen landed on the second team for the third consecutive season. The sophomore from Jefferson City, Mo. tallied 176 kills in addition to 294 digs and 22 blocks. Maassen secured a double-double against Ottawa on August 27, recording 17 kills and 15 digs. She has reached double-digit kills three different times and is the team leader in service aces (37).
Miller was tabbed a Second Team honoree for the second-straight season, appearing in 29 matches and an even 100 sets for the Eagles as a middle. She is the team leader in total blocks with 90, and was named the Heart Attacker of the Week on Nov. 1 after registering 16 kills and hitting .448 against Evangel on Oct. 27. In addtion, Miller added a team-high seven blocks paired with four digs in the four-set victory over the Valor.
Luby earned Heart honors for the first time in her career as a Third Team selection. The native of Hillsboro, Mo. has played in 95 sets and all 29 matches for the Eagles in her final year with the team. Luby racked up a career-best 250 digs including 10 games of 10 or more. Her best performance of 2022 came against Culver-Stockton on senior day, as she recorded a double-double with 10 kills and 10 digs.
Milho, a freshman middle hitter from Lisboa, Portugal joins Luby on the Third Team. Milho finished second for the Eagles in total blocks (71) and fourth in kills (163) through 98 sets played. She reached double-digit kills in three different matches this season.
Alonso rounds out the Heart All-Conference selections for Central, earning Honorable Mentions for the second-straight season. The native of São Paulo, Brazil served as Central's primary setter in 2022, dishing out a team-best 578 assists and a 6.42 assists/set average. She has also recorded 160 total digs to date and is fifth all-time in program history with 1442 career assists.
The Eagles are set to host Saint Xavier University in the Opening Round of the National Tournament Saturday, Nov. 19 at 11:00 a.m. inside Puckett Field House. Central is looking to make its fifth consecutive trip to the Final Site in Sioux City, Iowa with a victory.
To view the conference release on the 2022 Heart Volleyball All-Conference teams, please click here.
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