CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Winthrop volleyball had four players named to the 2021 Big South all-conference teams, the league announced Wednesday afternoon. Fifth-year middle blocker Morgan Bossler, fifth-year outside hitter Nikkia Benitez, senior setter Jana Owens, and freshman outside hitter Karli Shepherd were honored after helping the Eagles to a 17-9 (12-4 Big South) record and third place league finish.

Bossler was named first team all-conference after an outstanding season that saw her finish third in the Big South in hitting percentage with a .343 mark. She also ranked seventh in the league in kills per set with 2.97. In the home match against Presbyterian on October 1, Bossler notched 21 kills on a .571 hitting percentage, one of the best single-match performances in school history. She finished the season with 81 blocks, 60 digs, and 16 service aces, and was also named to the all-academic team for her performance in the classroom.

Benitez earned second-team honors after a season that saw her finish with 245 kills, second on the team. She was also a tremendous asset on the defensive side of the net as she recorded 266 digs for an average of 3.13 per set, just outside the top-ten in the Big South. She also had 29 blocks and 14 service aces on the season.

Owens garnered second-team honors after a career-best season that saw her notch 812 assists for a league-leading 10.28 per set. She had multiple outstanding performances during 2021, including a career-high 60 assists in the home win over Presbyterian and a career-best 45 assists (in a three-set match) in the final home match against Gardner-Webb. Owens also had 256 digs (3.24 per set), 39 kills, 22 blocks, and 19 service aces on the season.

Shepherd bust onto the scene as a true freshman and earned honorable mention all-conference honors after her fine inaugural season. Her efforts also netted her a spot on the all-freshman team. Finishing third on the team with 235 kills (2.90 per set), she had double-digit kills in 13 matches, including 12 of the last 16 matches. Her crowning performance came on the road against Radford in the season finale as she finished with 13 kills on a .481 hitting percentage with no errors. Shepherd also had 96 digs, 30 blocks, and 20 service aces on the year.

2021 Big South Conference Volleyball All-Conference Honors

First-Team All-Conference
Dylan Maberry, OH, Soph., High Point
Gabrielle Idlebird, MB, Sr., High Point
Edie Brewer, S/RS, Gr., North Carolina A&T
Peyton Thompson, OPP, Sr., Charleston Southern
Morgan Bossler, MB, R-Sr., Winthrop
Jenny Wessling, LIB, Fr., High Point
Maria Miggins/Mackenzi Thornburg, S (6-2 offense), Jr./Sr., High Point
 
Second-Team All-Conference
Sarah Colla, OH, Sr., Campbell
Sydney Palazzolo, OH, Fr., High Point
Erin Cooke, S/RS, Sr., Presbyterian College
Nikkia Benitez, OH, R-Sr., Winthrop
Naiya Sawtelle, OH, Fr., North Carolina A&T
Jana Owens, S, Sr., Winthrop
Mikah McIntosh, LIB, Soph., Gardner-Webb
 
Honorable Mention All-Conference
Karli Shepherd, OH, Fr., Winthrop
Shaylynn Hall, MB, Sr., North Carolina A&T
Chloe Cook, OH, Soph., Campbell
Claranne Fechter, LIB, Soph., Campbell
Kelly Wiedemann, OH, Sr., USC Upstate
 
All-Freshman Team
Sydney Palazzolo, OH, High Point
Naiya Sawtelle, OH, North Carolina A&T
Karli Shepherd, OH, Winthrop
Jenny Wessling, LIB, High Point
Rylee Moorhead, OH, Presbyterian College
Hannah Howell, OH, North Carolina A&T
Jackie Joyce, MB, High Point
 
All-Academic Team
Hailey Wilson, MB, Sr., Campbell
Emma Minnick, S, Jr., Charleston Southern
Kylee Garrison, OH, Sr., Gardner-Webb
Brooklyn Irvin, S, Sr., Hampton
Maria Miggins, S, Jr., High Point
Macenzie Richards, RS, Sr., North Carolina A&T
Paige Cairns, RS, Jr., Presbyterian
Hailey Flowers, OH, Jr. Radford
Grace Volk, S, Sr., UNC Asheville
Mackenzie Marcum, LIB, Sr., USC Upstate
Morgan Bossler, MB, R-Sr., Winthrop
 
Player of the Year
Dylan Maberry, OH, Soph., High Point
 
Co-Setters of the Year
Maria Miggins, Jr., High Point & Mackenzi Thornburg, Sr., High Point
 
Defensive Player of the Year
Jenny Wessling, LIB, Fr., High Point
 
Freshman of the Year
Sydney Palazzolo, OH, High Point
 
Coach of the Year
Ryan Meek, High Point
 
Scholar-Athlete of the Year
Grace Volk, S, Sr., UNC Asheville