GLIAC Release

GLIAC - For the first time in Davenport University women's volleyball history, four Panthers have received All-GLIAC recognition. Hayley Kreiger was named GLIAC Player of the Year as the league's top vote getter, GLIAC Offensive Player of the Year and was featured on the First Team for the fourth-straight season. Joining Kreiger on the First Team, Kenzy Corstange takes home GLIAC Defensive Player of the Year distinction. That leaves the two first-year transfers including Lindsay Taylor on the Second Team and Lexie Beeke with Honorable Mention praise.

What hasn't already been said about Hayley Kreiger? Now honored five times in as many seasons (Honorable Mention in 2018), Kreiger passed Krissy Dill (2014-17) to become Davenport's career kills leader in September, broke the program record for kills in a season in October and still leads all of Division II with 575 of them in November, a number that ranks sixth across all divisions. With 1,936 career kills to her name, Kreiger is first among active players for Division II and second across all divisions. A three-time GLIAC Offensive Player of the Week honoree this fall, all of which were in a row, the South Haven native has sent home 20 or more kills 11 times, at least 25 of them on six  occasions and racked up 34 on Wednesday breaking her own school record of 32. The 6-1 outside hitter has handled herself on the defensive end as well with a career high 334 digs and 18 double-doubles (10+ kills and digs).

"GLIAC opponents know Hayley is getting the ball and even with that defensive attention, she sets herself above the rest," said head coach, Brian Netzler. "Hayley is a special, special player who has earned First-Team recognition for the fourth time in her career. Her offensive stats shine, but it's her all-around game that has taken her to another level this season."

Building on her Second-Team honor a season ago (first season as a libero), Kenzy Corstange jumped up to the First Team as a senior in 2022. Corstange leads the GLIAC in total digs (595), ranks third in digs per set (5.09) and comes in at ninth for all of Division II in total digs as well. The Richland native became the ninth member of Davenport's 1,000 digs club on Oct. 1 at Saginaw Valley State and has since risen to eighth on that list with 1,263, just 35 away from Kayla Vandermolen in seventh. This fall, along with digs, the 5-10 defender has also recorded new personal bests in assists (104), service aces (26) and sets played (117) without missing a single one. Her 595 digs this season are also good for third in DU history.

"Kenzy has been the backbone to our team's defense all season," said Netzler. "She has led the GLIAC in total digs all season and has set herself apart as one of the elite defenders in this league."

Following her three seasons at Division I Miami of Ohio (53 matches played), Lindsay Taylor was brought in by Netzler to compliment Kreiger on the outside and Taylor was able to do that and more. Taylor finished fifth in the GLIAC in total kills (363) and seventh in kills per set (3.10) while racking up 15 or more kills in a match eight times and a career-high 23 kills at No. 20 Hillsdale on Sept. 6. Taylor also proved to be valuable at the service line with 40 aces (second on the team) as well as the defensive side of the ball with 329 total digs (tied for 12th in the league) not to mention 14 double-doubles. Above the net, The Rockford native was good for 47 total blocks including three by herself and 44 assisted.

"Lindsay has been a steady force for us all season," said Netzler. "Her ability to affect the game, not only with her offense, but with her blocking and back row play makes her one of the best six rotation players in the GLIAC."

Also coming from the ranks of Division I, Beeke moved to Grand Rapids from Youngstown State where she appeared in 28 matches in two seasons as a Penguin. Splitting time with Nicole Odeen as part of a 6-2 rotation this season, Beeke led the team in assists with 651 and assists per set with 5.56, numbers that slotted her seventh and eighth in the conference, respectively. With that being said, the 5-8 setter was also able to effect the game as a server (12 aces), attacker (72 kills, .215 hitting percentage) and defender (152 digs, 35 blocks).

"Lexie has been carrying half the load for us in our offensive system all season long," said Netzler. "She is a big reason for our success this season not only with how she can run our offense, but in the front row, she's an offensive threat in her own right."