Bender, Bueltel, Hernandez Highlight All-Region Selections
WATERTOWN, Wis. -- The NCCAA North Region Selections have been announced, and 8 Sabercats have made the first-team cut, including 3 special honors for standout performers.
Each of the players who made the first team are now eligible for an NCCAA All-America selection.
Women's Volleyball landed 2 seniors in the special-recognition category: Katie Bender was named as the North Region Libero of the Year and Lexi Bueltel was named as the North Region Player of the Year. The award for Bender was given to her for the second consecutive year. Last year, MBU's Ali Renz received the Player of the Year honor.
Women's Soccer's Ali Hernandez followed in the footsteps of Audrey (Risma) Knoedler by receiving the North Region Player of the Year honor. Hernandez was a standout midfield presence during the season. Despite battling injuries, Hernandez remained a dependable possession player for the Sabercats and registered 3 goals and 4 assists.
The breakdown of the regional awards is below:
| Name | Sport | Honor | Notes |
| Nathan Akers | Men's Soccer | 1st Team | Career-high 6 goals on the season |
| Hannah Anderson | Women's Soccer | 1st Team | 2016 NCCAA All-American |
| Katie Bender | Women's Volleyball | 1st Team/Libero of the Year | 2nd Consecutive honor |
| Lexi Bueltel | Women's Volleyball | 1st Team/Player of the Year | 2015, 2016 NCCAA All-American |
| Brett Cournoyer | Men's Soccer | 1st Team | 1st career regional selection |
| Kim Grogan | Women's Soccer | 1st Team | 1st career regional selection |
| Ali Hernandez | Women's Soccer | 1st Team/Player of the Year | 2015, 2016 NCCAA 2nd Team All-American |
| Karley Johnson | Women's Volleyball | 2nd Team | 1st career regional selection |
| Alexis Sponable | Women's Soccer | 1st Team | 16 goals this season (program 7th-best) |
| Madeline Suderman | Women's Volleyball | 2nd Team | 1st career regional selection |
----
The selection process is as follows: each coach from the region votes on the All-Region selections and the players of the year. The top players are then selected based on the tabulated votes.
This was the second consecutive year that the Sabercats have had 10 total players named to the all-region teams.
For more on the NCCAA, click here.
