NAPERVILLE, Ill. - Following the conclusion of the 2026 regular season and ahead of the conference tournament, the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin announced its 2026 All-CCIW Women's Volleyball teams and specialty award winners Tuesday.
The conference's nine head coaches voted to recognize the league's top performers for their accomplishments throughout conference play, with student-athletes earning First Team and Second Team All-CCIW honors alongside the conference's specialty award recipients.
The conference also recognized its RESPECT Award recipients from each institution. The award honors student-athletes who exemplify the values of Responsibility, Enthusiasm, Service, Pride, Excellence, Collaboration and Trust, recognizing their character, contributions to their team and commitment to fostering an inclusive and positive culture.
Elmhurst University's Katie Hurta was named the CCIW Offensive Student-Athlete of the Year, while teammate Elayna Ammerman earned First-Year Student-Athlete of the Year honors. Illinois Wesleyan University's Alysa Lawton was selected as the Defensive Student-Athlete of the Year, while teammate Sophia Feeney earned Setter of the Year honors after helping lead the Titans to an undefeated 8-0 conference record. Illinois Wesleyan's coaching staff was also recognized as the CCIW Coaching Staff of the Year for the third consecutive season.
Offensive Student-Athlete of the Year
Katie Hurta, Elmhurst (Graduate Student, Outside Hitter, Palos Hills, Ill.)
Hurta was named the CCIW Offensive Student-Athlete of the Year after leading the conference in kills, hitting percentage and points during the 2026 regular season. The graduate outside hitter from Palos Hills, Ill., recorded 136 kills across eight conference matches, averaging 4.53 kills per set while posting a .393 hitting percentage. Hurta also totaled 148.5 points in CCIW play, averaging a league-leading 4.95 points per set.
Hurta played a key role in Elmhurst's offensive success, recording four consecutive matches with 20 or more kills during conference competition. She also tallied four double-doubles in the Bluejays' final five CCIW matched, helping Elmhurst finish conference play with a 5-3 record and secure the No. 3 seed in the CCIW Women's Volleyball Tournament.
Defensive Student-Athlete of the Year
Alysa Lawton, Illinois Wesleyan (Junior, Libero, Elmhurst, Ill.)
Lawton was named the CCIW Defensive Student-Athlete of the Year after anchoring the Titans' back row throughout the 2026 regular season. The junior libero from Elmhurst, Ill., recorded 131 digs across 27 sets in conference competition, averaging 4.85 digs per set. Lawton also contributed 35 assists, averaging 1.30 per set, while providing a consistent defensive presence and creating offensive opportunities for the Titans.
Lawton played a key role in Illinois Wesleyan's defensive success, helping the Titans finish conference play with a perfect 8-0 record and capture the CCIW regular-season championship. She earned six CCIW Defensive Student-Athlete of the Week honors during the season and received national recognition as an American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) National Player of the Week.
Setter of the Year
Sophia Feeney, Illinois Wesleyan (Senior, Setter, Bloomington, Ill.)
Feeney was named the CCIW Setter of the Year for the second consecutive season after facilitating Illinois Wesleyan's offense throughout the 2026 regular season. The senior setter from Bloomington, Ill., recorded 163 assists across 27 sets in conference competition, averaging 6.04 assists per set while contributing 55 digs at 2.04 per set. Operating in a 6-2 offensive system, Feeney helped guide a Titans offense that ranked among the national leaders in kills and assists per set.
Feeney played a key role in Illinois Wesleyan's offensive success, helping the Titans finish conference play with a perfect 8-0 record and capture the CCIW regular-season championship. She also earned CCIW Setter of the Week honors during the season, adding to her recognition as the conference's top setter for the second straight year.
First-Year Student-Athlete of the Year
Elayna Ammerman, Elmhurst (First Year, Libero, Franklin, Tenn.)
Ammerman was named the CCIW First-Year Student-Athlete of the Year following an impressive debut season with the Bluejays. The freshman libero from Franklin, Tenn., led the conference in digs and digs per set during the 2026 regular season, totaling 149 digs across 30 sets in CCIW competition for an average of 4.97 per set. Ammerman also contributed 39 assists, averaging 1.30 per set, and recorded nine service aces during conference play.
Ammerman provided a consistent defensive presence for Elmhurst, recording four of the seven highest single-match dig totals in CCIW competition during the regular season. Her efforts helped the Bluejays finish conference play with a 5-3 record and secure the No. 3 seed in the CCIW Women's Volleyball Tournament.
Coaching Staff of the Year
Illinois Wesleyan
Illinois Wesleyan was named the CCIW Coaching Staff of the Year after leading the Titans to their third consecutive CCIW regular-season championship. Illinois Wesleyan completed conference play with a perfect 8-0 record and finished the regular season 25-3 overall, securing the No. 1 seed in the CCIW Women's Volleyball Tournament.
The Titans' success was reflected in their six All-CCIW selections, including four First Team honorees. The coaching staff guided Illinois Wesleyan through another strong season, maintaining its position atop the conference standings and earning the program's third consecutive Coaching Staff of the Year honor.
Led by Nelson-Brown, the Illinois Wesleyan coaching staff includes associate head coach and recruiting coordinator Tyler White, along with assistant coaches Tony Gliwa, Ryan Raycraft, Maggie Nelson and Nicole Bing Eichelberger.
2026 All-CCIW Women's Volleyball First Team
Katie Hurta, Elmhurst - Graduate Student, Outside Hitter
Kristina Manojlovic, Carthage - Senior, Outside Hitter
Alex Bardouniotis, Illinois Wesleyan - Junior, Outside Hitter
Alysa Lawton, Illinois Wesleyan - Junior, Defensive Specialist/Libero
Audrey Rosenbaum, Carroll - Redshirt Junior, Outside Hitter
Sophia Feeney, Illinois Wesleyan - Senior, Setter/Defensive Specialist
Freddie Temple, Elmhurst - Junior, Setter
Carly Hicklin, Carroll - Junior, Outside Hitter
Hailey Wierzgac, Carthage - Sophomore, Middle Blocker
Nikkel Johnson, Millikin - Junior, Middle Blocker
Cailin Shannon, Illinois Wesleyan - Senior, Outside Hitter/Right Side
2026 All-CCIW Women's Volleyball Second Team
Lexi Proctor, Carroll - First Year, Setter
Mary Patrick, Wheaton - Sophomore, Outside Hitter/Right Side
Kyra Carothers, Millikin - Senior, Middle Blocker
Carly Whitaker, Illinois Wesleyan - Sophomore, Right Side
Elayna Ammerman, Elmhurst - First Year, Libero
Eleanor Palmer, Illinois Wesleyan - Senior, Middle Hitter
Samantha Miserendino, Carroll - Junior, Defensive Specialist/Libero
Meg Rothermel, North Park - Senior, Middle Blocker
Sarah Harvey, North Central - Junior, Setter
Elle Richards, Millikin - Senior, Right Side
Ava Dettwiler, Carthage - Junior, Setter
2026 CCIW Women's Volleyball RESPECT Award Recipients
Lanah Queckboerner, Augustana
Clara Justice, Carroll
Ava McTeague, Carthage
Aubrey LeCleir, Elmhurst
Paige Peterson, Illinois Wesleyan
Alyssa Frederking, Millikin
Sarah Egan, North Central
Grace Rapacz, North Park
Sydney Overweg, Wheaton
Game One | Shop Official CCIW Women's Volleyball Championship Gear
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CCIW Championship Central
Championship Central provides direct access to each CCIW sport's championship page, where sport-specific championship information can be found. Information will be updated throughout the year and is subject to change. Visit the Women's Volleyball championship page for the most up-to-date event information.
CCIW Network
All matches of the 2026 CCIW Women's Volleyball Championships will be streamed live on the CCIW Network, the official streaming home of the conference. Fans can watch matches live or on demand through the CCIW Network website and app, available on mobile devices and supported streaming platforms.
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The College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) was founded in 1946 and currently services nine member institutions including Augustana College (Rock Island, Ill.), Carroll University (Waukesha, Wis.), Carthage College (Kenosha, Wis.), Elmhurst University (Elmhurst, Ill.), Illinois Wesleyan University (Bloomington, Ill.), Millikin University (Decatur, Ill.), North Central College (Naperville, Ill.), North Park University (Chicago, Ill.) and Wheaton College (Wheaton, Ill.).