BURNSVILLE, Minn. – Southwest Minnesota State University outside hitter
Leah Jones was named to the All-NSIC first team, while
Ashley Peltier,
Sydney Thein and
McKenzie Tolk were named to the All-NSIC second team the league announced office Thursday afternoon.
The all-conference teams and specialty awards were selected by the 16 conference head coaches.
Jones, a junior native of Marshall, Minn., earned All-NSIC first team honors for the second time in her career, earning first team honors in 2023 and All-NSIC second team in 2024. She leads the NSIC in conference play with 283 kills and 314 total points, averaging 3.99 kills per set, which ranks second in the conference. In the latest NCAA national statistics (Nov. 12), Jones ranks 25
th in kills per set and 34
th in points per set.
Ashley Peltier ranks second in kills for the Mustangs, with 252 while racking up 185 in conference matches. A junior from Taylors Falls, Minn., Peltier ranks 13
th in the NSIC in hitting percentage at .303. It's the second straight season she has earned All-NSIC second team honors.
Sophomore
Sydney Thein, a setter from Clara City, Minn., earns all-conference honors for the second straight season. Thein is first in conference play in assists with 820 and is third in assists per set with 11.55. In total this season, Thein is second in Division II in total assists with 1,116 and is third with 11.75 assists per set. She also leads the team in double-doubles with 13. Thein has earned NSIC Setter of the Week twice this season.
McKenzie Tolk, a senior libero from Minneota, Minn., receives All-NSIC second team honors for the third straight season. Tolk leads the NSIC with 344 digs in conference matches and ranks fourth in digs per set with 4.85. She was awarded NSIC Defensive Player of the Week on Nov. 10, for the second time in her career.
The No. 14 ranked Mustangs, who hold a record of 19-6 overall and 12-6 in conference play, close the regular season this Friday and Saturday at home. SMSU will take on UMary on Friday at 6 p.m., celebrating Senior Night, and on Saturday face off against Minot State at 2 p.m. for Parents' Day.
