HADLEY, Mass. – Wesleyan first-year Sophia Lindus is the second player since 2000 to be named the NESCAC Player and Rookie of the Year in the same season (Tori Jasuta, Williams – 2013). Junior Marit Hoyem of Williams has been named the NESCAC Defensive Player of the Year and Tufts’ Cora Thompson was selected as the NESCAC Coach of the Year by the league’s coaches.
Lindus is the fourth Cardinal to garner Player of the Year honors (Alexis Keeler – 2001, Lisa Drennan – 2006 & 2008, Nicole Hilton – 2017) and the second Wesleyan player to be named Rookie of the Year, joining teammate Bella Ahearn (2019). Lindus, who was also named to the All-NESCAC First Team, leads the NESCAC in kills per set (3.87) and had a conference-best 27 in a win over Amherst in the NESCAC Semifinals. The rookie is hitting .262 on the season and has recorded 32 service aces. Lindus helped Wesleyan earn the top seed in the NESCAC Championship and host the tournament for the first time in program history. The Cardinals earned an at-large bid and are making their fifth consecutive appearance in the NCAA Tournament. Wesleyan will host a regional at Silloway Gymnasium starting Thursday, November 10.
Hoyem is the second Eph to be named the NESCAC Defensive Player of the Year (Robin Young – 2003 & 2004). The junior leads the NESCAC in blocks (92), ranks third in the conference in aces (45), and is fourth in hitting percentage (.315) while averaging 2.79 kills per set. Hoyem also picked up her second All-NESCAC citation with a spot on the first team after being named to the second team in 2021. The Ephs were the No. 3 seed in the NESCAC Championship and advanced to the semifinals for the first time since 2015. Williams was an at-large selection to the NCAA Tournament and is making its 14th appearance and first since 2015.
Thompson, who is in her 20th season at the helm at Tufts, is the NESCAC Coach of the Year for the eighth time in her career after leading the Jumbos to their third NESCAC title and second since 2019. Tufts, which is making its 12th appearance in the NCAA Tournament, is set to host an NCAA Regional that begins Thursday, November 10.
2022 Volleyball All-NESCAC Awards
Player & Rookie of the Year: Sophia Lindus, Wesleyan
Defensive Player of the Year: Marit Hoyem, Williams
Coach of the Year: Cora Thompson, Tufts
| All-NESCAC First Team |
| Pos-Name |
School |
Yr |
Hometown |
Previous Honors |
| OH - Celia Adams |
Williams |
Jr. |
Houston, Texas |
|
| OH - Bella Ahearn |
Wesleyan |
Sr. |
Orlando, Fla. |
2019 ROY |
| MH - Marit Hoyem |
Williams |
Jr. |
Menlo Park, Calif. |
2021 2nd Team |
| OH - Sophia Lindus |
Wesleyan |
Fy. |
Los Angeles, Calif. |
|
| MH - Caroline Tilton |
Amherst |
Sr. |
Santa Monica, Calif. |
|
| OH - Jenelle Yarwood |
Tufts |
Sr. |
Scottsdale, Ariz. |
|
| S - Maddie Yu |
Tufts |
Jr. |
San Diego, Calif. |
|
| All-NESCAC Second Team |
| Pos-Name |
School |
Yr |
Hometown |
Previous Honors |
| OH - Kate Carman |
Hamilton |
Jr. |
New York, N.Y. |
|
| S - Carly Cooper |
Amherst |
Jr. |
Nashville, Tenn. |
|
| S - Grace Dennis |
Wesleyan |
Sr. |
Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif. |
|
| S - Ella Haugen |
Bowdoin |
Sr. |
Minneapolis, Minn. |
2021 2nd Team |
| L - Stephanie Lee |
Tufts |
Sr. |
San Francisco, Calif. |
|
| MH - Grace Legris |
Tufts |
Sr. |
Minneapolis, Minn. |
|
| S - Gabbie O'Toole |
Middlebury |
So. |
Overland Park, Kan. |
2021 ROY, 2021 2nd Team |
