The No. 6 nationally ranked Park University women's volleyball program stole the show in the Heart of America Athletic Conference end of the year awards, including Coach, Assistant Coach, Setter, and Freshman of the Year awards. Heart All-Conference accolades, announced on Tuesday by the conference office.
It's a full list of 2023 Heart awardees, featuring some major recognition for Coach
Michael Talamantes,
Arianna Marino, and Associate Coach
Mateus Martins.
Individual Awards
Coach Talamantes coming into the conference awards selection earned his 400
th women's volleyball career win at Park and has led the Pirates to a 30-2 record leading into the 2023 NAIA Women's Volleyball Championship Opening Round. This is his 6
th women's volleyball conference coach of the year award and his third in four seasons in the Heart. Within the Heart has also led the Pirates to four-consecutive regular-season conference titles and three-of-four Heart Tournament Championships. He now has three conference tournament championship trophies from the American Midwest Conference and the Heart.
Coach Martins is in his third season on staff at Park and was a successful libero on Park's men's volleyball team from 2016 through 2020. As a coach, he has been part of two conference tournament championships, three-regular season titles, and was present for Park's 2021 NAIA Women's Volleyball National Championship Runner-Up finish.
Marino has played spectacular in her Park season debut and the Heart thought so too granting her Heart Setter and Freshman of the Year honors. The Pinerolo, Italy native led the conference in assists with 1,096 and ranks No. 13 nationally with 10.34 assists per set. This propelled the Pirates to have an excellent year through 32 matches with 13.21 kills per set and a team hitting percentage of .230. She has some well-rounded skills in other facets of the game with 304 assists and 63 blocks on the year. In total, she has come away with 16 double-doubles in assists and digs this season.
First Team
Besides player of the year honors, Marino is also 2023 Heart First Team All-Conference. Joining her in the upper echelon of the Heart are Bernardi, Ung, and Hensley.
Bernardi now has her third Heart First Team All-Conference award of her career and enjoyed a special moment during the 2023 Heart Championship match with her 1,000
th kill in a Pirate uniform. She ranks No. 4 in the Heart with 104 total blocks and tie for the conference lead with 24 solo blocks. Besides averaging a block per set, she also averages 2.43 kills per set in 2023 with 255 kills total. She is experiencing the second highest hitting percentage of her career so far at .380.
The Sonora, Mexico outside hitter, Ung has been a fire cracker for Park in her opening year ranking No. 3 in the Heart with 3.13 kills per set. The Lewis-Clark State transfer has made a big impact for the Pirates, leading the team with 326 kills and not even through a full season is No. 5 in Park's history for single season service aces with 60. Not to mention she has a strong defensive game too and currently second on the team with 314 digs, an average of 3.02 digs per set.
Hensley is now a two-time first team all-conference performer and was the 2022 Heart Player of the Year. This season the outside hitter from Kansas City, Mo. is second on the team in kills at 262 for an average of 2.52. She has set a new career-high with nine solo blocks and is on pace to break last year's career-best 50 total blocks. Through 31 matches in 2023 she has 40 total blocks and rounds out those numbers nicely with 2.95 digs per set or 307 digs total.
Second Team
Ceratti had an impressive first season as well and calls Tijuana, Mexico home. The junior is a first-time recipient of Heart Second Team All-Conference and matched her teammate Bernardi with 255 kills through the Heart Championship. Ceratti averaged 2.50 kills per set and had four double-doubles through 31 matches played. She also is an all-around player from the opposite side and has earned 260 digs and 46 total blocks.
Third Team
This is the second season in a row Almeida has earned a Heart Third Team All-Conference award. She is from Uberlandia, Brazil and has competed in two full seasons at Park. The junior middle blocker has been effective for Park with new career-highs to boast in 2023 with 77 total blocks and 152 kills.
Verdino takes a step up from last year's honorable mention award and is side by side with Almeida on the third team all-conference list. The libero from Rome, Italy is tracking along with last year's defensive average of 4.39 digs per set and will look to overcome her dig total from last year of 502. She is currently at 478 digs and has already surpassed her assist count from last year with 95 assists in 2023. She has been an asset off the serve too with 42 service aces.
To view the full list of Heart All-Conference award winners and other major awards,
please click here.
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