After finishing in second place in the Missouri Valley Conference regular season standings, the Valpo volleyball team had three players recognized as the MVC revealed its postseason awards Wednesday. Emma Hickey (Granger, Ind./Penn) was honored as the MVC Libero of the Year and was joined on the First Team All-MVC by Ava Helming (Johnston, Iowa/Johnston) and Sam Warren (Kentland, Ind./South Newton).
 
Hickey earns the Valley's top honor for a libero after another stellar season in the back row, as she helped to lead Valpo to its highest finish in the MVC standings since joining the Valley. She ranks 11th nationally with 5.09 digs/set and adds 1.26 assists/set as well. Hickey led Valpo in digs 26 times in the regular season and tallied 10 or more digs 27 times, including 14 matches with at least 20 digs and three matches with at least 30 digs.
 
With 2,647 career digs, Hickey leads all active NCAA players across all divisions and ranks 18th in D-I history, fifth in MVC history and third in Valpo history in the category. She has ranked among the top-15 in the nation in digs/set in each of her four seasons. A five-time MVC Defensive Player of the Week this season, Hickey has earned the honor nine times in her career, tied for third-most in MVC history.
 
Helming has been a consistent presence on the right side for the Beacons this season. She ranks among the top-10 in the Valley in both kills/set (8^th, 3.28) and hitting percentage (10^th, .298). Helming has paced the team in kills 14 times and has totaled at least ten kills in 22 of Valpo's 29 matches, including 14 of 16 times within Valley play. She has reached the 15-kill mark on 11 occasions, nine of which came in MVC matches.
 
When Helming rotates out, it has been Warren rotating in to continue the Beacons' production from the right side. She ranks just outside the top-10 in the Valley with 2.93 kills/set and has boosted that mark to 3.28 kills/set within MVC play, good for ninth among Valley players. Warren has led Valpo in kills eight times this year and has been in double figures in kills on 14 occasions. When she has tallied at least 15 kills, the Beacons own a 6-1 record — including most recently a career-best 23-kill output in the Senior Night win over Bradley.
 
Hickey is Valpo's first Libero of the Year since Rylee Cookerly earned the accolade in the spring 2021 season. This season also marks the first time Valpo has boasted three First Team All-MVC honorees since joining the Valley.