Women's Volleyball: Marthins repeats as PAC Player of the Year; Bison land five on All-PAC Teams
TRAFFORD, Pa. – For the second consecutive season, Bethany's senior middle blocker Emma Marthins has been named Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) Player of the Year, as announced Monday evening in the first ever unveiling show on the PAC Sports Network.
Marthins is the first repeat winner of the PAC Player of the Year award since Thomas More University (then college) libero Kelsey Castiglioni was recognized in 2013 and 2014. She helped Bethany repeat as PAC champions when the second-seeded Bison defeated top-seeded Cougars Saturday night. It was Bethany's fourth conference title in program history.
Now a four-time All-PAC selection and three-time first team honoree, Marthins posted a .291 hitting percentage to this point with 251 kills. As a defensive force for the Bison, Marthins led the conference with 54 solo blocks and 108 total, while ranking second with 1.06 blocks per set. Once conference play started, she dominated, hitting .355 with 103 kills in 10 matches.
Marthins earned a spot on the league's All-Tournament team for the third consecutive season. In the two tournament matches last week, she hit .285 with 16 kills and had eight blocks.
Joining Marthins on All-PAC teams are Alaina Torres (first-team), Asia Crim (second-team), Riley Felton (second-team), and Destiny Goodnight (honorable mention).
Torres, a graduate student setter, returned to the Bison for her final year of eligibility. This is her second consecutive All-PAC First Team recognition. Torres finished with 848 assists and 9.22 assists per set, both league's best. She ranks third all-time on Bethany's career assists leader board with 2,935.
Crim, a senior libero, earned All-PAC Second Team honors this season after posting 525 digs (5.15 per set), 50 service aces, and 86 assists. She currently ranks eighth all-time in Bethany's career aces leader board with 160 service aces. She earned a spot on the PAC Tournament team.
Felton, a graduate student middle blocker, returned to the Bison for her fifth year. She is a four-time All-PAC honoree, twice on the second-team. She totaled 215 kills while hitting .255 with 303.0 points. Felton aided the defense with 68 total blocks (22 solo) and had 75 digs. She served 43 service aces with 116 total in her career. She has a total of 820 kills and 315 blocks (108 solo). Felton was named the Most Outstanding Player in this year's tournament.
Goodnight, a senior outside hitter, totaled 231 kills, 62 blocks (14 solo) and hit .204 this season. She finished her career with 562 total kills, 152 blocks (36 solo) and hit .170. Back-to-back seasons, she has played outstanding in the championship match and in back-to-back seasons, she has finished the match with a kill to help seal the victories.
Senior Olivia Koehler was named to the PAC Sportsmanship team.
The Bison will open the NCAA Tournament at Hope College on Thursday, Nov. 16. The match is scheduled to begin at 7 pm.