2021 CoSIDA Academic All-District Volleyball Team
Since they arrived on campus together as freshmen in the fall of 2017, Hillsdale College volleyball seniors Lindsey Mertz and Allyssa Van Wienen have been linked on the court.
Without an All-American level power hitter like Van Wienen to finish off her passes, it would have been harder for Mertz to rewrite the Charger records for single season assists (1,264) and career assists (4,942). Likewise, an elite setter like Mertz was a significant boost for Van Wienen in becoming just the second Charger in program history to surpass 1,300 kills (1,378) and 400 blocks (407) for her career.
That's why it's fitting, then, that the pair have been recognized for the second consecutive year with CoSIDA Academic All-District honors, representing District 4. The CoSIDA Academic All-District program, which has been around since 1952, recognizes the nation's top student-athletes for their combined performances on the field or court and in the classroom. The CoSIDA Academic All-America® program separately recognizes volleyball honorees in four divisions — NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III and NAIA.
Just eight players in each of the eight national districts at the Division II level earn Volleyball Academic All-District honors from CoSIDA, and Hillsdale was one of only two schools in District 4 with multiple honorees in 2021.
Both Mertz and Van Wienen are well-rounded standouts who continue a legacy of achievement both on the court and in the classroom for the Hillsdale College volleyball program.
Van Wienen was a consensus NCAA Division II All-American in 2019, as well as the G-MAC Volleyball Player of the Year and Female Athlete of the Year that season, and is a four-time first-team All-G-MAC honoree and three-time first-team All-Region honoree. As mentioned above, the Grand Rapids, Michigan native is one of just two players in Hillsdale College history to exceed both 1,300 kills and 400 blocks in her career, and holds the 25-point rally scoring era single-season school record at Hillsdale for serving percentage with a mark of .990 this past spring. This year, she leads the G-MAC in blocks per set (1.09) is second on the team in kills with 275, and is ranked 12th nationally with 29 solo blocks.
Mertz, meanwhile, is a three-time first-team All-G-MAC player who likely only missed a fourth honor due to an injury in the spring of 2021. The 2017 G-MAC and Midwest Region Freshman of the Year, Mertz broke the Hillsdale career record in assists this fall, and already single-season school records for the 25-point, rally scoring era in assists (1,264 in 2019) and assists per set (12.21 in 2018). She is in the top 10 nationally this season with 11.49 assists per set, and has 965 assists this season with the postseason still to be played.
Both players have been equally successful in the classroom and community. Van Wienen has made the dean's list in seven of her nine semesters on campus, with a 4.0 in Fall 2019, and earned D2 ADA and G-MAC Academic All-Conference honors multiple times. She's been active in the community as well, assisting with Hillsdale College's Christchapel dedication in fall 2019, and doing extensive volunteer work in the summer helping coach and instruct younger players at volleyball camps. She is currently finishing up a degree in Exercise Science at Hillsdale and is on track to graduate with honors.
Mertz, meanwhile, has made the dean's list eight of nine semesters on campus, and received both the D2 ADA and G-MAC Academic All-Conference awards for three consecutive seasons. She's also an active member of the Delta Phi Alpha National German honorary, while serving as a member of the leadership council for Athletes Intervarsity, Hillsdale's campus Christan athlete ministry, and serving as a volunteer coach for the Charged Up volleyball club team. Mertz is currently finishing up a degree in Economics at Hillsdale, and is on track to graduate with honors.
First-team Academic All-District® honorees in volleyball advance to the CoSIDA Academic All-America® ballot. First- and second-team Academic All-America® honorees will be announced on Dec. 16.
Mertz and Van Wienen will be in action tomorrow in the semifinals of the G-MAC Tournament against Trevecca Nazarene at 5 p.m., looking to kick off a long postseason run in their final go-around with the Charger volleyball program.
Photo by Anthony Lupi '22