After leading the Chattanooga Mocs beach volleyball team to a 7-3 conference record in its first full season as a program, head coach Darin Van Horn and assistant coach Juliana Yensho have been named the Ohio Valley Conference's Co-Coaching Staff of the Year, the league office announced Wednesday morning.
Senior Baylee Young and freshman Jordan Krege were named to the All-OVC First Team after playing to an 8-2 record as the top pair for the Mocs.
Young and Krege had won 10-straight matchups, including eight in the OVC, before last weekend's action at EKU.
Junior Gylian Finch and RS-sophomore Bailey Steger were selected to the All-OVC Second Team following a 7-3 record as a duo. The pair went 6-3 in OVC competition as the No. 2 pair and 1-0 in the No. 3 slot.
Freshman Abby Ashway joined Krege on the OVC All-Freshman Team after finishing the OVC season with a 7-2 record, going 5-2 in the No. 5 pairing and a perfect 2-0 in the No. 4 grouping. Ashway, Krege and Paige Gallentine were all nominated for the OVC Freshman of the Year title.
"I'm thrilled that these women are getting the recognition they deserve. These pairs are a group that hold a high standard for themselves and are not afraid to compete with our opponent's best," said coach Van Horn.
"They have embodied a competitive and fearless mindset and our team deserves so much credit for their accomplishments. They have had so many obstacles and challenges this year and they continue to find success."
Chattanooga (8-9, 7-3 OVC) will be competing as the No. 2 seed in this week's OVC Championship held at UT Martin. The Mocs receive a first round BYE and will await the winner of No. 3 UT Martin and No. 6 EKU in an 8 p.m. ET matchup on Thursday.
All-OVC First Team
Hannah Keating & Allison Whitten, Morehead State
Jenna Panning & Brooke Moore, Austin Peay
Baylee Young & Jordan Krege, Chattanooga
Haeleigh Paulino & Logan Wallick, UT Martin
Olivia Lohmeier & Trinity Miller, Morehead State
All-OVC Second Team
Aysha Hood & Marlayna Bullington, Austin Peay
Gylian Finch & Bailey Steger, Chattanooga
Kayla Carrell & Karen Scanlon, UT Martin
Margaret Musselman & Anya Reinhardt, Morehead State
Kayle Milton & Kylee Quigley, Jacksonville State
All-Freshman Team
Marlayna Bullington, Austin Peay
Trinity Miller, Morehead State
Jordan Krege, Chattanooga
Abby Ashway, Chattanooga
Anya Reinhardt, Morehead State
OVC Pair of the Year: Hannah Keating & Allison Whitten, Morehead State
OVC Player of the Year: Hannah Keating, Morehead State
OVC Freshman of the Year: Marlayna Bullington, Austin Peay
OVC Co-Coaching Staff of the Year: Chattanooga; UT Martin