Indianapolis, Ind. – Freshman outside hitter
Natalie Stepanovich of the RMU volleyball team was honored by the Horizon League as she was named to the All-League Second Team and All-Freshman Team.
She's the first freshman in program history to be named to the All-Freshman team since RMU joined the Horizon League conference.
Stepanovich was a force for the Colonials both offensively and defensively. Her 3.36 kills per set ranked second in the conference while her 3.92 points per frame was third best in the Horizon League.
In 84 sets played, she posted 282 kills, 270 digs and 3.21 digs per set which sits 10
th in the league. She collected 32 service aces and .38 aces per stanza which is good for sixth in the conference.
The freshman outside hitter recorded 11 kill/dig double-doubles, including 15 matches with double-figure numbers in kills and digs. Stepanovich registered three games with 20+ kills and 20+ digs while posting seven matches with 2+ service aces. She also totaled 28 total blocks for RMU.
Across conference play, she averaged 4.13 points per set while collecting 3.57 successful swings per frame, ranking fourth in both categories in the Horizon League.
Against conference opponents, she registered 157 kills, 165 digs and averaged 3.75 digs per set.
Earlier in the season, she was also named to the All-Tournament Team at the Blue Hen Invitational and the Mountaineer Invitational.
Playing in her first year for the Colonials, Stepanovich performed as one of the top freshmen in the conference.
Her 3.36 kills per set and 282 successful swings ranked second out of all freshmen in the league. Pacing for 32 service aces and .38 aces per set was also second out of all freshmen. Over the season, her 270 digs and 3.21 digs per set ranked first out of all first-year players in the Horizon League.
Offensively, producing 329 points and 3.92 points per set were second out of all freshmen while her 26 blocks and 24 service aces were second as well.
Against conference foes, her 157 kills and 3.57 kills per set ranked second out of the freshmen and ranking first, her 165 digs along with averaging 3.75 digs per set was best in the Horizon League for all freshmen.
Senior middle blocker
Emma Brown was also named a finalist for the #HLVB Sportsmanship Award.
2023 Horizon League Volleyball Award Winners
| Award |
Name |
School |
| Player of the Year |
Callie Martin |
Wright State |
| Offensive Player of the Year |
Panna Ratkai |
Purdue Fort Wayne |
| Defensive Player of the Year |
Emily Wichmann |
Oakland |
| Setter of the Year |
Katie Meyer |
Wright State |
| Freshman of the Year |
Panna Ratkai |
Purdue Fort Wayne |
| Sportsmanship Award |
Calli Gentry |
Green Bay |
| Coach of the Year |
Travers Green |
Wright State |
All-League First Team
| Name |
School |
| Liberty Torres |
Cleveland State |
| Tiffany Paalman |
Green Bay |
| Hannah Vanden Berg |
Green Bay |
| Madi Malone |
Milwaukee |
| Ari Miller |
Milwaukee |
| Joy Banks |
Northern Kentucky |
| Abby Kanakry |
Northern Kentucky |
| Emily Wichmann |
Oakland |
| Panna Ratkai |
Purdue Fort Wayne |
| Megan Alders |
Wright State |
| Callie Martin |
Wright State |
| Katie Meyer |
Wright State |
All-League Second Team
| Name |
School |
| Emma Walker |
Cleveland State |
| Anna Burke |
Northern Kentucky |
| Patti Cesarini |
Oakland |
| Natalie Stepanovich |
RMU |
| Jenny Wessling |
Wright State |
| Reilly Zegunis |
Wright State |
All-Freshman Team
| Name |
School |
| Grace Purichia |
IUPUI |
| Ava Hoying |
Northern Kentucky |
| Gentry Brown |
Oakland |
| Panna Ratkai |
Purdue Fort Wayne |
| Ashby Willis |
Purdue Fort Wayne |
| Natalie Stepanovich |
RMU |
| Reilly Zegunis |
Wright State |
Sportsmanship Award Finalists
| Name |
School |
| Calli Gentry |
Green Bay |
| Ari Miller |
Milwaukee |
| Abby Kanakry |
Northern Kentucky |
| Anika Prisby |
Oakland |
| Taya Haffner |
Purdue Fort Wayne |
| Emma Brown |
RMU |
| Andrea Bortulin |
Wright State |
| Elise Moeller |
Youngstown State |
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