SAN ANGELO, Texas – The No. 3 Angelo State University volleyball team collected 14 Lone Star Conference honors, nearly doubling the total of any other program, highlighted by three of the league's top individual awards, as announced Tuesday night at the conference's annual awards banquet, hosted by ASU. Senior outside hitter Madi Parrish was named Player of the Year for the second consecutive season, junior outside hitter Julia Hopkins earned Offensive Player of the Year honors and head coach Chuck Waddington was named Coach of the Year.

The evening also saw junior setter Gabi Ashcraft and Parrish named to the LSC All-Academic Team. Ashcraft, an elementary education major from Rockwall, Texas, and Parrish, a finance major from Saginaw, Texas, were recognized for their achievements in the classroom while having success on the court.

Parrish claimed her second consecutive LSC Player of the Year award after totaling 345.5 points (3.60 per set) during the regular season. The senior from Saginaw, Texas, recorded 288 kills (3.00 per set) while hitting .243 and added 43 service aces, the second-most in the conference, along with 299 digs (3.11 per set). Parrish becomes just the second player in program history to earn the award in back-to-back years, joining Kailyn Gilbreath, who received the honor in 2020 and 2021.

Hopkins, a junior outside hitter from Austin, Texas, becomes the fourth Belle in program history to earn LSC Offensive Player of the Year honors. She led the Blue and Gold with 302 kills (3.15 per set) while recording a career-best .277 hitting percentage.

Waddington earned his fifth career LSC Coach of the Year award and first since 2021 after guiding the Belles to a program-best 27-1 regular-season record and a perfect 17-0 mark in conference play. The undefeated conference campaign marked the first time ASU had accomplished the feat since 1984.

Parrish and Hopkins also earned All-LSC First Team recognition, marking the third and first selections of their respective careers. They were joined by junior middle blocker Sydney Thornton, who earned her first career first-team selection after totaling 261.5 points on 195 kills while hitting .339. Thornton also contributed 73 blocks and 19 service aces.

Three additional Belles earned All-LSC Second Team honors. Junior setter Gabi Ashcraft earned her first career all-conference selection after leading the team with 511 assists (5.87 per set). Junior defensive specialist Allie Duitsman and senior right-side hitter Alli Kirkpatrick also received their first career all-conference honors following standout seasons. Duitsman served as the Belles' primary libero, recording 382 digs (3.98 per set), while Kirkpatrick totaled 210 kills while hitting .285.

Senior middle blocker Hannah Barnhill and freshman setter Olivia Pena rounded out Angelo State's all-conference selections with honorable mention recognition. Barnhill, a San Antonio native, recorded 97 kills and 63 blocks during the regular season. Pena, a Helotes native, served as the second setter in the Belles' 6-2 system, totaling 435 assists (4.73 per set) and 148 digs. She also earned a spot on the LSC All-Freshman Team.

The top-seeded Belles will begin postseason play in the Lone Star Conference Championship Tournament on Thursday, Nov. 12, at the Junell Center-Stephens Arena. Angelo State will face the winner of the first-round matchup between eighth-seeded Western New Mexico and ninth-seeded West Texas A&M.

2026 LSC VOLLEYBALL ALL-CONFERENCE AWARDS
SPECIAL RECOGNITION
Player of the Year: Madi Parrish, Angelo State
Offensive Player of the Year: Julia Hopkins, Angelo State
Coach of the Year: Chuck Waddington, Angelo State

ALL-CONFERENCE FIRST TEAM
Madi Parrish, OH, Sr., Saginaw, Texas
Julia Hopkins, OH, Jr., Austin, Texas
Sydney Thornton, MB, Jr., Prosper, Texas

ALL-CONFERENCE SECOND TEAM
Gabi Ashcraft, S, Jr., Rockwall, Texas
Allie Duitsman, DS, Jr., Prosper, Texas
Alli Kirkpatrick, RS, Sr., Bonham, Texas

ALL-CONFERENCE HONORABLE MENTION
Hannah Barnhill, MB, Sr., San Antonio, Texas
Olivia Pena, S, Fr., Helotes, Texas

ALL-FRESHMAN TEAM
Olivia Pena, S, Helotes, Texas

ALL-ACADEMIC TEAM
Gabi Ashcraft, S, Jr., Elementary Education, Rockwall, Texas
Madi Parrish, OH, Sr., Finance, Saginaw, Texas