HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – Northern Kentucky volleyball's Reilly Briggs, Anna Burke, Abby Kanakry and Anna Brinkmann each received end-of-season award recognition by the Horizon League office that they announced on Thursday. Briggs, Burke and Kanakry were all named to the conference's All-League First Team, and Brinkmann earned an All-League Second Team nod.  

Briggs, a senior from La Porte, Ind., has been the leading offensive force this season for NKU, leading the Norse in both kills (311) and kills per set (3.24). She currently ranks sixth in the Horizon League in kills per set, ninth in total kills, eighth in hitting percentage, eighth in total blocks and sixth in points per set. Briggs continues to climb up the mountain towards eclipsing the 1,000 career kills mark, currently sitting at 916 as the Norse gear up for postseason action.

Burke, a senior from Louisville, Ky., hit an incredible milestone this season, as she eclipsed the 1,000-career mark for digs on Oct. 21 this year in a 3-1 victory over Cleveland State inside Regents Hall. She additionally matched her career-high for most digs in a single match with 28 against the CSU Vikings. Burke currently ranks third overall in the conference in total digs in 2022 and is fourth overall in digs per set.

Kanakry, a redshirt-senior from Grosse Pointe, Mich., was an explosive offensive threat all season, totaling 282 kills and 2.59 kills per set. She additionally was just as productive defensively, ranking fourth in total blocks with 76.0 total. Kanakry saw one of her best matches this season against Cleveland State, totaling 17 kills on 39 swings with a hitting percentage of .359 against the Vikings.

Brinkmann, a graduate senior from Mason, Ohio, was all over the court wherever needed this season for the Norse. She ranks second on NKU in total kills (282) and second in kills per set (2.74) as well. Brinkmann totaled 12 double-doubles this year to lead Northern Kentucky and posted 40 service aces to lead the Norse as well. She totaled 342 digs this season to stand in second overall on NKU and recorded 45.0 as well.

The Norse now set their sights on the 2022 Horizon League Championship Tournament this weekend. NKU will enter with the No. 2 overall seed and a quarterfinal round bye into the semifinals, where the Norse will face the highest remaining seed available. This contest is scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 19 at 6 PM (ET) from Dayton, Ohio inside the C.J. McLin Gymnasium, home of Wright State University. 

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  2022 #HLVB Award Winners
Player of the Year: Paula Gursching, Youngstown State
Offensive Player of the Year: Paula Gursching, Youngstown State
Defensive Player of the Year: Jenna Story, Wright State
Setter of the Year: Lainey Stephenson, Wright State
Freshman of the Year: Laken Voss, Cleveland State
Coach of the Year: Travers Green, Wright State
 
All-League First Team (alphabetical by school)
Calli Gentry, Green Bay
Alexandra Zakutney, Green Bay
Ari Miller, Milwaukee
Reilly Briggs, Northern Kentucky
Anna Burke, Northern Kentucky
Abby Kanakry, Northern Kentucky
Patti Cesarini, Oakland
Taylor Bransfield, Wright State
Callie Martin, Wright State
Jenna Story, Wright State
Lainey Stephenson, Wright State
Paula Gursching, Youngstown State
 
All-League Second Team (alphabetical by school)
Lydia Latimer, Cleveland State
Laken Voss, Cleveland State
Angie Gromos, Green Bay
Madi Malone, Milwaukee
Anna Brinkmann, Northern Kentucky
Josi Borum, Youngstown State
 
All-Freshman Team (alphabetical by school)
Karly Klaer, Cleveland State
Madison Olinger, Cleveland State
Laken Voss, Cleveland State
Natalie Schmitz, Milwaukee
Iris Riegel, Purdue Fort Wayne
Aaliyah Byers, Wright State
Abbie Householder, Youngstown State