Lipps, Rolander and Porter Named All-HCAC

GREENWOOD, Ind. – The Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference recently unveiled its 2009 award winners and all-conference team. Defiance placed three student-athletes on the All-HCAC team, with Danyel Lipps, Marlea Rolander and Sara Porter earning the honor. 

The trio helped Defiance to a 22-11 overall record for its highest win total since 2003 and its second-straight winning season. The Jackets also won a match in the HCAC Tournament for the second time in as many years, after earning the fourth seed with a 4-4 league record. 

Lipps was named All-HCAC for the third-straight season after posting her fourth season with at least 280 kills, 305 digs, 22 aces and 25 total blocks. The senior hitter's 350 kills led DC, while her 305 digs and 29 aces ranked her second on the squad. Lipps hit .256 during HCAC action and ranked second in the conference with 3.61 kills per set. 

The West Alexandria, Ohio, native's season was highlighted by being named to the DC Invitational and Marietta Invitational All-Tournament Teams, earning HCAC Player-of-the-Week honors on September 21 and setting the all-time school record for kills with 1,320 for her career. 

Rolander was a force at the net all throughout her sophomore season and garnered All-HCAC accolades for the first time. The middle blocker was the only player in the league to rank among its top-three in hitting percentage and total blocks, ending third in each with a .287 hitting percentage and 1.04 total blocks per set. 

Rolander had at least one block in 31-of-33 matches for Defiance and swatted two-or-more blocks 25 times to lead the team with 122 total blocks. The Napoleon, Ohio, native also excelled offensively, hitting .338 in the team's 22 victories and ranking second with 240 kills on the season. 

Porter earned her first postseason honor from the HCAC, netting the Honorable Mention All-HCAC nod after piling up 213 kills and a team-leading 337 digs. Despite spending time at multiple positions during the season, Porter still managed to record her third-straight campaign with at least 190 kills and 330 digs. 

Along with earning a spot on the DC Invitational All-Tournament Team, the Toledo, Ohio, native was named to the HCAC All-Tournament Team, after averaging 13.5 kills, 9.5 digs, 3.0 assists and 1.5 total blocks during DC's two matches. 

The all-conference selections are nominated and voted on by the league's head coaches and are announced by the HCAC conference office.