Women's Volleyball | 11/10/2014 6:49:00 PM

WACO, Texas – Junior middle hitter Ashley Gonzalez was named to the All-Heartland Volleyball First Team, announced today (Nov. 10) by the Heartland Conference.
 
The junior from Camanche, Iowa led NU in most offensive categories. She totaled a team-high 313 kills and 3.07 kills per set. Her .251 hitting percentage was best on the team. She also was tops on the team in points at 356 and 3.49 per set. Gonzalez totaled a team-high 66 blocks, including 16 block solos. She started in all 28 matches this season. In conference play, Gonzalez was even better, averaging 3.32 kills per set. She hit double digits in kills 15 times this season, including a career-high 23 kills in a win over Bethel on Sept. 15. In that victory, she hit .541, a season high. In the Heartland Conference, Gonzalez ranked sixth in kills and sixth in points. She was named the Heartland Conference Hitter of the Week on Sept. 22.
 
Gonzalez led the Lady Jets to a 9-7 Heartland Conference record, earning them the No. 3 seed in the Heartland Conference Tournament -- the first conference tournament appearance for NU since 2010. The Lady Jets tied their best record in NCAA Division II history with 15 wins.  
 
UA Fort Smith's Michelle Walker was named the Player of the Year. DBU's Tiara Gipson was the Heartland Conference Offensive Player of the Year, and Emily Tripp of UAFS was the Heartland Conference Defensive Player of the Year. The Heartland Conference Setter of the Year was LCU's Erin Fisher, and Channing Castleberry of LCU was the Heartland Conference Freshman of the Year. Jane Sargent of UAFS was selected as the Coach of the Year.
 
The Heartland Conference named 14 student-athletes to the All-Heartland Conference Volleyball First Team. The 14 student-athletes were selected by the conference's head coaches.
 
The Lady Jets play in the Heartland Conference Tournament on Friday (Nov. 14) against No. 2 St. Edward's at 7:30 p.m. at UA Fort Smith in Fort Smith, Ark.