Mills POY Award Highlights SE Postseason Honors

DURANT, Okla. – Southeastern outside hitter D'Nari Mills was named the Great American Conference Player of the Year while setter Ruthie Forson earned second team honors as the conference handed out its year-end honors on Wednesday night in Hot Springs, Ark.
 
In addition to the athletic honors earned, Forson and Peyton Kriegel were also each named to the GAC Distinguished Scholar Athlete list.
 
Mills, a sophomore from Cypress, Texas, has been the most dominant offensive player in the conference on the season, ranking fifth in the nation in kills with 4.75 kills per set which leads the league by nearly a full kill per set.
 
She has also been second on the team in digs with 2.65 digs per set along the back row while picking up 39 total blocks while playing at the net.
 
She becomes the third player to earn conference Player of the Year honors as Lunden Azuara took home GAC honors in 2011, while Olivia Franceskini won Lone Star conference North Division Player of the Year twice.
 
Forson, a senior setter from Denton, Texas, ranks second in the league in assists at 9.16 assists per set, while being among the biggest dual threats in the conference by chipping in 2.13 kills pers et and leading the GAC with a .359 attack percentage.
 
Additionally, she has turned in 1.93 digs per set and added 20 blocks before seeing her season end early due to injury.
 
Kriegel, a senior defensive specialist from Center Point, Iowa, is turning in 2.25 digs per set on defense but has been the team's most effective server on the season with 42 total service aces.
 
Southeastern will open play in the GAC Tournament on Nov. 16 with a 3 p.m. matchup versus top-seeded Harding in Hot Springs, Ark.