Photo by: Kaitlyn Zuehl
Rachel, Rossi and Foley named First Team All-NSIC
11/3/2022 1:15:00 PM | Volleyball
Rachel earns third career honor while Rossi and Foley recognized for second time
BURNSVILLE, Minn. – Three St. Cloud State Volleyball players have been named First Team All-NSIC by the conference office this afternoon as outside hitters Linsey Rachel and Kenzie Foley were recognized alongside middle blocker Phebie Rossi.
Linsey Rachel earns her third career First Team All-NSIC award (2019, 2021) after garnering Second Team honors in 2018. The grad student outside hitter has put away 3.39 kills/set on .278 hitting this season, good for seventh and 18th in the league respectively. Her 3.80 points/set are 11th in the NSIC while her defense in the back three rotations (2.97 D/S, .939 REC%) have been staples of the Huskies' unit.
"Linsey has been a staple of consistency and excellent volleyball play for the past four years – five, technically – for St. Cloud State Volleyball," said head coach Chad Braegelmann, "The calming presence she has and the confidence her teammates have in both her ability to make plays and the confidence she gives teammates when they're on the floor has certainly been something that has helped our program take the next step.
Over the course of the 2022 season, Rachel has ascended to second all-time in kills, third all-time in points and fourth all-time in digs. The Maple Lake product stands 22 kills away from breaking Cami Selbitschka's all-time record and is on the verge of becoming the program's only 1500x1500 Club member.
"I was talking to another coach in our league a while ago about making improvements in a program, and the coach said point-blank, 'When you got Linsey Rachel, your program turned a corner,'" Braegelmann continued, "It was very impactful, and I certainly can't disagree with him. We've certainly had a lot of fantastic women come through here, but Linsey's presence has had a linear relationship with our program's success."
Phebie Rossi has been named First Team All-NSIC for the second straight season as the league's best blocker. She leads the NSIC and is second across all NCAA DII with 1.37 blocks/set, twice earning NSIC Defensive Player of the Week honors. Rossi's offense has taken another step forward in 2022 as the dynamic threat sends down 3.09 kills/set on .373 hitting while adding 4.03 points/set.
"In over 20-some years, I don't think I've ever seen a player control the net the way that Phebie does," said Braegelmann, "She influences attackers on the other side. You can see them change their shot when they know Phebie is up there blocking in the middle of the floor. It takes their heart and soul, almost rips it out of them. She's so fantastic there."
Rossi is fourth across the Northern Sun in hitting percentage, seventh in points/set and 15th in kills/set. Her reputation as one of the program's best-ever blockers has been further established throughout her senior campaign as the Rapid City, South Dakota product ranks fourth all-time in total blocks and block assists while landing eighth in solo blocks. Her .342 career hitting percentage is tied for the third-best in program history.
"Even the non-volleyball stuff, her leadership, understanding what it takes to be a leader and being able to see the other side of things," continued Braegelmann, "She often looks at things from a right-and-wrong perspective, and I've tried to remind her at times that there's a lot of gray in this world. Her ability to take some feedback and look at things a different way is one of the most fun things we like about Phebie. Her volleyball ability, focus in the gym and drive to get better have been well-documented but I really like the off-court improvements she's made as well."
Kenzie Foley rounds out the Huskies' three First Team All-NSIC honorees, earning her second-straight honor. The junior has provided the second-most kills (3.99) and points (4.67) per set in the Northern Sun while hitting .255. Foley leads SCSU with 355 kills and has been a force on the block with just under 0.60 a set. A native of Sergeant Bluff, Iowa, Foley's defense has taken a considerable step forward in 2022 – she averages 3.08 digs/set while leading the Huskies serve receive with a .956 mark.
"One thing we've really been pleased with from Kenzie this season has been her passing and her consistency there," said Braegelmann, "Her defensive steps forward have sometimes gone unnoticed. She wants to score on every single swing, which isn't really the game of volleyball, but she manages to be terminal more than most in the league. She's extremely talented – her maturity and decision-making have been really fun to watch progress. Other teams have started to key on her, because she's one of the most talented players on the floor, and her ability to continue navigating that and growing have been very impressive."
Foley has provided 15 double-doubles and has double-digit kills in 23 of 26 matches played. The 2021 National Freshman of the Year earned AVCA National Player of the Week and NSIC Offensive Player of the Week honors on September 13.
Information regarding single game and season tickets can be found at scsutickets.com. For all the latest on St. Cloud State Volleyball, stay tuned to SCSUHuskies.com and follow the team on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
Linsey Rachel earns her third career First Team All-NSIC award (2019, 2021) after garnering Second Team honors in 2018. The grad student outside hitter has put away 3.39 kills/set on .278 hitting this season, good for seventh and 18th in the league respectively. Her 3.80 points/set are 11th in the NSIC while her defense in the back three rotations (2.97 D/S, .939 REC%) have been staples of the Huskies' unit.
"Linsey has been a staple of consistency and excellent volleyball play for the past four years – five, technically – for St. Cloud State Volleyball," said head coach Chad Braegelmann, "The calming presence she has and the confidence her teammates have in both her ability to make plays and the confidence she gives teammates when they're on the floor has certainly been something that has helped our program take the next step.
Over the course of the 2022 season, Rachel has ascended to second all-time in kills, third all-time in points and fourth all-time in digs. The Maple Lake product stands 22 kills away from breaking Cami Selbitschka's all-time record and is on the verge of becoming the program's only 1500x1500 Club member.
"I was talking to another coach in our league a while ago about making improvements in a program, and the coach said point-blank, 'When you got Linsey Rachel, your program turned a corner,'" Braegelmann continued, "It was very impactful, and I certainly can't disagree with him. We've certainly had a lot of fantastic women come through here, but Linsey's presence has had a linear relationship with our program's success."
Phebie Rossi has been named First Team All-NSIC for the second straight season as the league's best blocker. She leads the NSIC and is second across all NCAA DII with 1.37 blocks/set, twice earning NSIC Defensive Player of the Week honors. Rossi's offense has taken another step forward in 2022 as the dynamic threat sends down 3.09 kills/set on .373 hitting while adding 4.03 points/set.
"In over 20-some years, I don't think I've ever seen a player control the net the way that Phebie does," said Braegelmann, "She influences attackers on the other side. You can see them change their shot when they know Phebie is up there blocking in the middle of the floor. It takes their heart and soul, almost rips it out of them. She's so fantastic there."
Rossi is fourth across the Northern Sun in hitting percentage, seventh in points/set and 15th in kills/set. Her reputation as one of the program's best-ever blockers has been further established throughout her senior campaign as the Rapid City, South Dakota product ranks fourth all-time in total blocks and block assists while landing eighth in solo blocks. Her .342 career hitting percentage is tied for the third-best in program history.
"Even the non-volleyball stuff, her leadership, understanding what it takes to be a leader and being able to see the other side of things," continued Braegelmann, "She often looks at things from a right-and-wrong perspective, and I've tried to remind her at times that there's a lot of gray in this world. Her ability to take some feedback and look at things a different way is one of the most fun things we like about Phebie. Her volleyball ability, focus in the gym and drive to get better have been well-documented but I really like the off-court improvements she's made as well."
Kenzie Foley rounds out the Huskies' three First Team All-NSIC honorees, earning her second-straight honor. The junior has provided the second-most kills (3.99) and points (4.67) per set in the Northern Sun while hitting .255. Foley leads SCSU with 355 kills and has been a force on the block with just under 0.60 a set. A native of Sergeant Bluff, Iowa, Foley's defense has taken a considerable step forward in 2022 – she averages 3.08 digs/set while leading the Huskies serve receive with a .956 mark.
"One thing we've really been pleased with from Kenzie this season has been her passing and her consistency there," said Braegelmann, "Her defensive steps forward have sometimes gone unnoticed. She wants to score on every single swing, which isn't really the game of volleyball, but she manages to be terminal more than most in the league. She's extremely talented – her maturity and decision-making have been really fun to watch progress. Other teams have started to key on her, because she's one of the most talented players on the floor, and her ability to continue navigating that and growing have been very impressive."
Foley has provided 15 double-doubles and has double-digit kills in 23 of 26 matches played. The 2021 National Freshman of the Year earned AVCA National Player of the Week and NSIC Offensive Player of the Week honors on September 13.
Information regarding single game and season tickets can be found at scsutickets.com. For all the latest on St. Cloud State Volleyball, stay tuned to SCSUHuskies.com and follow the team on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
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