Nov. 20, 2009

MILWAUKEE - Junior setter Nikki Klingsporn and sophomore outside hitter Ashley Beyer were each named to the All-BIG EAST Second Team, announced Thursday night at the BIG EAST Conference's annual awards banquet.

"It was great recognition for both those players from coaches in the conference," head coach Bond Shymansky said. "As a coaching staff, we were really excited about bringing them into our program as transfers and they are already starting to make an impact. We are going to expect them to live up to that billing as we move forward and become even more dominant players in BIG EAST play."

Both players were brought in by Shymansky after he was named head coach in December of 2008. Klingsporn joined the squad as a transfer from the University of Wisconsin for the 2009 spring semester, while Beyer came to Marquette fresh off most valuable player honors in the NJCAA Division II tournament, while winning the national championship at Kishwaukee (Ill.) College.

Beyer finished the BIG EAST season second in the conference in kills with 206 for an average of 4.04 per set. Over the entire season she led MU with 373 total kills, while also ranking third on the team with 2.17 digs per set.

Beyer was twice named to the BIG EAST Weekly Volleyball Honor Roll during the 2009 season, first garnering recognition after earning All-Michigan Invitational honors in mid-September. Beyer was also named to the honor roll following a victory over Villanova on Nov. 15 in which she recorded 17 kills and nine digs in only three sets.

Klingsporn assumed the setter duties for the Golden Eagles immediately upon her arrival and never looked back, recording nine double-doubles in 2009 while ranking eighth on the single season list in school history with 1,203 assists (10.94/set). 

Klingsporn was named to the BIG EAST Honor Roll earlier this season after earning MVP honors at the Panther Invitational. While taking home MVP honors, Klingsporn reached a career-high 62 assists against Western Michigan to go along with five kills and eight digs.

Besides helping Beyer excel this season, Klingsporn's setting skills have helped junior middle hitter Rabbecka Gonyo (.331, 248-72-517) have one of the best hitting percentage seasons in school history.

The Golden Eagles have one match remaining in 2009, a 7 p.m. contest against Central Michigan Nov. 27 at the Al McGuire Center.

Marquette Golden Eagles Women's Volleyball

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