19th Ranked Flyers Have Four Players Earn All-Region Accolades

ROMEOVILLE, Ill. – Lewis University’s 19th ranked women’s volleyball team had four players earn All-Midwest Region accolades on Wednesday (Dec. 1). Fifth-year seniors Jamie Poppen (Ballwin, Mo./Parkway West) and Ava Venema (Westmont, Ill./Timothy Christian) were named to the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) and Division 2 Conference Commissioners Association First Team while junior opposite hitter Juliana Van Loo (Burbank, Calif./John Burroughs) and sophomore setter Lauren Stenman (Maplewood, Minn./North St. Paul) were named to the AVCA All-Region First Team.

Poppen, a First Team All-GLVC selection and the GLVC’s Libero of the Year, picks up her first all-region honor. She leads the team and GLVC in digs per set with 6.30 and has recorded 725 digs. Poppen set Lewis’ single season dig record with her 31-dig performance in the GLVC Tournament championship match against Missouri-St. Louis. She is currently ranked fourth in Division II in total digs and seventh in digs per set. Poppen was voted the Baden GLVC Defensive Player of the Week on four instances this fall, earning the honor on Sept. 6, Sept. 27, Oct. 18 and Nov. 8, to finish with eight in her career.

Venema, a First Team All-GLVC selection, earns her second AVCA All-Midwest Region accolade. She leads the Flyers in hitting percentage at a .361 clip and in kills per set with 3.30. Venema is second in the conference in hitting percentage and fourth in kills. She had a season-high 18 kills in the four-set win over Indianapolis on Oct. 23 and had a career-high 11 blocks in the five-set come from behind win against Illinois Springfield on Oct. 5. Venema is also second on the team with her 0.99 blocks per set and leads the team in points scored with 3.97 per set. She was a third team AVCA All-American in 2019.

Stenman, a First Team All-GLVC selection, earns her first all-region accolade after an outstanding sophomore season. She leads the GLVC in total assists (1,291) and assists per set at 11.23. Stenman ranks third in Division II in total assists and is ninth in assists per set. She leads an offense that is averaging 13.71 kills per set while hitting at a .246 clip. Stenman had a career-high 62 assists in the four-set win over Indianapolis on Oct. 23 and was named the GLVC’s Offensive Player of the Week on Oct. 25 after her performance against the…