Kenosha, Wis. – Natalie Harris secured GLIAC Defensive Player of the Year honors in her sophomore season. Harris becomes the first Parkside Ranger to earn this recognition and the first to win a specialty award since Ann Leo was named Libero of the Year in 2019. Harris also earned a spot on the First Team All-GLIAC, alongside her teammate, Sam Fisch. Additionally, Mariena Coon received Honorable Mention All-GLIAC recognition.
Natalie Harris: Defensive Player of the Year, First Team All-GLIAC
Harris capped off a stellar sophomore campaign with the highest honor for a libero in the GLIAC: Defensive Player of the Year. She also earned a place on the First Team All-GLIAC, an upgrade from last season's Second Team selection. Harris compiled an impressive 496 digs, which led both the Rangers and the conference. Her 4.96 digs per set also topped the conference leaderboard, marking an improvement from her freshman season.
Harris recorded 11 matches with 20 or more digs. She began the season with a bang, tying her career high with 29 digs against Upper Iowa. On November 2nd, she surpassed that mark with 31 digs in a five-set match against Northern Michigan. However, her most impressive performance came on November 1st against Michigan Tech, where she recorded 23 digs in just three sets.
"We are thrilled for Natalie, and these honors are truly well-deserved. All season long, Natalie was the driving force behind our defense and the backbone of our serve receive," said Head Coach Leigh Barea. "We continually asked her to cover more court, and she always rose to the challenge. Watching her grow and improve throughout the season, while consistently playing at such a high level, was a pleasure to see . I'm so glad the conference coaches recognized her significant impact on the court by naming her the Defensive Player of the Year."
Sam Fisch: First Team All-GLIAC
Fisch also advanced from her freshman season's Second Team All-GLIAC honors to secure a spot on the First Team this year. Stepping into a critical role, Fisch delivered a standout performance, increasing her kill total from 266 last season to 355 this season. That total ranked sixth in the conference, as did her 3.55 kills per set. She also made an impact at the net, finishing with 60 total blocks, the second most on the team.
Fisch tallied double-digit kills in 18 matches, including three with 20 or more kills. Her most impactful performance came on September 21 against Michigan Tech, where she posted 24 kills on a .404 hitting percentage in a five-set victory at home. She finished the match with a career-high 28.5 points, highlighted by eight total blocks that complemented her outstanding night.
"We are incredibly proud of how Sam stepped up this season. After an already impressive freshman year, she became an even more dominant scorer and presence at the net her sophomore year," said Barea. "We relied on her to rise to the occasion in crucial moments, and time and time again, she delivered with a big kill or block. Sam is more than deserving of this 1st team honor!"
Mariena Coon: Honorable Mention All-GLIAC
In her junior year, Coon earned her first GLIAC postseason honor, receiving Honorable Mention All-GLIAC recognition. Coon stepped into a pivotal role this season, delivering a team-best 74 total blocks, which ranked sixth in the conference. Her standout 2024 campaign also included 77 kills, 39 digs, 13 solo blocks, and 125 points.
Coon's best performance came on November 7 against Purdue Northwest. With the Rangers in need of a key late-season victory, Coon rose to the occasion, recording a career-high nine total blocks, including three solo blocks, along with seven kills on a .545 hitting percentage.
"Mariena did an outstanding job establishing herself as a dominant presence in the middle this season," remarked Barea. "She showed consistent improvement and played a crucial role in our blocking performance, which steadily improved throughout the year. Offensively, she stepped up in key moments, delivering multiple strong performances while attacking at a high efficiency"
