WINONA, Minn. — Ciarra McNally (Lewiston, Minn.) turned more than a few heads during her sophomore season as a member of the Saint Mary's University volleyball team, earning First-Team All-Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference honors after finishing second in the league in kills with 331.
 
As good as she was as a sophomore, the hard-hitting McNally's junior campaign was even better.
 
For the second year in a row, McNally closed out the year sitting No. 2 in kills with a single-season, career-high 346.
 
And, for the second year in a row, she was rewarded for her efforts, as McNally picked up her second straight First-Team All-MIAC accolades Wednesday, when the conference office announced its post-season award-winners.
 
McNally wasn't the only Cardinal on the post-season podium, as freshman Abbie Stigler (Menomonee Falls, Wis.) — who was second on the team, and sixth in the MIAC, in kills — landed honorable-mention honors.
 
McNally played in every set of the Cardinals' 11 conference matches, totaling 137 kills (3.81 kps), while adding six assists, 18 aces, and 102 digs. Overall, the junior outside hitter did not miss a set in SMU's 27 matches, recording a team-leading 346 kills (3.49 kps), eight assists, 23 aces, and 292 digs. McNally led the team with 14 double-doubles and delivered a single-match season-high 28 kills against Grinnell on Sept. 2.
 
Stigler enjoyed a banner freshman campaign, playing all 36 sets of SMU's 11 MIAC contests. She was second to McNally with 131 kills (3.64 kps) and added three assists, two aces and 99 digs in conference play. Overall, Stigler amassed 313 kills (3.16 kps) in playing all 99 sets of SMU's 27 matches. Stigler added six assists, 12 aces and chipped in 206 digs. She delivered a single-match career-best 21 kills twice — first against Webster on Sept. 16 and then again against Hamline on Oct. 7 — and closed out the year with eight double-doubles.
 
Regular-season champion Gustavus nearly had a clean-sweep of the MIAC's major awards, as Marlee Turn was named MIAC Offensive Player of the Year, Maren Sundberg was tabbled MIAC Rookie of the Year, and Rachelle Sherden earned MIAC Coach of the Year honors. St. Scholastica's Alicia Draper was selected MIAC Defensive Player of the Year.