Lindenwood women’s volleyball etched its name into the history books with a stunning performance, sweeping Morehead State 3-0 (25-16, 25-18, 25-15) to claim its first-ever Ohio Valley Conference championship.
The Lions capped off a season of resilience and dominance with their 23rd win, the program’s most since 2011, in front of an electric crowd at Houck Field House in Cape Girardeau. Seven players recorded kills in the match, with Rebecca Janke, Autumn Bax, and Addy McAleer leading the charge, each tallying eight kills. The dynamic trio combined nine block assists, anchoring a defensive effort that netted eight team blocks. Nyah Wilson added to the offensive fireworks, with seven kills and a stellar 17 digs, ensuring Lindenwood was unshakable on the defensive side of the ball. Six different Lions combined to tally 10 service aces on the night led by Jessie Seidel’s three. Lexi Menne and Allie Otten each chipped in with two aces of their own.
The Lions roared to life in the first set, seizing an early lead and never looking back. After a 4-4 tie, Lindenwood surged ahead with kills from McAleer, Wilson, and Bax, stretching the lead to 12-7. Morehead State was forced to call a timeout at 18-12, but it was too late to stifle the Lions’ momentum. Janke’s late kills and a Morehead State service error sealed a 25-16 opening-set victory. The Lions were firing on all cylinders, hitting .370 as a team with 11 kills and an impressive seven service aces, their most in a single set this season. Five different players recorded aces, highlighting their depth and versatility.
In the second set, the Lions continued their relentless attack, storming to a commanding 10-2 lead fueled by McAleer’s kills and aces from both Seidel and McAleer. Morehead State was forced to use both timeouts early in the set, but Lindenwood’s intensity didn’t waver. Bax led the way with five kills, while the defense shone, holding the Eagles to a .103 hitting percentage and forcing six attack errors. The Lions’ 25-18 win in the second set gave them a commanding 2-0 match lead.
The third set saw an early 5-2 deficit for the Lions, but a breathtaking display of their championship resolve followed. A massive 12-1 run, punctuated by dominant kills and stifling defense, flipped the set in Lindenwood’s favor. The Lions cruised to a 25-15 third-set win, holding Morehead State to a .059 hitting percentage and forcing six attack errors in the final frame. Janke led the way in the set with five kills, while McAleer added four to help seal the historic victory. The Lions’ performance wasn’t just dominant, it was the culmination of a season-long pursuit of greatness, securing a legacy that will endure for years to come. McAleer delivered the final two blows, including securing the match-winning point on her eighth kill of the night. As McAleer’s final kill thundered to the floor, the Lions erupted in joy and celebration. Her teammates rushed to her, surrounding her in a wave of elation as they collapsed to the court in a tangled embrace. Tears streamed down their faces, a mix of joy and relief washing over them after a season of relentless hard work and sacrifice knowing that the 2024 Lindenwood women’s volleyball team would go down in history as the first team to hang an OVC Championship banner.
Allie Otten was named to the All-OVC tournament team and took home MVP honors after collecting 110 assists over the weekend and 33 digs. She also recorded four aces, two blocks, and eight kills. McAleer and Jessie Seidel were also named to the all-tournament team for their efforts. Otten, Seidel, Janke, and Wilson were all named to the All-OVC first team with Otton taking home setter of the year honorees. Otten led the OVC in assists during League matches while ranking second in service aces. Otten had a season-high 56 assists twice this season. Autumn Bax took home freshman of the year honorees in the OVC for her efforts as the right-side hitter had a season-best 20 kills at SIUE, and reached double-digit kills in each of her final six matches of the regular season. Bax had a season-high three total blocks in a win at Little Rock during the final week of the season. Bax also was a part of the All-OVC second team. Will Condon took home OVC Coach of the Year honorees. Condon guided Lindenwood to a second-place finish, one game out of first, in the Lions third year in the OVC. It marks the best league finish for the program since joining the OVC.
Lindenwood will lose several seniors who had exceptional careers as Lions and have etched their names near the top of the women’s volleyball record books. Otten concludes her Lindenwood career as the program’s all-time leader in career assists with 3,454. Her 1,257 assists during the 2024 season also set the single-season record. Additionally, Otten ranks third in Lindenwood history with 98 career service aces, and her 40 service aces during the 2024 season place her third for a single season. Janke wraps up her time at Lindenwood with 1,083 career kills, finishing second all-time, just seven kills shy of Kayla Guyot’s record of 1,090 set between 2012 and 2015. Janke also had standout single-season performances, with 316 kills in 2023 placing her eighth and 310 kills in 2024 placing her 10th. Wilson finishes her career third all-time in kills with 979, trailing only Janke and Guyot. Her 353 kills during the 2024 season rank third in a single season, behind only Kristy Dreisewerd’s record of 372. Wilson also tallied 1,276 career digs, 114 total blocks, and 127 service aces. As a versatile six-rotation player, Wilson proved herself to be one of the best not only in the OVC but also in Lindenwood’s history. McAleer spent just two seasons with the Lions after transferring from SEMO, yet made a significant impact. She amassed 623 career kills, including 359 during the 2023 season, which ranks second all-time for a single season. Like Wilson, McAleer showcased her versatility as a six-rotation player, finishing with 46 service aces, 63 total blocks (eight solo), and 517 career digs. Jessie Seidel leaves behind a legacy as one of the best defensive specialists in Lindenwood history. As the Lions’ libero, Seidel set the program’s all-time record for service aces with 156 and holds the single-season record with 51 in 2023. She also became the first Lion to surpass 2,000 career digs, finishing with 2,323. Her impact on the team will be remembered for years to come.
Looking ahead, younger players also made significant contributions. Bax had an impressive freshman campaign, recording 325 kills and 41 total blocks. Ashley Geluck built on a strong debut season, finishing with 256 kills and 92 total blocks, including 29 solo blocks. Dana Grib excelled as a defensive specialist, finishing with 17 service aces and 411 digs, and is expected to anchor the Lions’ defense next season. The Lions have already secured two commits for their 2025 recruiting class: Greta Shadewald, a setter/right-side hitter from Prairie Du Sac, Wisconsin, and Shannon Monahon, an outside hitter from Champaign, Illinois. As the Lions look ahead to 2025, they aim to build on this remarkable season and defend their OVC championship title.
Unfortunately, this is where the Lions season ends as due to Lindenwood still being in a “period of transition” the Lions are not eligible for the NCAA tournament and therefore join the Lindenwood women’s soccer in winning the OVC tournament but seeing their opponent getting the automatic qualifying bid to the tournament.
Nonetheless, what an incredible season from Lindenwood who will say heartfelt goodbyes to all their amazing seniors: Rebecca Janke, Allie Otton, Addy McAleer, Jessie Seidel, Nyah Wilson, Abby VanBuuskirk, and Madilyn Dement.
