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ST. LOUIS -- Three repeat first-team All-Missouri Valley Conference selections from a year ago, including Drake's Becca Hittner, Missouri State's Liza Fruendt and Southern Illinois' Kylie Giebelhausen, headline a list of 11 players named to the all-conference first team unit, the league office announced Wednesday.
Joining the three repeat selections on the first team is Drake junior Sammie Bachrodt, a 2017 honorable mention choice. Indiana State's Wendi Bibbins, Valparaiso's Dani Franklin, Illinois State's Hannah Green, UNI's Megan Maahs, Southern Illinois' Nicole Martin, Drake's Sara Rhine and Missouri State's Alexa Willard, all first-time honorees, round out the first team selections.
The honorable mention team includes Drake's Maddy Dean, Evansville's Kerri Gasper, Illinois State's Simone Goods, Indiana State's Ashli O'Neal and UNI's Ellie Howell.
Players from five different schools land spots on the MVC All-Defensive Team. Drake's Sammie Bachrodt, Illinois State's Paige Saylor, Missouri State's Danielle Gitzen, UNI's Megan Maahs and Southern Illinois' Kylie Giebelhausen all join the all-defensive unit as first-time honorees.
Four schools are represented on the MVC All-Freshman Team. Bradley's Gabi Haack, Loyola's Abby O'Connor, Illinois State's Paige Saylor and Southern Illinois' Abby Brockmeyer and Makenzie Silvey appear on the five-player rookie team.
Missouri Valley Conference specialty awards for Player, Newcomer, Freshman, Defensive Player and Sixth Player of the Year will be announced, in addition to the league’s Coach of the Year, at an awards ceremony in between Games 1 and 2 of the MVC Tournament on Thursday, March 8, at TaxSlayer Center in Moline, Ill.