CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa -- The coaches have selected the 2025 American Rivers Conference (A-R-C) Women's Volleyball postseason award selections. These outstanding student-athletes have distinguished themselves throughout the conference regular season.
Coaches from the conference nominated and selected this year's all-conference team, recognizing the top performers. In addition to honoring the all-conference team, the release also recognizes Most Valuable Player, Defensive Player of the Year, Rookie of the Year, and Coaching Staff of the Year.
The A-R-C proudly announces today that University of Dubuque's Delainey Winkel has been selected as Women's Volleyball Most Valuable Player for the 2025 season. UD's Taylor Bechen has been named Defensive Player of the Year and Nebraska Wesleyan University's Macy Plucker has been honored as Rookie of the Year. UD head coach Karrah Davis and her staff were voted American Rivers Coaching Staff of the Year.
Winkel is earning her first major award of her career as Most Valuable Player for the 2025 season. Winkel led the Spartans with 106 kills, averaging 3.66 per set, during conference play. She posted a hitting percentage of .208 and scored an average of 3.97 points per game. She ranked second in the league for kills per set. On the defensive side, she recorded 94 digs, averaging 3.24 digs per set. Additionally, she recorded four blocks.
Bechen continues her impressive career for the Spartans as she earns Defensive Player of the Year. She guided UD on the defensive side with 182 digs, averaging 6.28 per set. Bechen led the conference with digs per set by over 0.5 per set.
Plucker began her Prairie Wolf career with a bang and that has earned her Rookie of the Year honors. She led the conference in kills per set, averaging 3.76. She totaled 128 kills during the conference season.
Davis has led the Spartan program since May 2024 and is earning Coaching Staff of the Year honors for the first time in her career. She led UD to a perfect 8-0 league record to claim the regular season title. Davis is assisted by David Beach, Kevin Kessel, and Emma Powell.
| 2025 All-American Rivers Conference Volleyball Team |
| Most Valuable Player - Delainey Winkel, University of Dubuque |
| Defensive Player of the Year - Taylor Bechen, University of Dubuque |
| Rookie of the Year - Macy Plucker, Nebraska Wesleyan University |
| Coaching Staff of the Year - University of Dubuque (Head Coach: Karrah Davis) |
| Most Valuable Player |
School |
Year |
Position |
Hometown/High School |
| Delainey Winkel |
University of Dubuque |
Jr. |
OH |
Ankeny, Iowa/Ankeny Centennial |
| Defensive Player of the Year |
School |
Year |
Position |
Hometown/High School |
| Taylor Bechen |
University of Dubuque |
Jr. |
DS/L |
Ankeny, Iowa/Ankeny Centennial |
| All-Conference |
School |
Year |
Position |
Hometown/High School |
| Colleen Kenney |
Central College |
Sr. |
L |
Taylor Ridge, Ill./Rock Island Alleman |
| Kaitlyn Mumm |
Central College |
Jr. |
MH |
Waukee, Iowa/Des Moines Christian |
| Leslie Snow |
Central College |
Sr. |
OH |
Olivia, Minn./BOLD |
| Avery Beckett |
Coe College |
Sr. |
PIN |
Waverly, Iowa/Waverly-Shell Rock |
| Maggie Furlong |
Coe College |
Sr. |
PIN |
Galena, Ill./Galena |
| Maddy Maahs |
Coe College |
Sr. |
S |
Epworth, Iowa/Western Dubuque |
| Ashley Glennon |
University of Dubuque |
Sr. |
OH |
Dubuque, Iowa/Hempstead |
| Caitlin Jensen |
University of Dubuque |
Jr. |
MB |
Clarence, Iowa/North Cedar |
| Autumn Finch |
Loras College |
Sr. |
MB |
Marshalltown, Iowa/Marshalltown |
| Macy Plucker |
Nebraska Wesleyan University |
Fr. |
OH |
Canton, S.D./Canton |
| Molly Ramirez |
Nebraska Wesleyan University |
Jr. |
RS/OH |
Bettendorf, Iowa/Pleasant Valley |
| Elecea Saathoff |
Nebraska Wesleyan University |
Jr. |
S |
Lincoln, Neb./Lincoln Lutheran |
| Jada Schmidt |
Simpson College |
Jr. |
OH/RS |
Ankeny, Iowa/Ankeny Centennial |
| Morgan DenBeste |
Simpson College |
Sr. |
S/RS |
Ankeny, Iowa/Ankeny Centennial |
| Anna Sash |
Wartburg College |
So. |
MH |
Ankeny, Iowa/Ankeny Centennial |
| Honorable Mention |
School |
Year |
Position |
Hometown/High School |
| Charley Hernandez |
Buena Vista University |
Fr. |
OH |
Glenwood, Iowa/Glenwood |
| Kelsey Hansel |
Coe College |
Sr. |
PIN |
Edgewood, Iowa/Edgewood-Colesburg |
| Maddie Harris |
Coe College |
Sr. |
PIN |
Peosta, Iowa/Western Dubuque |
| Megan Cooley |
University of Dubuque |
Jr. |
MB |
Morrison, Iowa/Gladbrook-Reinbeck |
| Alexis Kammerer |
University of Dubuque |
Jr. |
S |
Brodhead, Wis./Brodhead |
| Raegan Holle |
Nebraska Wesleyan University |
Sr. |
L |
Lincoln, Neb./Lincoln Lutheran |
| Peyton Mitchell |
Simpson College |
Sr. |
MB |
Ankeny, Iowa/Ankeny Centennial |
| Emily Williams |
Simpson College |
Jr. |
OH |
Malvern, Iowa/East Mills |
| Whitney Klyn |
Wartburg College |
Jr. |
OH |
Blakesburg, Iowa/Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont |
About the American Rivers Conference
Nationally respected for excellence in NCAA Division III athletics, the American Rivers Conference (A-R-C) has a tradition dating back to its founding in 1922 as the Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Association and adopted its current name in 2018 to reflect its strong Iowa roots and growing regional footprint. The A-R-C is a collaborative community that champions the holistic development of student-athletes, uniting member institutions in a shared commitment to academic achievement, athletic distinction, and leadership.
The A-R-C is home to nine full-time member institutions: Buena Vista University, Central College, Coe College, University of Dubuque, Loras College, Luther College, Nebraska Wesleyan University, Simpson College, and Wartburg College. Luther College has announced its departure from the conference, effective at the conclusion of the 2025–26 academic year.
