BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Prior to the start of 2023 Gulf South Conference Volleyball Championship, the conference unveiled the All-GSC Teams and yearly award winners, as voted by the conference's head coaches.
 
West Florida took home three of the five annual awards, headlined by Avery Rodgers who was named GSC Player of the Year. Gabi Moulton was voted Freshman of the Year. Argonaut head coach Melissa Wolter was recognized as Coach of the Year. Alabama Huntsville's Savannah Rutledge claimed GSC Setter of the Year, while Auburn Montgomery's Kaleigh Fitzgerald was garnered Libero of the Year accoaldes. 
 
The regular season champions, West Florida, finished with four all-conference selections. Auburn Montgomery had a trio of All-GSC honorees, followed by two apiece from Alabama Huntsville, Mississippi College, Valdosta State and West Georgia. A total of nine different schools were represented with at least one all-conference, including eight on the First Team. 
 
Rodgers, a two-time First Team All-GSC pick, became the fourth consecutive Argonaut to be named the conference's top player. The junior right-side hitter played in 79 sets and started 15 of 22 matches she appeared in for West Florida, during which she tallied 228 kills on 518 attack attempts. She finished the regular season as the conference-leader with a .328 hitting percentage while also being among the top-five in kills (4th), attack attempts (4th), and kills per set (5th/2.89). Rodgers also averaged 3.27 points per set, 11 assists, 13 aces, 48 digs, and 45 blocks. 
 
Rutledge became the first Charger in program-history to earn the conference's annual setter award, while also picking up her first all-conference nod. The senior finished the regular season as the Gulf South leader in assists (909) and assists per set (9.28) while appearing in 98 sets. Her season ledger also included 48 kills, 218 digs, 25 aces and 51 blocks.

Fitzgerald became the first-ever Warhawk to earn individual season accolades after claiming the conference's libero award. The senior finished the season listed second among GSC leaders in total digs (444) and placed third on the conference chart in digs per set (4.07). She was also the conference-leader with 57 aces, averaging 0.52 per set, while adding 112 assists to her season sheet stat.
 
Moulton received top freshman honors after a standout rookie season and became the first UWF recipient since 2017 and program's second all-time. A setter for the Argos, Moulton was the catalyst to league's best offense, posting 719 assists in 108 sets. She finished fifth among GSC leaders in total assists and assists per set (6.66). Her season stats also included 62.5 points, 33 kills, 217 digs, 25 aces, and nine blocks.
 
Wolter took home the conference's top coaching honor for the seventh time in her career and became the third coach in league-history to win the award in at three consecutive seasons. The GSC career leader in coaching wins guided West Florida to a 23-7 overall record and a 15-1 mark in conference play en route to its sixth-consecutive outright regular season title. 

The 2023 GSC Volleyball Championship starts tonight (Nov. 14) with two first round matches as Valdosta State hosts West Georgia, while Mississippi College welcomes Lee. Advancing teams will then head to Pensacola, Fla., as top-seeded West Florida will host the the remaining three rounds on its campus. For matchups, game times, tickets, how watch and more, click here to visit Championship Central.
 
2023 GSC VOLLEYBALL AWARDS
Player of the Year: Avery Rodgers, UWF
Libero of the Year: Kaleigh Fitzgerald, AUM
Setter of the Year: Savannah Rutledge, UAH
Freshman of the Year: Gabi Moulton, UWF
Coach of the Year: Melissa Wolter, UWF
 
First Team All-GSC
Avery Rodgers, Jr., RS, UWF^
Lydia Paulette, Jr., MB, MC*
Autumn Mayes, Sr., OH, UAH
Christina Pettigrew, Jr., MB, VSU
Allie Dishman, Sr., MB, UM*#
Alessia Cappai, So., OH, AUM
Kaleigh Fitzgerald, Sr., L, AUM
Zoe LaBreche, Sr., OH, UWG
Abby Stroh, Gr., OH, LEE
 
Second Team All-GSC
Caroline Chastang, So., OH, MC^
Bailee Sterling, Gr., MH, UWF
Savannah Rutledge, Sr., S, UAH
Jenna Zydlo, Jr., MH, UWF
Meg Brackhan, Jr., L, UWF
Sanai Young, So., MB, UWG
Audrey Bennett, Jr., S, VSU
Myllena Torquetti, Jr., MB, AUM
Jordan Moore, Jr., MB, UU
 
* First Team All-GSC in 2022
^ Second Team All-GSC in 2022
# Second Team All-GSC in 2021