GREAT FALLS, Mont. – The University of Providence volleyball team was well-represented on the Frontier Conference All-Conference Awards that the conference released on Sunday.

For the second straight season Cydney Finberg-Roberts was named both the Frontier Conference Player of the Year and the Setter of the Year. Jenna Thorne was also recognized as the Newcomer of the Year. The two were joined by Sacha Legros and Sadie Lott on the 1^st Team All-Conference team. Zoe Naugle was named 2^nd Team All-Conference, while Madysen Hoerner and Mariah Jardine were named to the All-Freshman team.

The coaching staff was also extensively recognized. For the second straight season, Arunas Duda was named the Coach of the Year. Assistant coach Dave Gantt was also named the Assistant Coach of the Year.

"When you have a team that has a good performance throughout conference play like we did, it's definitely deserved," Duda said. "Although we have some standout players, it's definitely the six that are on the court at any given time that are playing so well together. I'm really pleased that the conference coaches recognized that and gave that recognition to the players that deserve it."

Finberg-Roberts was named the Player of the Year for the second season in a row. The redshirt-senior from Columbia Falls, Mont. led the conference in assists per set (10.97) and finished second in total assists (1042). She has won a conference-high six Player of the Week awards this season.

"She does a good job of being a good, calming core presence and running a very efficient offense," Duda said. "Her defense has improved, her blocking has improved - every aspect of her game has gotten better this year. She runs the show for us and makes it all work. I think it's a tremendous recognition again for one of the best that we've ever had in this program."

Thorne was named the Newcomer of the Year and 1^st Team All-Conference for the Argos after transferring to the program from Hutchison Community College. The outside hitter had a dominant season for the Argos, leading the conference in kills per set (3.45) and finishing third in total kills (317). She was won the Player of the Week award four times on the year.

"We were really excited when she committed," Duda said. "It didn't' take her long to assimilate to what we're doing. She's just been tremendous. She's a very likable kid that has amazing chemistry with the rest of the kids. She's such a gamer. She does such a great job terminating for us it's great."

Legros was named 1^st Team All-Conference for the second straight season. The senior captain and returning All-American finished second in the conference in digs per set (6.4) and third in total digs (589). She was won the Player of the Week award once this season, and broke the program record for career digs midway through the season against Carroll. 

"She's so poised and provides such great leadership to this program," Duda said. "She's led the way the entire year with how she approaches every practice, every game, everything we do. She's just a valuable part of what we do every day. She's one of the best players that we have ever had in this program."

Lott was also named to the 1^st Team All-Conference team, the second straight season she's been named to the team. The returning All-American didn't miss a beat this season, finishing fourth in the conference in kills per set (3.17) and was named the Player of the Week on Sept. 20. She was also voted by her teammates as the team's Champions of Character, an award given to the player that best represents the five core values of NAIA athletics: integrity, respect, responsibility, sportsmanship and servant leadership.

"She does a little bit of everything for us and that's both on and off the court," Duda said. "You can tell by that Champion of Character award that she's well-respected by her teammates. It's very rare that you have someone that deflects all those accolades and all that praise. She has such a joy and passion in playing the game with her friends. It's so refreshing and so mature for such a young player."

Naugle was also recognized by the conference, as she was named 2^nd Team All-Conference. The middle blocker from Lower Columbia College provided a dominant presence at the net for the Argos, leading the conference in blocks per set (1.19). She also was named Player of the Week, receiving the recognition on Nov. 1.

"She provided such a big spark for us and is such a big presence for us up there at the net," Duda said. "She's a big presence in the middle that slows hitters down. It was great to add someone with her ability and have her make a big impact right away."

Hoerner and Jardine were also recognized by the conference as members of the All-Freshman team. Hoerner, an outside hitter, joined the program from Columbia Falls, Mont. while Jardine, a right side hitter, joined the team from Idaho Falls, Idaho.

"I was really happy to see those two on there," Duda said. "Madysen has probably hit an overload with all the work that we've given her but she's a kid that wants to work hard and get better every day. She's come up big for us throughout the year. Mariah has been so steady and so consistent from the right side. She stepped up so much in the championship game last night. She was dominant blocking out there. It was really cool to see them get recognized."

Duda was also recognized as the Frontier Conference Coach of the Year for the second straight season and the fourth time in his career. He has led the team to a 25-2 record so far on the season, including a 6-1 record over ranked opponents. The team is currently on a 18-game winning streak, including a perfect 16-0 against conference opponents. Dating back to last season, Duda has won 34 straight games against conference foes.

"It's a great honor," Duda said. "We have great coaches in the Frontier Conference. Anytime you can get recognized by your peers as someone at the top it's a tremendous honor. The girls obviously put me in a great spot. This group has been so much fun to work with and has responded so well to everything that we're trying to implement and trying to change. I love what I do, I love working with this group and I'm glad that we're not remotely close to being done."

Gantt was also recognized as the top assistant coach in the conference. His first season working directly with the team, Gantt's expansive volleyball knowledge has helped the squad tremendously throughout the season.

"You can't even measure how much he's meant to this program," Duda said. "Our girls have really enjoyed his presence in the gym. He gives consistent and tremendous feedback. Every day that he's in there he wants the girls to get better and he wants the girls to learn. He's just been an integral part of how we improve week by week. During the matches his comments and coaching are game-changing at times. It's been so fun to work with him."

The team will next shift their focus to the NAIA National Tournament, as they'll host a opening round game of the NAIA National Tournament Saturday afternoon. The team will learn who they'll face during the NAIA Selection Show on Monday at 9:00 a.m.