In an announcement made today by Bellevue University Athletic Director Ed Lehotak, sophomore setter Olivia Galas has been named the 2019-20 Bellevue University Athletics Female Athlete of the Year.
Galas enjoyed one of the most storied and prolific seasons in Bellevue University volleyball history in 2019. She became the first BU volleyball player in program history to earn first-team NAIA All-American honors while also gaining first-team AVCA All-American accolades.
Galas was named the AVCA North Central Region Player of the Year while also earning first-team all-Region and all-NSAA accolades. She garnered NSAA Player and Setter of the Year honors while earning NSAA Setter of the Week honors on nine occasions. She became the Bruins' first Region Player of the Year since 2011 when Maureen Wardian won the honor
Galas led the team with 1,519 assists (10.77 aps) and was second with 36 service aces and 19 double-doubles. She was third on the team with 58 total blocks. Galas ranked second in the nation in total assists and was eighth in assists per set.
She ended the season with six-straight double-doubles. In the Bruins' second pool play match at Nationals against fifth-ranked Southern Oregon, Galas collected a triple-double with 12 kills (on .647 hitting), 44 assists, and 13 digs.
With no seniors and only one junior on the 2019 roster, Galas guided the Bruins to a 28-10 overall record and a 10-4 NSAA mark, finishing second in the NSAA regular season while advancing to the NAIA National Tournament for the 12th time in school history. The Bruins ended the season with a No. 19 final national ranking.
2019 Honors and Awards for Galas
- 2019, First team NAIA All-American
- 2019, AVCA North Central Region Player of the Year
- 2019, First team AVCA all-North Central Region
- 2019, NSAA Player of the Year
- 2019, NSAA Setter of the Year
- 2019, First team all-NSAA
- 2019, NSAA Setter of the Week (Aug. 19, Aug. 26, Sept. 2, Sept. 9, Sept. 23, Oct. 7, Oct. 14, Oct. 21, Oct. 28)
- 2019, NAIA National Setter of the Week (Oct. 8)
- 2019, Honorary captain, Omaha World-Herald NAIA all-Nebraska
