PITTSBURG — Anna Dean, a Labette County graduate and Pitt State volleyball star, was named to the All-MIAA First Team, becoming the first Gorilla since 2022 to be named All-MIAA first-team.
Dean was also awarded the inaugural MIAA Blocker of the Year award after leading the conference in total blocks and blocks per set.
“Obviously that’s an enormous honor,” said former Labette County head coach Heather Wilson, who coached Dean with the Grizzlies.
“I know how competitive the MIAA is. I’ve seen a lot of action this year. That’s a phenomenal honor and she deserves it. She’s disruptive. Teams have to strategize to avoid her. She’s put herself in a position to win a prestigious award.”
This season the Oswego, Kan., native has accumulated 150 total blocks for 1.55 blocks per set to rank fourth in Division II for both categories. Dean is also the team leader for hitting percentage (4th in MIAA) at .316 (230 K 64 E - 526 TA) and points (336.0, 3.46).
Dean was one of five players from Kansas to earn First Team All-MIAA honors, alongside Washburn’s Austin Broadie (Trinity Academy), Missouri Western’s Taylor Russell (Washburn Rural), Emilee Lan of Nebraska-Kearney (Thomas More Prep) and Rachel Zisman of Central Missouri (St. James Academy).
Of those five, three went to private schools and Broadie attended a Class 6A school, while Dean attended a small-town public Class 4A school.
“Anna has had an outstanding career,” Labette County head coach Leigh Ann Phillips said. “We were lucky to watch her play and she’s one of the most outstanding blockers I’ve seen at that level. She puts Labette County on the map. It’s always nice to see alumni going out and being successful. It gives our girls something to shoot for and look forward to.”
During Dean’s four-year career at Labette County, she helped guide the Grizzlies to back-to-back SEK League titles and state tournament appearances in 2021 and 2022. She also registered 1,016 kills.
Dean spent the first two years of her college career at Hutchinson in the KJCCC, where she was a two-time selection to the All-KJCCC team and racked up 574 kills and 273 blocks. In 2023, she was second in the NJCAA with 162 blocks.
Information from a Pittsburg State press release was used in this report.
