#BearsShowcase Photo Gallery

SPRINGFIELD - The Missouri State University volleyball team took home the night's top honor at the eighth annual Bears All-Sports Showcase, Monday night at JQH Arena. A number of individual student-athletes were also recognized for their excellence as part of the year-end celebration of Bears Athletics.
 
The volleyball squad was the top point collector in the Bear Cup team competition for community service, academic excellence, athletic excellence, Bears supporting Bears and public affairs. Women's swimming and diving finished second in the Bear Cup standings, while women's track and field was third. The 2017 award marks the first time volleyball has earned the Bear Cup, but continues a streak of eight consecutive years of the honor going to a women's program.
 
Members of MSU's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) served as the presenters for the evening, which includes a red-carpet entry and awards similar to ESPN's Espy Awards. SAAC members also took the lead in the nomination and selection process for the event and the awards presented.
 
The event also included a tribute to more than 2,500 hours of volunteer and community service efforts by MSU's student-athletes during the 2016-17 year. The total economic impact of MSU's volunteer efforts is over $58,000 to the Springfield community.
 
MVC Swimmer of the Year Lauren Pavel (Sr., Omaha, Neb.) was awarded the Dr. Mary Jo Wynn Female Student-Athlete of the Year Award, while baseball outfielder/pitcher Alex Jefferson (Sr., Normal, Ill.) was selected as the recipient of the Bill Rowe Male Student-Athlete of the Year. Both awards were voted on by student-athlete peers among Missouri State's 17 intercollegiate athletic programs.
 
The Senior Student-Athletes of the Year were presented to football All-American Dylan Cole (Rogersville, Mo.) and softball third baseman Bethany Sullinger (Kansas City, Mo.). Cole was named Sophomore of the Year in 2015, while Sullinger represents the first softball player to earn student-athlete of the year for any class.
 
This year's Junior Student-Athlete of the Year awards went to highly-touted baseball player Jake Burger (Chesterfield, Mo.) and volleyball All-American Lily Johnson (Wildwood, Mo.). This is the third consecutive class award for both standouts with Burger and Johnson both winning freshman of the year honors in 2015 and sophomore of the year distinction in 2016.
 
The 2017 Sophomore Student-Athlete of the Year awards went to NCAA swimming qualifier Artur Osvath (Budapest, Hungary) and volleyball defensive specialist Emily Butters (Richmond, Texas). Both Osvath and Butters earned freshman of the year laurels in 2016. Freshman Student-Athlete of the Year honors were distributed to NCAA swimming qualifier Antonio Thomas (Fayetteville, Ark.) and MVC Volleyball Freshman of the Year Daniele Messa (Bartlett, Ill.).
 
The individual sport most valuable players were also named, as voted on by head coaches. The men's team MVPs were awarded to: Jake Burger (baseball, Jr., Chesterfield, Mo.); Alize Johnson (basketball, Jr., Williamsport, Pa.); Dylan Cole (football, Sr., Rogersville, Mo.); Adam Fisher (golf, So., Aberdeen, Scotland); Rob Oslica (soccer, Jr., Ozark, Mo.); and Artur Osvath (swimming and diving, So., Budapest, Hungary). It was Burger's second straight baseball MVP honor and the first such honor for the other five individuals.
 
Women's team MVPs were awarded to: Liza Fruendt, Jr., Batavia, Ill.); Jessica Allen (cross country, Jr., Liberty, Mo.); Liz Young (field hockey, Sr., San Diego, Calif.); Verena Gimmy (golf, Jr., Neuss, Germany); Evan Stamp (soccer, So., Wichita, Kan.); Kaitlin Beason (softball, Jr., Webb City, Mo.); Lauren Pavel (swimming and diving, Sr., Omaha, Neb.); Alye Darter (tennis, Fr., Rogers, Ark.); Holly Pattie-Belleli (track and field, Sr., Ongar, Essex, England); Lily Johnson (volleyball, Jr., Wildwood, Mo.). It marked the second team MVP honor for Allen and Pavel, while Johnson picked up her third volleyball MVP in as many seasons.
 
The 2016-17 MVC State Farm Good Neighbor Award recipients were also recognized at the event. They were Shelby Harris (football, Jr., Nixa, Mo.); Brandon Weissman (swimming and diving, Sr., Chesterfield, Mo.); and Alex Jefferson (baseball, Sr., Normal, Ill.).
 
The Missouri State softball team claimed the Academic Excellence Award, while women's tennis earned the Community Service Award. Additional team awards went to women's swimming and diving (Athletic Excellence Award), men's soccer (Bears Supporting Bears Award), and women's track and field (Public Affairs Award). It marked second straight academic excellence award and men's soccer's second Bears Supporting Bears Award in as many years.
 
The second annual Marine Corps Leadership Awards were presented to men's soccer player Phil Woods (Sr., Sheffield, England) and volleyball sensation Tatum Marshall (Sr., Fayetteville, Ark.).
 
Approximately 300 student-athletes, coaches, staff and Athletics personnel attended the eighth annual event.
 
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Previous Bear Cup Winners
    2009-10 Women's Soccer
    2010-11 Women's Soccer
    2011-12 Women's Soccer
    2012-13 Field Hockey
    2013-14 Field Hockey
    2014-15 Softball
    2015-16 Field Hockey
    2016-17 Volleyball