SPRINGFIELD -- Missouri State recognized three of the school's top female student-athletes Monday (June 19) with the announcement of its final year-end institutional honors for 2016-17.

Volleyball player Lily Johnson (Jr., Wildwood, Mo.) was named as the recipient of the 2017 Outstanding Female Athlete Award, as voted on by the head coaches of MSU's intercollegiate women's programs. The honor makes Johnson the first three-time winner of the award after she was its co-recipient in 2015 and its stand-alone honoree in 2016.

Since the award began in 1981, only four other individuals have won the Outstanding Female Athlete Award twice -- Barb Gaines (softball, 1992-93), Melinda Sallins (track and field, 1995-96), Jackie Stiles (basketball, 2000-01) and Cheasa Gibson (track and field, 2002, 04). Johnson is also the fifth volleyball player all-time to earn the award.

Other finalists for the 2016-17 Outstanding Female Athlete Award were: MVC Swimmer of the Year Lauren Pavel (Omaha, Neb.), NCAA track and field qualifier Marissa Kurtimah (Guelph, Ontario), All-MVC basketball standout Liza Fruendt (Batavia, Ill.) and senior softball slugger Bethany Sullinger (Kansas City, Mo.).

After the 2016 season, Johnson became first MSU volleyball player to earn All-America recognition both athletically and academically in the same season. She became the fourth player in league history to lead the conference in kills on the way to a second consecutive MVC Player of the Year nod. She averaged 4.54 kills, 5.12 points, 3.07 digs, 0.35 aces and 0.36 blocks per set with a .228 hitting percentage. Johnson was a four-time MVC Player of the Week, and exceeded 600 kills for the second consecutive season, finishing with 604 for the third-best MSU total and fifth-highest mark in league history. Johnson ended the season ranked second at MSU and eighth in MVC history with 1,719 career kills, and 16th in school history with 1,118 digs as the sixth member of Missouri State's 1,000-kill, 1,000-dig club. She tallied 23 double-doubles on the year, and reached at least 10 kills for a school-record 45 consecutive matches before the streak ended in the NCAA Tournament.

Women's soccer standout Laura Ketzer (Groebenzell, Germany) and swimmer Shawna Elsey (Olathe, Kan.) were also announced Tuesday as the co-recipients of the Dr. Mary Jo Wynn Senior Female Scholar-Athlete Award. Ketzer was an Astronomy and Astrophysics major, while Elsey held a double major in Marketing Research and Logistics & Supply Chain Management. Both student-athletes completed their undergraduate degrees in May with perfect 4.00 grade-point averages.

The Wynn Award is presented annually to the graduating female senior student-athlete(s) with the highest GPA. The award is named in honor of the long-time Missouri State teacher, coach and athletics administrator, Dr. Mary Jo Wynn, who became the first female to be named as Missouri Sports Legend by the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame in 2014.
 
Missouri State Outstanding Female Athlete Award

    1981 - Stephanie Dutton, field hockey
    1982 - Jennifer Seveland Box, volleyball
    1983 - Lynne Strubberg, basketball
    1984 - Jeanette Tendai, basketball
    1985 - Kim Schwaab, field hockey
    1986 - Terri Whitmarsh, softball
    1987 - Kathy Crotty, volleyball
    1988 - Marjorie DeMarino, field hockey
    1989 - Mindy Struckhoff, volleyball
    1990 - Susan Ruch, volleyball
    1991 - LaWaynta Dawson, basketball
    1992 - Barb Gaines, softball
    1993 - Barb Gaines, softball
    1994 - Melody Howard, basketball / Kellie Becher, softball
    1995 - Melinda Sallins, track and field
    1996 - Melinda Sallins, track and field
    1997 - Michelle Baptiste, track and field
    1998 - Lisa Davies, basketball
    1999 - Verneta Lesforis, track and field
    2000 - Jackie Stiles, basketball
    2001 - Jackie Stiles, basketball
    2002 - Cheasa Gibson, track and field
    2003 - Courtney Phillips, swimming & diving
    2004 - Cheasa Gibson, track and field
    2005 - Casey Owens, track and cross country
    2006 - Tracy Partain, track and field
    2007 - Sally Hinton, golf
    2008 - Missy Linnens, golf
    2009 - Jordan Hawkins, swimming & diving
    2010 - Samantha Aguilar, soccer
    2011 - Chelsea Dirks-Ham, swimming & diving
    2012 - Casey Garrison, basketball
    2013 - Nia Williams, soccer
    2014 - Renata Sander, swimming & diving
    2015 - Lily Johnson, volleyball / Kenzie Williams, basketball
    2016 - Lily Johnson, volleyball
    2017 - Lily Johnson, volleyball

Dr. Mary Jo Wynn Senior Female Scholar-Athlete Award

    1981 - Diane Linneman, basketball
    1982 - Stephanie Dutton, field hockey
    1983 - Jennifer Seveland Box, volleyball / Diane Busenbark, cross country
    1984 - Mandy Charles, track
    1985 - Maureen Manda, volleyball
    1986 - Lisa Einheuser, cross country and track
    1987 - Marla Douglass, basketball
    1988 - Julie Warren, volleyball
    1989 - Mandy Struckhoff, volleyball
    1990 - Pat Stock, volleyball
    1991 - Karen Heman, field hockey
    1992 - Charity Shira, basketball
    1993 - JanaRae Abram, tennis
    1994 - Melody Howard, basketball
    1995 - Linda Shipton, field hockey
    1996 - Jodie Schurle, track & field
    1997 - Alissa Donaldson, field hockey and soccer
    1998 - Michelle Witzke, volleyball
    1999 - Cheryl Haslag, cross country and track / Lisa Davies, basketball
    2000 - Lani Kim, volleyball
    2001 - Jessica Gorham, softball
    2002 - Erica Adams, swimming
    2003 - Rhonda Allen, cross country and track
    2004 - Mary Litvan, soccer
    2005 - Karen Hymer, soccer
    2006 - Sarah Klaassen, basketball
    2007 - Melissa Behr, field hockey
    2008 - Carrie Vestal, cross country and track
    2009 - Cara Belcher, swimming & diving
    2010 - Chelsea Ray, swimming & diving
    2011 - Katharina Voelkel, swimming & diving
    2012 - Terry Phillips, cross country and track
    2013 - Chelsea Voet, soccer
    2014 - Emily Beaver, cross country and track
    2015 - Andrea Beaty, volleyball
    2016 - Molly Brewer, soccer / Jessi Pope, field hockey
    2016 - Laura Ketzer, soccer / Shawna Elsey, swimming