“She is the best libero in the country in my mind,” Bowling Green coach Danijela Tomic said of Garda, who ranks third in school history in career digs (1,700).
Garda added 88 assists and 37 service aces this year for the Falcons. She is BGSU’s first-ever MAC Defensive Player of the Year.
• Senior defensive specialist Vanessa Lay (Lebanon) earned a spot on the Crossroads League second team after leading Marian with 601 digs.
Lay also had 90 assists and 15 service aces for the Knights, who finished 22-12.
Women's soccer: Freshman defender Malia Berkely (Badin) started every game this season for Florida State (14-4-4), which knocked off Samford 4-0 in the first round of the NCAA tournament before falling to Utah 2-1.
Berkely collected one goal and two assists for the Seminoles and was named to the Atlantic Coast Conference All-Freshman team.
Football: Several local players have helped Kentucky become bowl eligible for the first time since 2010.
The Wildcats are 6-5 overall and 4-4 in the Southeastern Conference East Division heading into Saturday’s regular-season finale at Louisville.
Junior Kyle Meadows (Lakota West) starts at right offensive tackle for UK, while sophomore guard George Asafo-Adjei (Lakota West) contributes off the bench. Sophomore wide receiver Kayaune Ross (Lakota West) has two catches for 10 yards and a touchdown.
• Junior quarterback Malik Grove (Lakota West) garnered a spot on the Mountain East Conference first team after another stellar year at Notre Dame College.
Grove completed 204 of 336 passes for 2,714 yards and 32 touchdowns with only three interceptions. He also carried the ball 169 times for 578 yards and three TDs.
Also for the Falcons (9-2), senior linebacker Jake Chestnut (Lakota East) was an honorable-mention selection in the MEC. He was Notre Dame’s No. 2 tackler with 28 solos and 39 assists, also notching an interception.
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