Freshman setter Victoria Bulmahn became the first Valpo volleyball player to earn a major award in her rookie season since the program joined the Missouri Valley Conference, as she was named the MVC Freshman of the Year Wednesday.

Bulmahn earned the Freshman of the Year award, as well as a spot on the MVC All-Freshman Team, for her work running the Valpo offense at setter this spring. A three-time Freshman of the Week honoree this season, Bulmahn currently leads the Valley and ranks 24th nationally with 10.84 assists/set, second-most among all D-I freshmen. Valpo’s offense has averaged 13.22 kills/set in MVC play this spring, its highest total since joining the conference.

Also strong in the back row, Bulmahn ranks second on the team and 12th in the MVC with 3.57 digs/set and has been in double figures in digs 14 times. Bulmahn is Valpo’s first Freshman of the Year since joining the Valley, as a Valpo rookie last earned a Newcomer of the Year honor in 2009 when Taylor Root was the Horizon League Newcomer of the Year.