FAIRMONT, W.Va. - The Mountain East Conference announced the 2026 Volleyball individual award winners and All-MEC teams Tuesday afternoon. Fairmont State swept the major awards with three First Team, two All-Freshman and one Honorable Mention.

Outside hitter/right side Josie Nobbe was named the 2026 MEC Player of the Year and First Team All-MEC. Nobbe, a senior from Greensburg, Indiana, led Fairmont State with 286 kills, averaging 2.83 kills per set. She averaged 3.76 points per set in conference play, leading the Fighting Falcons and ranking third in the MEC.

Grace DeVall was named the 2026 MEC Libero of the Year and First Team All-MEC. DeVall, a junior from Morgantown, West Virginia, recorded 594 digs, leading both Fairmont State and the MEC. She ranked fifth in NCAA Division II in total digs and 12th with an average of 5.45 digs per set. DeVall was named MEC Defensive Player of the Week on Sept. 14 after recording 101 digs in five matches, averaging 7.21 digs per set.

Kailyn Connelly was named the 2026 MEC Freshman of the Year, First Team All-MEC and to the All-MEC Freshman Team. The middle blocker from Beaver, Pennsylvania, recorded 280 kills and posted a .323 hitting percentage, ranking fifth in the MEC. Connelly also led the Falcons with 88 total blocks and ranked seventh in blocks per set in conference play. 

Averi Martin was named All-MEC Honorable Mention and to the All-MEC Freshman Team. The right side/middle blocker from Weirton, West Virginia, finished with 183 kills, 66 total blocks with 14 solo and 52 assisted.

Head coach Travis Hinkle was named the 2026 MEC Coach of the Year after leading the Fighting Falcons to the North Division regular-season title and the division's No. 1 seed in this week's MEC Tournament. Fairmont State will host the conference tournament after posting a 15-1 record in conference play and a .938 winning percentage.

Hinkle coached the 2026 MEC Player of the Year, Libero of the Year and Freshman of the Year, marking the first time since 2016 that one program has swept the conference's three individual player awards. Under Hinkle's leadership, the Fighting Falcons lead the MEC in points, hitting percentage, opponent hitting percentage, assists, kills and digs.

Fairmont State opens the MEC Volleyball Championship on Wednesday, November 11 against West Virginia State University. Match time is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.