Anchante Duplicates Honor as Female Student-Athlete of the Year
On Wednesday, the Iowa Community College Athletic Conference announced Iowa Western Volleyball's Yadhira Anchante as the 2021-22 Female Student-Athlete of the Year for the second year in a row.
After a freshman season that saw the pinnacle in all aspects -- a NJCAA National Championship, NJCAA Division I Player of the Year, and numerous other post-season awards -- one would think it would be nearly impossible to replicate. However, Anchante did just that.
The Reivers were coming off the 2021 national title, their first since 2006. They had just completed a season altered by COVID, that moved the 2020 fall volleyball season into the spring of 2021. Three months later, the Anchante and the Reivers were back on the court on a quest to repeat.
With a target on their backs, Iowa Western went from the team to beat, to the team that was overrated. Losing three of their final 10 matches, including a 3-2 loss in the Midwest A District championship -- Iowa Western needed an at-large bid into the national tournament for their season to continue.
"We had to mentally work harder this season, put our heads down," former head coach Alicia Williams said, who is now the head coach at Bradley University. "Particularly for Yadhira, she had to take on more of a leadership role. Our team was looking to her, particiularly after all of the awards she won last year."
From there, Anchante and the Reivers rallied from the No. 8 seed at the national tournament, back to NJCAA glory, repeating as NJCAA champions. Again she led the nation in assists per set, and improved on her 2021 total from 10.95 to 11.34 assists per set. She was second in total assists with 1554. With that, her accolades piled up.
She was named the NJCAA Division I Volleyball Player of the Year for a second year in a row, was a First Team All-American, and the NJCAA Tournament MVP -- all of which she earned last season.
"Yadhira knew how to hold her teammates accountable this year," Williams continued. "How to be responsible and competitive, all while making them feel important. She was able to get the most of out her temmates but also -- she was such a consistent player herself. She helped us overcome all the obstacles we had this year."
"She is one of the most caring people I have ever coached. She is just an incredible young woman."
Academically, Anchante was outstanding in the classroom -- earning a perfect GPA during her time at Iowa Western.
Anchante becomes the first two-time winner ICCAC Female Student-Athlete of the Year award. Past winners include NIACC Basketball's Autam Mendez and DMACC Softball's Mia Ruther and Molly Jacobsen.
Nominations were received by the ICCAC Awards Committee, composed of select athletic directors from across the conference. Those nominations were then narrowed to a select three student-athletes that embodied the best characteristics that the ICCAC offers not just on the court or field, but also for what they accomplish in the classroom and contribute back to their school and community.
ICCAC Female Student-Athlete of the Year Winners:
2021-22 - Yadhira Anchante, Iowa Western
2020-21 - Yadhira Anchante, Iowa Western
2019-20 - Autam Mendez, NIACC
2018-19 - Mia Ruther, DMACC
2017-18 - Molly Jacobsen, DMACC