INDIANAPOLIS – UIndy women's soccer standout Dana Youssef was announced Friday as the 2021 GLVC Defensive Player of the Year. Voted on by the league's coaches, Youssef earned her second straight nod as the conference's top defender. Additionally, she was one of five Greyhounds included on the annual All-GLVC list.
 
Youssef earned back-to-back Defensive Player of the Year accolades after being voted as such this past spring season. The graduate student helped UIndy allow just nine goals in league play with a 0.64 goals against average, which are both third best in the conference. Overall, the Greyhounds only allowed 10 goals in 15 contests and just twice gave up more than one in a game, while tallying seven shutouts. Offensively, the Monchengladbach, Germany, native tallied three assists and took 15 shots with eight on goal. This marks the third all-conference award for Youssef, including her second straight on the first team inclusion.
 
Also honored on the first team was senior forward Kiki Sauceda. The San Bernadino, Calif., product curently tops the GLVC in both goals and points per game, ranking 15th and 22nd in Division II respectively. A trio of Hounds nabbed All-GLVC Second Team Accolades, including forward Taylor Peck, midfielder Maria Herrero and back Maddie Barkow.
 
The league also recognized 15 GLVC James R. Spalding Sportsmanship Award honorees, with Kaylee Zimbelmann earning the honor for UIndy. The student-athletes chosen are individuals who have distinguished themselves through sportsmanship and ethical behavior. These individuals must also be in good academic standing and have demonstrated good citizenship outside of the sports-competition setting. The honorees are now eligible to become one of their school's two Spalding Sportsmanship Award winners, which will be announced at the end of the academic year.