Marquette University Athletics

Anchante is the NJCAA Female Student-Athlete of the Year
6/7/2022 9:50:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
The native of Peru is the Betty Jo Graber Award winner
CHARLOTTE, North Carolina - Marquette University newcomer Yadhira Anchante has been recognized as the winner of the 2021-22 Betty Jo Graber Award honoring the NJCAA Female Student-Athlete of the Year.Â
She will be honored during the NJCAA Foundation Awards event, held on Friday, June 10 at the Hilton Charlotte Uptown at 5:30 p.m. Central time. The event will recognize the NJCAA Male and Female Student-Athletes of the Year, the Lea Plarski Award winner, the Champion Award winners, and the Difference Maker Award winner, in addition to the 2022 class of the NJCAA Hall of Fame and the 2021 inaugural NJCAA Hall of Fame class.
"Yadi may be the only player to ever go to a junior college for two semesters and win two national championships," Marquette head coach Ryan Theis said. "She came in and made an immediate impact on our team this spring, and we are very excited to have her for the next three years. She is a pleasure to work with both on and off the court."
Anchante was a two-time NJCAA Division I National Player of the Year and led Iowa Western Community College to consecutive NJCAA Division I national titles. She also earned NJCAA Division I tournament most valuable player and NJCAA First Team All-America honors for the second time in as many seasons last fall while leading the Reivers to a 33-4 record. In two years at IWCC, Anchante led the program to a 59-7 record and ranks fifth in Iowa Western volleyball history for career assists with 2,441.
The 6-foot setter led the nation with 11.34 assists per set in 2021 and was second in the country with 1,554 in total. She recorded over 50 assists in both the national semifinal and final during the fall, while posting season-long totals of 94 blocks, 477 digs and a .261 hitting percentage.
The native of Lima, Peru attended Maria Reina Del Cielo High School prior to her time at Iowa Western. The Peruvian national volleyball team member has earned NJCAA First Team All-Academic status throughout her entire career.
In late May, Anchante was also honored as the ICCAC Female Student-Athlete of the Year for the second time in as many seasons.
NJCAA Athletic Accomplishments
To learn more about past NJCAA Female Student-Athletes of the Year, visit:Â Betty Jo Graber Award Winners
About the NJCAA Betty Jo Graber Award
Betty Jo Graber was an influential leader in the Association and helped pioneer the creation of the Women's Division of the NJCAA in 1975. As the NJCAA Region 5 Women's Director, Graber chaired the Association's women's basketball committee from its inception in 1975 until her retirement in 1991. In addition to her contributions on the NJCAA Board of Directors, Graber helped establish the NJCAA Women's Basketball Coaches Association and was a member of its inaugural hall of fame class in 1998. Also, a member of the national Women's Basketball Hall of Fame, Graber was a leader that exhibited dedication, service, and resilience - traits that are recognized annually to the top female student-athlete with the award named in her honor.
Keep up with the Marquette University women's volleyball program through social media by following on Twitter (@MarquetteVB) and Instagram (@MarquetteVB) and 'liking' on Facebook (/MarquetteVolleyball).
She will be honored during the NJCAA Foundation Awards event, held on Friday, June 10 at the Hilton Charlotte Uptown at 5:30 p.m. Central time. The event will recognize the NJCAA Male and Female Student-Athletes of the Year, the Lea Plarski Award winner, the Champion Award winners, and the Difference Maker Award winner, in addition to the 2022 class of the NJCAA Hall of Fame and the 2021 inaugural NJCAA Hall of Fame class.
"Yadi may be the only player to ever go to a junior college for two semesters and win two national championships," Marquette head coach Ryan Theis said. "She came in and made an immediate impact on our team this spring, and we are very excited to have her for the next three years. She is a pleasure to work with both on and off the court."
Anchante was a two-time NJCAA Division I National Player of the Year and led Iowa Western Community College to consecutive NJCAA Division I national titles. She also earned NJCAA Division I tournament most valuable player and NJCAA First Team All-America honors for the second time in as many seasons last fall while leading the Reivers to a 33-4 record. In two years at IWCC, Anchante led the program to a 59-7 record and ranks fifth in Iowa Western volleyball history for career assists with 2,441.
The 6-foot setter led the nation with 11.34 assists per set in 2021 and was second in the country with 1,554 in total. She recorded over 50 assists in both the national semifinal and final during the fall, while posting season-long totals of 94 blocks, 477 digs and a .261 hitting percentage.
The native of Lima, Peru attended Maria Reina Del Cielo High School prior to her time at Iowa Western. The Peruvian national volleyball team member has earned NJCAA First Team All-Academic status throughout her entire career.
In late May, Anchante was also honored as the ICCAC Female Student-Athlete of the Year for the second time in as many seasons.
NJCAA Athletic Accomplishments
- 2020-21 & 2021 NJCAA Division I Volleyball National Champion
- 2020-21 & 2021 NJCAA Division I Volleyball Player of the Year
- 2x Division I Volleyball Championship Tournament MVP
- 2x NJCAAÂ First Team All-American
- NJCAA Division I Midwest A District Champion
- 2x ICCAC Champion
- 2x ICCAC Volleyball Player of the Year
- 2x ICCAC First Team All-Region 11
- 3x ICCAC Athlete of the Week
- 2x NJCAA Volleyball Player of the Week
- 2020-21 AVCA Two Year College National Player of the Year
To learn more about past NJCAA Female Student-Athletes of the Year, visit:Â Betty Jo Graber Award Winners
About the NJCAA Betty Jo Graber Award
Betty Jo Graber was an influential leader in the Association and helped pioneer the creation of the Women's Division of the NJCAA in 1975. As the NJCAA Region 5 Women's Director, Graber chaired the Association's women's basketball committee from its inception in 1975 until her retirement in 1991. In addition to her contributions on the NJCAA Board of Directors, Graber helped establish the NJCAA Women's Basketball Coaches Association and was a member of its inaugural hall of fame class in 1998. Also, a member of the national Women's Basketball Hall of Fame, Graber was a leader that exhibited dedication, service, and resilience - traits that are recognized annually to the top female student-athlete with the award named in her honor.
Keep up with the Marquette University women's volleyball program through social media by following on Twitter (@MarquetteVB) and Instagram (@MarquetteVB) and 'liking' on Facebook (/MarquetteVolleyball).
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