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2012 All-WAC Volleyball Teams Announced

 

 

2012 All-WAC Volleyball Teams Announced

SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS – The 2012 WAC volleyball award winners, as selected by the league’s head coaches, were announced tonight at the WAC Tournament banquet. UTSA junior outside hitter McKenzie Adams was named WAC Player of the Year, while teammate Annie Kunes was named Libero of the Year. Utah State’s Elle Brainard captured Freshman of the Year honors, while head coach Grayson DuBose was named WAC Coach of the Year. 

Nine of the 10 schools were represented on the teams, led by top-seeded Utah State with four players on the first team and two on the second team. No. 3 seed UTSA had one player on the first team and three on the second team, while Idaho and New Mexico State both had two first-team selections and one second-team pick.

Adams earned WAC Player of the Year honors after leading the league in kills (4.73) and points (5.30) and ranking seventh in digs (3.77) per set. She was named WAC Player of the Week five times during the season and posted double-doubles in 13 of the 18 WAC matches. In the most recent NCAA statistics, Adams ranked 25th nationally in kills per set and 33rd in points per set.

Kunes earned Libero of the Year honors after leading the WAC with 5.39 digs per set. The freshman posted double-digit digs in 15 of the 16 WAC matches in which she played and had 20 or more digs in seven WAC matches. In the most recent NCAA statistics, the second team All-WAC pick ranked 64th nationally in digs per set.

Brainard earned Freshman of the Year honors, becoming the second Aggie to do so. She averaged 1.63 kills and 1.38 blocks per set in WAC play. Brainard ranks second in the WAC and 17th nationally in overall blocks per set. Her 143 block assists on the season rank third on the Aggies’ single-season list, while her 149 total blocks rank fourth.

DuBose led his team to its first-ever WAC regular-season title and the No. 1 seed in the WAC Tournament. This is the second time in his career he’s earned the honor (2007).

First Team
McKenzie Adams, UTSA
Allison (Walker) Baker, Idaho
Meredith Hays, New Mexico State
Colleen King, Denver
Faimie Kingsley, Denver
Paige Neves, Utah State
Mary Alice O’Reilly, San Jose State
Rachel Orr, Utah State
Alyssa Schultz, Idaho
Desiree Scott, New Mexico State
Shay Sorensen, Utah State
Josselyn White, Utah State

Second Team
Elle Brainard, Utah State
Amari Deardorff, Texas State
Kaytlyn Dill, Seattle U
Taylor Gross, UT Arlington
Ashlee Hilbun, Texas State
Brandy Huskey, UTSA
Annie Kunes, UTSA
Michaela Leonard, San Jose State
Lauren Loerch, New Mexico State
Alex Sele, Idaho
Kaitlyn Van Hoff, Utah State
Whitney Walls, UTSA

All-Freshmen Team
Elle Brainard, Utah State
Annie Kunes, UTSA
Michaela Leonard, San Jose State
Katelyn Peterson, Idaho
Kylie Schott, UTSA
Michele Swope, Denver

WAC Player of the Year: McKenzie Adams, UTSA
WAC Libero of the Year: Annie Kunes, UTSA
WAC Freshman of the Year: Elle Brainard, Utah State
WAC Coach of the Year: Grayson DuBose, Utah State

 

 

 

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Two Spartan Volleyball Players Receive Honors

 

 

wo Spartan Volleyball Players Receive Honors

O’Reilly, Leonard Honored By WAC Volleyball Coaches

 

San Antonio, Texas—Sophomore middle blocker Mary Alice O’Reilly and freshman setter Michaela Leonard received All-Western Athletic Conference honors as selected by the conference’s head coaches and revealed Sunday night at the WAC Volleyball Tournament banquet.

 

O’Reilly received first team All-WAC honors after her phenomenal season for the Spartans.  After spending her freshman year as a key reserve, O’Reilly has started every match of her sophomore season.  In WAC matches only, she hit .360 with 215 kills and 57 blocks.  O’Reilly is the first Spartan volleyball player to receive first team honors since Kelly Crow in 2008.

 

Leonard received two honors Sunday night – second team All-WAC recognition and All-Freshman team honoree.  In her first year as the team’s starting setter, she led the conference in assists.  In WAC matches only, she had 710 assists, 11.27 per set, 14 service aces and 125 digs.

 

San Jose State opens play at the 2012 WAC Volleyball Tournament Monday against UTSA at 12 p.m. CST/10 a.m. PST.

 

2012 WAC Honorees

First Team
McKenzie Adams, UTSA
Allison (Walker) Baker, Idaho
Meredith Hays, New Mexico State
Colleen King, Denver
Faimie Kingsley, Denver
Paige Neves, Utah State
Mary Alice O’Reilly, San Jose State
Rachel Orr, Utah State
Alyssa Schultz, Idaho
Desiree Scott, New Mexico State
Shay Sorensen, Utah State
Josselyn White, Utah State

Second Team
Elle Brainard, Utah State
Amari Deardorff, Texas State
Kaytlyn Dill, Seattle U
Taylor Gross, UT Arlington
Ashlee Hilbun, Texas State
Brandy Huskey, UTSA
Annie Kunes, UTSA
Michaela Leonard, San Jose State
Lauren Loerch, New Mexico State
Alex Sele, Idaho
Kaitlyn Van Hoff, Utah State
Whitney Walls, UTSA

All-Freshmen Team
Elle Brainard, Utah State
Annie Kunes, UTSA
Michaela Leonard, San Jose State
Katelyn Peterson, Idaho
Kylie Schott, UTSA
Michele Swope, Denver

WAC Player of the Year: McKenzie Adams, UTSA
WAC Libero of the Year: Annie Kunes, UTSA
WAC Freshman of the Year: Elle Brainard, Utah State
WAC Coach of the Year: Grayson DuBose, Utah State

Adams Named Western Athletic Conference Player of the Year

  

 

 

Adams named Western Athletic Conference Player of the Year

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. – UTSA junior McKenzie Adams was named Western Athletic Conference Player of the Year, the league office announced on Sunday in conjunction with the all-conference release.

Adams, who was also a first-team honoree, was one of five Roadrunners honored in a vote by the league's coaches. Freshman Annie Kunes was tabbed WAC Libero of the Year and was joined on the second team by senior Whitney Walls and junior Brandy Huskey, while Kunes and Kylie Schott were selected to the All-Freshman Team.

Adams, a 6-foot-3 outside hitter from Schertz, Texas, becomes the fourth conference Player of the Year selection in program history and first since Tamara Luckemeyer earned her second Southland Conference Player of the Year honor in 1999. She also became the third player in WAC history to be named Player of the Week five times during the season (Kanani Danielson, Hawai`i, 2009/Pauline Manser, New Mexico, 1991). Adams leads the league with 4.88 points and 4.37 kills per set while her 3.77 digs per frame is good for fifth. She also leads UTSA with 19 double-doubles, including two 20-20 matches (26 kills, 20 digs vs. UAB on Aug. 24/23 digs, 20 kills at Seattle on Sept. 27) this fall.

Kunes earned the league's first-ever Libero of the Year award and third in school history (Kelsey Jewasko (2008/'10). The Fontana, Wis., native leads the WAC with 4.99 digs per set and her 5.39 digs per panel in conference-only matches ranks fourth all-time in the league's history. She has amassed 454 stops, including a season-high 29 in a four-set victory over Denver on Nov. 8. Kunes has collected 15 or more digs in 23 contests this fall.

Walls, who was a preseason All-WAC selection, has garnered all-conference accolades in all four seasons at UTSA. The Arlington, Texas, native, who was a first-team All-Southland selection a year ago, ranked ninth in the circuit with 3.42 points and 3.06 winners per frame in conference-only contests, while her 2.84 kills per set overall stands second on the Roadrunners. Walls has racked up 1,213 winners in her career, which ranks ninth in the program annals.

Huskey, a native of Columbus, Texas, picked up her first conference honor in her first campaign as a setter at the collegiate level. She runs point for the league's top attacking club and has handed out 10.83 assists per panel, which ranks second in the WAC. Meanwhile, Huskey has accumulated 16 double-doubles, which is good for second on the club, and dished out a season-high 59 helpers in UTSA's five-set win over UTEP on Sept. 1.

Schott rounds out the team's honorees. The Cypress, Texas, native ranks seventh in the league in blocks per stanza (1.06) and eighth in hitting percentage (.315). She established season highs of 11 kills against Belmont (Sept. 1), eight total blocks against UAB (Aug. 24) and four solo blocks against Texas State (Sept. 21).

UTSA (20-8), the No. 3 seed at this week's WAC Tournament at the Convocation Center, will open play at 12 p.m. on Monday against sixth-seeded San Jose State (14-15). The Roadrunners swept the season series, dropping just one set to the Spartans.

-UTSA-

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UTSA to open Western Athletic Conference Tournament play on Monday

 

OPENING SERVE: No. 3 UTSA (20-8) opens play in its first and only Western Athletic Conference Tournament on Monday, Nov. 19 against sixth-seeded San Jose State (14-15). First serve is slated for 12 p.m. at the Convocation Center. All-session and single-session tickets for the 2012 WAC Tournament may be purchased by calling 210-458-UTSA (8872), by visiting goUTSA.com or in person at the Convocation Center Box Office beginning one hour prior to the first serve.

QUICK HITTERS:
    •    UTSA has won seven consecutive matches
    •    The Roadrunners are 12-2 at home this season
    •    UTSA has earned two berths to the NCAA Tournament (2000/2010)
    •    UTSA finished in a second-place tie in its first and only season in the WAC, but the Roadrunners received the third seed following a draw by the conference office
    •    UTSA and San Jose State has met twice this season with the Roadrunners sweeping the season series
    •    The Birds have won six of the seven sets between the two clubs this season
    •    Today’s match marks the fifth meeting between the two teams and the four previous meetings were split
    •    The Roadrunners have not lost to the Spartans since Sept. 8, 2006
    •    UTSA is 1-1 on Mondays this fall
    •    Junior McKenzie Adams was named the WAC Player of the Year, while freshman Annie Kunes earned the WAC Libero of the Year award
    •    Adams, who was named WAC Player of the Week five times this fall, is UTSA’s fourth conference Player of the Year award and first since Tamara Luckemeyer was named Southland Conference Player of the Year in 1999
    •    Kunes earned the third conference Libero of the Year award in program history
    •    UTSA ranks third in the nation with 18.88 digs per set
    •    The Roadrunners also lead the WAC in kills (14.47) and assists (13.34) per set
    •    Adams is 37 kills away from 1,000 in her career and one away from 700 in her time as a Roadrunner
    •    Senior Whitney Walls’ 1,213 career kills ranks 10th all-time in program history
    •    Senior Brittney Malloy’s 389 total blocks are third all-time in program annals
    •    Head coach Laura Neugebauer-Groff has led UTSA to three-straight 20-win seasons for the first time in her career
    •    Neugebauer-Groff has accumulated a 444-223 overall record in her 19 seasons as a head coach and a 188-161 mark in her 11 campaigns at UTSA

SCOUTING SAN JOSE STATE: San Jose State comes into the WAC Tournament as the No. 6 seed. The Spartans, who have lost three of their last five contests, have recorded a 14-15 overall record and finished conference play tied for sixth with a 9-9 mark. Mary Alice O’Reilly leads San Jose State with 3.26 kills per set and a .353 hitting percentage. Meanwhile, Michaela Leonard leads the WAC with 11.17 assists per panel, but the Spartans are hitting only .189 as a team this season. Monday’s match marks the fifth meeting between San Jose State and UTSA with the two teams splitting the first four contests. However, the Roadrunners swept the season series, dropping only one set. The quarterfinal matchup marks the second meeting in the Alamo City between the clubs. UTSA defeated the Spartans in four sets on Sept. 15.

WRAPPING UP THE REGULAR SEASON: UTSA closed out the regular season last Thursday with a sweep of San Jose State at Spartan Gym in San Jose, Calif. The Roadrunners received 17 kills and 12 digs from junior McKenzie Adams and junior Brandy Huskey handed out a match-high 42 assists while guiding the Birds to a .360 hitting percentage. In the final set, UTSA hit a season-best .633 after racking up 19 kills in 30 errorless swings.

ADAMS NAMED WAC PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Junior McKenzie Adams highlighted five UTSA players who earned All-Western Athletic Conference honors, as announced Sunday, Nov. 18 by the league office. Adams was named the conference’s Player of the Year, while freshman Annie Kunes collected Libero of the Year honors. Adams also was the lone first-team All-WAC selection, but senior Whitney Walls, junior Brandy Huskey and Kunes earned second team honors. Meanwhile, Kunes and Kylie Schott both landed on the All-Freshman Team.

ADAMS COLLECTS FINAL WAC WEEKLY HONOR: Junior McKenzie Adams was named the WAC Player of the Week after racking up her team-leading 19th double-double of the season in UTSA’s sweep of San Jose State last Thursday. The 6-foot-3 outside hitter, who became just the third player (Kanani Danielson, Hawai`i, 2009/Pauline Manser, New Mexico, 1991) in the league’s history to be named WAC Player of the Week five times during a season, posted a match-high 17 kills and a dozen digs against the Spartans. She also hit at a .424 clip and added two solo blocks, a pair of assists and a service ace.

UTSA RIDES SEVEN-MATCH WINNING STREAK INTO WAC TOURNAMENT: The Roadrunners will take a season-long seven-match winning streak into this week’s WAC Tournament. UTSA’s streak has included four sweeps and the Roadrunners have needed no more than four sets to dispose of their opponents, dropping only three sets along the way. UTSA’s last loss was a five-frame setback at I-35 rival Texas State on Oct. 20.

HOME SWEET HOME: UTSA is 12-2 in its 14 contests at the Convocation Center this season. The Roadrunners’ only losses at home came against Rice (Aug. 28) and WAC Regular-Season Champion Utah State (Sept. 13). Since the loss to the Aggies, UTSA has won its last nine contests within the friendly confines. In their 30-year history, the Roadrunners are 246-137 (.642) all-time in the Convocation Center.

TOURNAMENT RUNS: In each of the past two seasons, UTSA has reached the conference tournament championship match. Two years ago, the Roadrunners rallied to win the Southland Conference Tournament title in a five-set thriller over Central Arkansas, while last season, the Birds were bested by I-35 rival Texas State in the final tilt.

TO THE OUTSIDE: Since junior McKenzie Adams was moved back to the outside hitter position before the first of this season, she has dominated the competition. Adams, who played the majority of last season as a middle hitter, was named the 2012 WAC Player of the Year and earned the fourth conference player of the year award in program history after leading all players in kills and points per set. The Schertz native is averaging 4.88 points and 4.37 kills per panel and also ranks fifth in the league with 3.77 digs per frame. Last season Adams was named the Southland Conference Newcomer of the Year and first-team All-Southland. Two years ago, at Virginia, Adams garnered NCAA East Region and Atlantic Coast Conference Freshman of the Year accolades.

COMPARING ADAMS TO OTHER CONFERENCE PLAYERS OF THE YEAR: Below is a comparison between junior McKenzie Adams and the other three conference player of the year winners in UTSA history.

NAME (YEAR)    MP-SP    K    KPS    PCT.    A    SA    DIGS    DPS    BS    BA
Leslie Dodson (1992)    41-118    552    4.68    .306    25    47    468    3.97    23    58
Tamara Luckemeyer (1998)    28-101    513    5.08    .225    15    20    384    3.80    6    53
Tamara Luckemeyer (1999)    29-110    567    5.15    .282    22    71    359    3.26    11    52
McKenzie Adams (2012)    28-102    446    4.37    .221    29    19    385    3.77    9    48

ANCHORING THE BACK LINE: Freshman Annie Kunes made an immediate impact with the Roadrunners this fall. The Fontana, Wis., native was tabbed the 2012 WAC Libero of the Year after leading the league with 4.99 digs per set. She has anchored the Roadrunners’ digging efforts to an 18.88 clip per match, which ranks third in the nation. Kunes posted a season-high 29 digs in a four-set victory over Denver on Nov. 8.

KNOCKING DOWN THE WALLS: Senior Whitney Walls became the 13th player to record 1,000 career kills on Sept. 1 in a five-set victory over UTEP. The Arlington native enters the WAC Tournament with 1,213 career winners, which places her 10th on the program’s all-time list. Walls ranks second on the Roadrunners this season with 2.84 kills per set, while her .259 hitting percentage leads all of UTSA’s outside hitters.

BLOCK PARTY: Senior Brittney Malloy quietly has become one of the top blockers in UTSA history. The local product out of Warren High School has accumulated 389 total blocks, which ranks her third in school annals, and 339 block assists (third all-time). Her 50 solo blocks is good for ninth in the school records. Malloy ranks second on the team with 0.96 blocks per set this season.

ONE YEAR WONDER: UTSA has made the most of its first and only season in the Western Athletic Conference. The Roadrunners have etched their name in the record books both as a team and individually this fall. The Birds have amassed 1,257 digs in league-only matches this season, which is the most by any team in conference history. Below is a look at where UTSA’s season statistics ranks among other performances in the WAC’s history.

    TEAM RECORDS (WAC matches)    INDIVIDUAL RECORDS (WAC matches)
    1,257 digs - 1st    Annie Kunes, 302 digs - 3rd
    883 assists - 3rd    Annie Kunes, 5.39 dps - 4th
    949 kills - 5th    McKenzie Adams, 303 kills - 4th

HOW SWEEP IT IS: UTSA has swept 10 opponents this season. Eight of those sweeps have come against league opponents, including two each against both Louisiana Tech and UT Arlington. The Roadrunners also swept San Jose State, Seattle, Texas State and Utah State in league action. UTSA’s two non-conference sweeps came against Belmont and Houston Baptist.

BEATING THE WAC: UTSA won at least one match against all nine of the other Western Athletic Conference teams this season. Meanwhile, the Roadrunners swept the season series against Louisiana Tech, Seattle, San Jose State and UT Arlington.

COMING FROM BEHIND: The Roadrunners have registered six come-from-behind victories this season, including three in the last month. UTSA dropped the first set against UAB (Aug. 24), Middle Tennessee (Aug. 25), UTEP (Sept. 1), Idaho (Oct. 25), Denver (Nov. 8) and New Mexico State (Nov. 10) but rallied to win all six of those matches, including four in four sets.

THE 20-20-20 CLUB: UTSA is enjoying its most successful three-year run under head coach Laura Neugebauer-Groff. The Roadrunners have won at least 20 matches in the last three campaigns, thanks to a 20-8 mark this fall. The current three-year run, which is the best in program history since UTSA won at least 20 matches from 1987-90 (33/35/25/26), has produced one regular-season conference championship (2011), one conference tournament title (2010) and one trip to the NCAA Tournament (2010). Additionally, 15 players have earned all-conference honors, including two Liberos of the Year, one Newcomer of the Year, one Player of the Year and a Setter of the Year in the past three seasons.

- UTSA -

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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 Three Pioneers Earn All-WAC Honors

Senior Faimie Kingsley and junior Colleen King earned First Team honors, while freshman Michele Swope was named to the All-Freshmen Team

 

SAN ANTOINO, Texas – Three University of Denver volleyball student-athletes were honored tonight at the annual Western Athletic Conference postseason banquet with All-WAC honors, as selected by the league’s head coaches. Senior Faimie Kingsley (Brooklyn, N.Y.) and junior Colleen King (Steamboat Springs, Colo.) were both named First-Team All-WAC recipients, while freshmanMichele Swope (Orlando, Fla.) was named to the All-Freshmen Team.

 

“It’s very gratifying and I am proud to see Fai, Colleen and Michele receive such an honor because I know how hard they have worked this season,” said head coach Jesse Mahoney. “Fai has battled through two major leg surgeries to have a dominant senior year, both as an attacker and one of the elite blockers in the conference and the NCAA. Colleen spent this past spring re-tooling her arm swing and it paid off with a breakout season leading our team in kills and total points. Michele took on a role as a six-rotation OH this season that most freshmen would struggle with and did it with great success.”

 

Kingsley currently ranks second on the team with 272 kills, but leads the way with 173 total blocks. She became DU’s all-time Division I leader in career blocks with 485. King leads the Pioneers with 336 kills for a 3.14 kills/set average and has 103 total blocks on the season. In her freshman season, Swope is third on the team with 248 kills and 205 digs.

 

FIRST TEAM

McKenzie Adams, UTSA

Allison (Walker) Baker, Idaho

Meredith Hays, New Mexico State

Colleen King, Denver

Faimie Kingsley, Denver

Paige Neves, Utah State

Mary Alice O’Reilly, San Jose State

Rachel Orr, Utah State

Alyssa Schultz, Idaho

Desiree Scott, New Mexico State

Shay Sorensen, Utah State

Josselyn White, Utah State

 

SECOND TEAM

Elle Brainard, Utah State

Amari Deardorff, Texas State

Kaytlyn Dill, Seattle U

Taylor Gross, UT Arlington

Ashlee Hilbun, Texas State

Brandy Huskey, UTSA

Annie Kunes, UTSA

Michaela Leonard, San Jose State

Lauren Loerch, New Mexico State

Alex Sele, Idaho

Kaitlyn Van Hoff, Utah State

Whitney Walls, UTSA

 

ALL FRESHMEN-TEAM

Elle Brainard, Utah State

Annie Kunes, UTSA

Michaela Leonard, San Jose State

Katelyn Peterson, Idaho

Kylie Schott, UTSA

Michele Swope, Denver

 

WAC Player of the Year: McKenzie Adams, UTSA

WAC Libero of the Year: Annie Kunes, UTSA

WAC Freshman of the Year: Elle Brainard, Utah State

WAC Coach of the Year: Grayson DuBose, Utah State

 

The Pioneers earned a No. 5 seed in the 2012 Western Athletic Conference Volleyball Tournament that will be held in San Antonio, Texas. The Pioneers will face New Mexico State on Monday, Nov. 19 at 4 p.m. MT in the third match of the day.

 

The 2012 tournament will consist of seven matches in three sessions (one session per day). Ticket prices are as follows:

All-Session: $21

Single-Session Adult: $10

Single-Session Senior/Youth: $7

Single-Session WAC Students: $5

 

Children two and under do not need a ticket. Tickets can be purchased online by clicking here or by calling (210) 458-UTSA.

 

The complete tournament schedule is listed below.

 

2012 WAC Tournament Schedule

Monday, Nov. 19 (Quarterfinals)

Match 1 - No. 6 San Jose State vs. No. 3 UTSA, 11 a.m. MT

Match 2 - No. 7 Texas State vs. No. 2 Idaho, 1:30 p.m. MT

Match 3 - No. 5 Denver vs. No. 4 New Mexico State, 4 p.m. MT

Match 4 - No. 8 UT Arlington vs. No. 1 Utah State, 6:30 p.m. MT

 

Tuesday, Nov. 20 (Semifinals)

Match 5 - Winner Match 1 vs. Winner Match 2, 3 p.m. MT

Match 6 - Winner Match 3 vs. Winner Match 4, 5:30 p.m. MT

 

Wednesday, Nov. 21 (Championship)

Match 7 - Winner Match 5 vs. Winner Match 6, 3 p.m. MT (ESPNU)

 

(Tournament site is central time)

 

For more information, visit the WAC Tournament Central page at http://j.mp/XhtLOc.

 

Visit DenverPioneers.com for complete coverage of all 17 of DU’s NCAA Division I sports.

 

Deardorff, Hilbun Honored At WAC Volleyball Banquet

Deardorff, Hilbun Honored At WAC Volleyball Banquet

 

San Antonio, Texas – Amari Deardorff and Ashlee Hilbun were both among the players honored at the 2012 WAV Volleyball Banquet that took place on Sunday night in San Antonio on the campus of UTSA. The pair of juniors were named the All-WAC Second Team after leading the Bobcats to a 9-9 record in conference and a No. 7 seed in the WAC Tournament that begins tomorrow.

 

Deardorff, a Preseason All-WAC selection, took home her third career all-conference recognition after previous being named All-Southland Conference twice in her career. The right side hitter led the team with 192 kills (2.95 kills/set) during conference play while also hitting a team-best .251. Deardorff also recorded 45 total blocks (0.69 blocks/set), the third highest mark on the team, and added 50 digs.

 

For her career, Deardorff has also collected two all-tournament team honors to go along with two player of the week accolades.

 

Hilbun received her first career all-conference recognition after showing great versatility throughout the season. During conference play, Hilbun led the Bobcats with 66 blocks (0.97 blocks/set), while ranking third on the team with 167 kills (2.46 kills/set). The middle blocker also had the third highest dig total with 159 (2.34 digs/set) and second most aces with 13 (0.19 aces/set).

 

For her career, Hilbun has now received four all-tournament team honors to go along with a player of the week recognition.

 

First Team
McKenzie Adams, UTSA
Allison (Walker) Baker, Idaho
Meredith Hays, New Mexico State
Colleen King, Denver
Faimie Kingsley, Denver
Paige Neves, Utah State
Mary Alice O’Reilly, San Jose State
Rachel Orr, Utah State
Alyssa Schultz, Idaho
Desiree Scott, New Mexico State
Shay Sorensen, Utah State
Josselyn White, Utah State

Second Team
Elle Brainard, Utah State
Amari Deardorff, Texas State
Kaytlyn Dill, Seattle U
Taylor Gross, UT Arlington
Ashlee Hilbun, Texas State
Brandy Huskey, UTSA
Annie Kunes, UTSA
Michaela Leonard, San Jose State
Lauren Loerch, New Mexico State
Alex Sele, Idaho
Kaitlyn Van Hoff, Utah State
Whitney Walls, UTSA

All-Freshmen Team
Elle Brainard, Utah State
Annie Kunes, UTSA
Michaela Leonard, San Jose State
Katelyn Peterson, Idaho
Kylie Schott, UTSA
Michele Swope, Denver

WAC Player of the Year: McKenzie Adams, UTSA
WAC Libero of the Year: Annie Kunes, UTSA
WAC Freshman of the Year: Elle Brainard, Utah State
WAC Coach of the Year: Grayson DuBose, Utah State

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Top-Seeded Utah State Tangles With Eighth-Seeded UT Arlington Monday In WAC Volleyball Tournament

 

 

Top-Seeded Utah State Tangles With Eighth-Seeded UT Arlington Monday In WAC Volleyball Tournament
Aggies In Pursuit Of Second WAC Tournament Title In Three Years

2012 WAC VOLLEYBALL TOURNAMENT
Monday-Wednesday, Nov. 19-21
UTSA Convocation Center (4,000)
San Antonio, Texas

Monday, Nov. 19
6-San Jose State vs. 3-UTSA - 11 a.m. (MT)
7-Texas State vs. 2-Idaho - 1:30 p.m. (MT)
5-Denver vs. 4-New Mexico State - 4 p.m. (MT)
8-UT Arlington vs. 1-UTAH STATE - 6:30 p.m. (MT)

Tuesday, Nov. 20
6/3 Winner vs. 7/2 Winner - 3 p.m. (MT)
5/4 Winner vs. 8/1 Winner - 5:30 p.m. (MT)

Wednesday, Nov. 21
WAC Championship Match - 3 p.m. (MT) - ESPNU

Follow all the action with “Live Stats” and “Watch Live” links 
at UtahStateAggies.com



STORYLINES
• Utah State volleyball is the number one seed for the 2012 Western Athletic Conference Tournament and will take on eighth-seeded UT Arlington in the quarterfinals on Monday, Nov. 19 at 6:30 p.m. (MT)... The eight-team, single-elimination tournament is hosted by UTSA and all matches are held at the UTSA Convocation Center (4,000).
• All seven matches of the WAC Volleyball Tournament will be streamed via the Internet with live video along with live stats of every match... Fans can follow the action with “Live Stats” and “Watch Live” links at www.UtahStateAggies.com.
• The Aggies earned the top spot by winning their first WAC regular-season title.
• USU is in pursuit of its second WAC Tournament title in three years, winning the 2010 WAC Tournament at Las Vegas, Nev., knocking off top-seed and third-ranked Hawai’i in three sets.
• The Aggies are 5-5 all-time in WAC Tournament action, having played in two conference title matches, winning it all in 2010 as the third-seed... USU also advanced to the championship match in 2005 as the second-seed, falling to top-seeded Hawai’i.
• This is the first WAC regular-season title for the Aggies, adding to Utah State’s WAC Tournament title won in 2010... USU’s last regular-season conference title was winning the Eastern Division of the Big West in 1999.
• The Aggies’ 15 WAC wins are a school record for most WAC wins as well as most conference wins, as USU topped its previous mark of 12 Big West Conference wins in 2001.
• USU’s 18 conference matches played is also tied for the most in school history, joining 1990-1995 and 2001-2004 in the Big West.
• Utah State’s .833 (15-3) conference winning percentage is its highest since 1981 when USU had a .900 league winning percentage, going 9-1 in Intermountain Conference action.
• USU has now won 20 matches in a season twice under head coach Grayson DuBose, joining the 24 wins in Utah State’s 2010 WAC Tournament title season... Overall, the Aggies have won 20 matches in a season for the 11th time in school history.
• Utah State enters the WAC Tournament winning seven of its last eight matches, having a six-match win streak halted with a loss at San Jose State on Nov. 10, and the Aggies have won 12 of their last 15 overall matches.

LIVE STATS 
Live stats for all the WAC Tournament matches are available via “Live Stats” links at www.utahstateaggies.com, the official web site of USU athletics.

WAC TO STREAM VOLLEYBALL TOURNAMENT FROM UTSA
The Western Athletic Conference, in conjunction with its Web site partner NeuLion, has announced it will stream the first two days of the 2012 WAC Volleyball Tournament.  Viewers can sign up by visiting www.WAC.tv.
 
The volleyball tournament will be held in San Antonio, Texas, Nov. 19-21.  The top eight teams will advance to the tournament with all seeds and bracketing determined by Nov. 15.  The quarterfinals will take place on Monday, Nov. 19 while the two semifinal matches begin at 4:00 p.m. CT on Tuesday.  The championship final will not be streamed as it will be televised by ESPNU on Wednesday and will be streamed on ESPN3.com.
 
An all-tournament pass that includes the six matches can be purchased for $17.95.  Individual matches may be purchased for $8.95 each.  More information and how to subscribe to any of these video streaming events can be found at www.WAC.tv.

UTAH STATE IN THE WAC TOURNAMENT
Utah State enters with a 5-5 all-time record in the WAC Tournament. Last year, USU was the fourth-seed and lost to fifth-seeded Fresno State (3-0). Utah State won the 2010 WAC Tournament as the third-seed with wins against Nevada (3-1), New Mexico State (3-2) and No. 3 Hawai’i (3-0), and advanced to the 2005 championship match as the second seed before losing to top-seeded Hawai’i (3-0). USU began the 2005 tournament by defeating seventh-seeded Fresno State (3-1) in the first round and third-seeded New Mexico State (3-2) in the semifinals. In 2006, Utah State was the sixth-seed in the tournament and lost to third-seeded Idaho (3-1). In 2007, USU was the third-seed and lost to sixth-seeded San Jose State (3-2), and in 2008 USU was the fourth-seed and lost to fifth-seeded San Jose State (3-2).

AGGIES ONE OF ONLY THREE TEAMS TO WIN WAC TOURNAMENT TITLE
In 2010, Utah State became only the third team to ever win the WAC Tournament Championship as Hawai’i had won 10 straight tournament titles prior to 2010, while BYU won the first two. Hawai’i won its 11th WAC Tournament title last season, before leaving the WAC for the Big West Conference.

LOOKING AT UTAH STATE 
USU has won seven of its last eight and 12 of its last 15 matches, sweeping Texas State in the Aggies’ regular-season finale on Nov. 14, honoring its three seniors and capping a 10-4 home schedule... Utah State is 20-8 overall after posting a 15-3 WAC ledger.

Utah State has won 11 of its last 14 matches overall... The Aggies’ 19 wins this season is also the second-most during USU head coach Grayson DuBose’s seven seasons at the helm of the Aggie program behind 24 victories in 2010.

The Aggies’ 15 WAC wins is a school record for most WAC wins as well as most conference wins, as USU topped its previous mark of 12 Big West Conference wins in 2001... USU’s 18 conference matches played is also tied for the most in school history, joining 1990-1995 and 2001-2004 in the Big West... Utah State’s .833 conference winning percentage is its highest since 1981 when USU had a .900 league winning percentage, going 9-1 in Intermountain Conference action.

USU has now won 20 matches in a season twice under head coach Grayson DuBose, joining the 24 wins in Utah State’s 2010 WAC Tournament title season... Overall, the Aggies have won 20 matches in a season for the 11th time in school history.

Utah State continues to lead the WAC overall in blocking at 3.01 blocks per set and the Aggies also are second in the league in WAC only matches at 2.94 blocks per set... USU’s defense also leads the conference in opponent hitting percentage (.160) and in WAC only matches (.145)... Offensively, USU is third in overall attack percentage (.222) and fourth in WAC only attack percentage (.220)... Utah State is also sixth in overall kills per set (12.58) and sixth for WAC only kills per set (12.91)... The Aggies also are sixth in the league overall with 14.33 digs per set while ranking third in WAC only matches with 15.95 dps... USU is also seventh in the WAC for overall assists per set (11.66) and tied for sixth for league only (12.00)... A 1.17 aces per set ranks the Aggies tied for third in the WAC overall while they are fifth in conference only matches with 1.14.

Senior outside hitter Josselyn White (Smithfield, Utah) set a school-record for attack percentage in USU’s win over LA Tech on Oct. 27, hitting .812 with 13 kills in 16 attacks with no errors... White has missed a total of five matches plus part of three others in different stretches with illness... She is ninth in the WAC for overall points per set (3.40) and 10th overall for kills per set (2.84)... White is also climbing USU’s career block assists and total blocks lists.

Senior opposite side hitter Shay Sorensen (North Ogden, Utah) is sixth in the WAC in overall kills per set (3.18) and sixth in WAC only kills per set (3.40), as well as fifth for overall points per set (3.90) and fourth for conference only matches for points per set (4.10)... Sorensen has a team-leading 11 double-doubles on the season... Like White, Sorensen is also climbing USU’s career lists, cracking into top 10 kills list in the regular-season finale, as well as already breaking into USU’s top 10 lists for career block assists and total blocks.

Redshirt-freshman middle blocker Elle Brainard (Saratoga Springs, Utah) is second in the WAC in overall blocks per set (1.43), while ranking third in conference only matches (1.38)... Brainard also is ninth in the WAC overall in hitting percentage (.296)... With 149 total blocks, Brainard is third in the league for total blocks as well also ranking fourth in the league for WAC only matches with 90 total blocks... Brainard is 17th in the most recent NCAA statistics with 1.44 blocks per set.

Brainard now has 143 blocks on the season, moving up to No. 3 on the Aggies’ single-season block assists list and now has 149 total blocks, moving up to No. 4 on the single-season total blocks list.

Sophomore setter Paige Neves (Otto, Wyo.) is third in both the WAC overall and WAC stats for assists per set, with 10.28 aps overall and 10.66 aps in league matches... Neves became the ninth different Aggie player to reach 1,000 assists in a season, and the milestone was accomplished for the 16th time in school history... She also became the 12th Aggie volleyball player to reach the 1,000 career assists milestone when USU played in San Diego, Calif., and now with 1,912 career assists, Neves becomes just the ninth player in USU history with 1,500 career assists and is No. 9 on the USU career assists list... Neves needs just 53 assists to catch Dominique Arsenault (2003-05) for the No. 8 spot, with 1,965 assists. 

Sophomore middle blocker Kaitlyn VanHoff (Draper, Utah) is second on the team and fourth in the WAC overall for blocks with 1.32 blocks per set, ranking fifth overall in the league with 137 total blocks... VanHoff is fifth in WAC only matches with 1.26 blocks per set... She also is 37th in last week’s NCAA stats for blocks per set with 1.31 bps... VanHoff is also climbing up the Aggies’ single-season block assists and total blocks lists, sitting at No. 8 on the block assists list with 128 block assists and tied for No. 9 on the total blocks list with 137.

Sophomore outside hitter Rachel Orr (Thatcher, Ariz.) is eighth in the WAC for both overall kills per set (3.00) and league-only matches for kills per set (3.12), as well as 10th in WAC only matches for points per set (3.40).

Sophomore libero Ashlan Rogers (Highland, Utah) is sixth overall in the WAC in digs per set (3.70) as well as fourth in the WAC in conference only matches with 4.08 digs per set... Rogers also is sixth in the WAC overall in service aces per set (0.26)... On USU’s single-season digs list, Rogers is No. 8 with 385 so far this season.

DuBOSE MAGIC INGREDIENT TO REGULAR-SEASON TITLE
This is the first WAC regular-season title for the Aggies, adding to Utah State’s WAC Tournament title won in 2010... USU’s last conference title was winning the Eastern Division of the Big West in 1999 under Tom Peterson... Current USU head coach Grayson DuBose was an assistant on that team, and has now been a part of the last two conference titles.  

TURNING PAIGE 1,000 IN SINGLE-SEASON RECORD BOOK
Sophomore setter Paige Neves became the ninth different Aggie player to reach 1,000 assists in a season, and the milestone was accomplished for the 16th time in school history, as Chelsea Fowles reached the feat four times, Lori Sargent-McKnight accomplished it three times, Carrie Steverson reached it twice, as did Paige’s sister Chelsi Neves, while Andrea Delsigne, Randi Winn, Mindi Jackson and Stephanie Maurer all reach it once.

Earlier this season Paige Neves became the 12th Aggie player to reach the 1,000 career assists milestone... Now with 1,912 career assists, Neves becomes just the ninth player in USU history with 1,500 career assists and is No. 9 on the USU career assists list...  Neves needs just 53 assists to catch Dominique Arsenault (2003-05) for the No. 8 spot, with 1,965 assists.

SINGLE-SEASON Assists
1)    1442    Andrea Delsigne    2003
2)    1441    Chelsi Neves    2000
3)    1368    Chelsi Neves    2001
4)    1340    Randi Winn    1993
5)    1255    Lori Sargent-McKnight    1998
6)    1239    Chelsea Fowles    2010
7)    1192    Mindi Jackson    1996
8)    1157    Lori Sargent-McKnight    1997
9)    1136    Carrie Steverson    1989
10)    1133    Chelsea Fowles    2007
11)    1123    Chelsea Fowles    2009
12)    1061    Carrie Steverson    1990
13)    1054    Stephanie Maurer    1986
14)    1038    Paige Neves    2012
15)    1028    Lori Sargent-McKnight    1999
16)    1025    Chelsea Fowles    2008

CAREER Assists
1)    4520    Chelsea Fowles    2007-10
2)    3942    Carrie Steverson    1988-91
3)    3533    Lori Sargent-McKnight    1996-99
4)    2809    Chelsi Neves    2000-01
5)    2618    Stephanie Maurer    1984-87
6)    2265    Andrea Delsigne    2001-03
7)    2025    Randi Winn    1992-93
8)    1965    Dominique Arsenault    2003-05
9)    1912    Paige Neves    2009-Pres.
10)    1495    Kalei Arnold    1992-95
11)    1280    Mindi Jackson    1995-96
12)    1139    Heather Hillier    2005-08
13)    937    Zuzana Cerniansa    2002-05

WIN STREAKING ON THE ROAD
USU’s loss at San Jose State on Nov. 10 snapped the Aggies’ eight-match road win streak, which was the most for an Aggie team in one season in school history, bettering the previous mark of seven road wins in a row, won by the 1978 squad... The overall longest road winning streak for road matches is 10, as the 1977 team won its last three matches on the road before the 1978 squad’s aforementioned seven-match win streak.

WHITE’S SCHOOL RECORD
USU senior outside hitter Josselyn White set a school record for attack percentage in USU’s win over LA Tech on Oct. 27 hitting .812 with 13 kills in 16 attacks with no errors... White’s .812 is tops in the WAC this season and is the highest by any WAC player since Boise State’s Sadie Maughan had .867 in a 2010 match, as well as the highest by a player in a WAC match since Anna Callis of New Mexico State hit .875 against Utah State in 2006... The .812 by White bettered the previous school record for single-match hitting percentage with 15-19 attempts, previously held by Lori Sargent-McKnight who hit .727 (14-0-19) at North Texas on Nov. 9, 1996.

20-WIN SEASONS GOING FOR 20
USU has 20 wins this season, marking the second time to win at least 20 matches in a season under head coach Grayson DuBose, winning 24 in 2010... The regular-season finale victory over Texas State gave the Aggies their 11th 20-win season in school history.

AGGIES SEVENTH, BRAINARD 17th, VANHOFF 37th IN BLOCKING IN NCAA STATS
In the NCAA statistics as of Nov. 12, Utah State leads the WAC and is seventh in the NCAA statistics with 3.00 blocks per set... Washington leads the nation with 3.29 bps... Individually, redshirt-freshman Elle Brainard (Saratoga Springs, Utah) is 17th in the NCAA with a 1.44 blocks per set average, while sophomore middle blocker Kaitlyn VanHoff (Draper, Utah) is 37th with a 1.31 bps average.

SINGLE-SEASON RECORD LIST WATCH
Several Aggie players have broken into the USU single-season top 10 record lists, including redshirt-freshman middle blocker Elle Brainard, who has 143 block assists this season, moving up to third on the USU block assists list, as well as 149 total blocks, good for fourth on the Aggies’ total blocks list... Sophomore middle blocker Kaitlyn VanHoff is eighth on the block assists list (128) and tied for ninth on the total blocks list (137)... Sophomore libero Ashlan Rogers has 385 digs this season, climbing to No. 8 on the single-season digs list. {See pg. 8 for complete single-season record watch list}

SORENSEN 11th, WHITE 12th WITH 800
Senior opposite side hitter Shay Sorensen became just the 11th player in USU history to reach the 800-kills plateau, doing so on Oct. 20 at Seattle, and fellow senior Josselyn White joined her in the 800-kills club two weeks later, reaching the milestone in the Aggies’ match at Denver on Nov. 1... With 10 kills in USU’s win over Texas State, Sorensen broke into the USU career top 10 kills list, now with 872, vaulting to tie for the No. 9 spot with Ingrid Roth (2002-05)... White has 840 career kills, needing 13 more to tie Niki Conner (1995-98) for No. 11 with 863 kills. 

Kills
1)    1813    Zuzana Cernianska    2002-05
2)    1463    Amy Crosbie    1997-00
3)    1431    Liz McArthur    2008-11
4)    1369    Amanda Nielson    2004-07
5)    1309    Erin Cartwright-Davis    2001-03
6)    1294    Denae Mohlman    1997-00
7)    984    Beth Hodge    2003-06
8)    971    Melissa Schoepf    1997-00
9)    872    Ingrid Roth    2002-05
    872    Shay Sorensen    2009-Pres.
11)    863    Niki Conner    1995-98
--    840    Josselyn White    2009-Pres.

WHITE ALSO IN UTAH STATE TOP 10 FOR BOTH ATTACKS AND BLOCKS, SORENSEN FOR BLOCKS
Senior outside hitter Josselyn White has climbed up to the No. 6 spot on the Utah State career attacks list, now with 2,969, passing Denae Mohlman (1997-2000) for No. 6 with 2,796 attacks, and needing 30 more to catch Erin Cartwright-Davis (2001-03) for No. 5 with 2,999 attacks.

White has also recently reached the USU top 10 for career total blocks, moving up to No. 7 with 315 total blocks, passing former teammate Shantell Durrant (2008-10) with 309 and Tiffany Kitley (1996-99) with 306... Now with 282 career block assists, White is in the No. 8 spot on the career block assists list, needing eight more to catch Erin Cartwright-Davis (2001-03) at No. 7 with 290... White also has 33 career solo blocks, needing four more to reach the No. 10 spot on the career solo block list, currently held by Ingrid Roth (2002-05) with 37.

Sorensen also has broken into the top 10 for both career block assists and career total blocks, as she has 277 block assists, good for No. 9, while ranking No. 10 on the total blocks list with 288.

BREAKING TRENDS
Utah State’s loss to Utah Valley on Oct. 9 was the first time this season that USU has lost when not only winning the first two sets but also when leading in blocks and attack percentage along with hitting .300 or better... Prior to the UVU loss, USU was 8-0 when winning the first two sets, 9-0 when leading in blocks and 11-0 when leading in attack percentage, as well as 1-0 when hitting .300 or better.

RUDE WELCOMING TO WAC NEWCOMERS
USU was a combined 9-1 against the WAC newcomers, sweeping the season series with everyone except UTSA, as the Aggies’  went 5-0 against the league newcomers in the first half of the conference schedule, beating UTSA (3-1) and Texas State (3-0) on Sept. 13 and 15, respectively, as well as Seattle (3-0) on Sept. 20, UT Arlington (3-0) on Sept. 29 and Denver (3-2) on Oct. 6... The Aggies’ win streak against the league newcomers was broken with their three-set loss to UTSA on Oct. 15, but USU bounced back to sweep both Seattle on Oct. 20 and UT Arlington on Oct. 25, as well as win at Denver in five on Nov. 1 and sweep Texas State in the regular-season finale on Nov. 14

UTAH STATE IN THE WAC
Utah State is 74-55 (.574) all-time in WAC play which includes a 44-20 (.688) home record and a 30-34 (.469) record on the road.

UTAH STATE IN THE DEE GLEN SMITH SPECTRUM
Utah State is 105-44 (.705) at home in the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum during the last 13 years, which includes a 76-37 (.673) record against conference opponents. 

DUBOSE FOR 100 PLEASE ALEX 
USU head coach Grayson DuBose earned his 100th career win with the Aggies’ win over Seattle on Sept. 20, 2012... DuBose, who is in his seventh-year as Aggie head coach, has a 112-97 (.536) record, coaching his 200th career match as USU head coach vs. San Jose State on Oct. 13, 2012... With USU’s four-set win at Cal State Fullerton on Sept. 17, 2011, DuBose moved ahead of former Aggie head coach Burt Fuller (2001-05) and into second-place all-time at USU for career wins... DuBose becomes just the second coaching position to reach 100 wins as Marilyn McReavy and Mary Jo Peppler hold the school record with 209 wins as they were co-head coaches from 1976-81. 

AGGIES AGAINST TOURNAMENT FIELD 
The Aggies are a combined 78-86 against the WAC Tournament field, but have a winning record against four teams, including Monday’s quarterfinal opponent UT Arlington, who USU is 9-5 against all-time winning the last two meetings.

8-UT ARLINGTON
All-Time: USU leads, 9-5
Season: USU 3-0 at Arlington on 9/29; USU 3-0 at Logan on 10/25
Streak: USU won two

2-IDAHO
All-Time: UI leads, 21-18
Season: UI 3-0 at Logan on 9/22; USU 3-2 at Moscow on 10/18
Streak: USU won one

3-UTSA
All-Time: USU leads, 3-1
Season: USU 3-1 at San Antonio on 9/13; UTSA 3-0 on 10/15
Streak: UTSA won one

4-NEW MEXICO STATE
All-Time: NMSU leads, 39-28
Season: USU 3-0 at Logan on 10/4; USU 3-1 at Las Cruces on 11/3
Streak: USU won three

5-DENVER
All-Time: USU leads, 3-0
Season: USU 3-2 at Logan on 10/6; USU 3-2 at Denver on 11/1
Streak: USU won three

6-SAN JOSE STATE
All-Time: SJSU leads, 19-13
Season: USU 3-0 at Logan on 10/13; SJSU 3-0 at San Jose on 11/10
Streak: SJSU won one

7-TEXAS STATE
All-Time: USU leads, 4-1
Season: USU 3-0 at San Marcos on 9/15; USU 3-0 at Logan on 11/14
Streak: USU won four

SCOUTING UT ARLINGTON - The Mavericks bring a 9-21 overall  record in the WAC Tournament after posting a 5-13 WAC ledger, capturing the eighth-seed with a 3-0 win over Louisiana Tech on Nov. 15, breaking away from a tie with Seattle entering Thursday’s final match as SU lost at Denver... The win over LA Tech snapped the Mavericks’ seven-match losing skein.

UTA’s top ranking in the WAC statistics is digs, as the Mavericks are third in the league overall with 15.67 digs per set while ranking fifth in the WAC only matches (15.62)... UT Arlington is sixth or lower in the other six categories for both overall and WAC only matches.

The Mavericks are led by sophomore middle blocker Taylor Gross with 2.42 kills per set, while fellow sophomore middle blocker Ashley Bennett and junior middle blocker Charmaine Whitmore share the team lead with a .227 attack percentage... Junior outside hitter Shelby Dickson is eighth in the WAC overall for digs per set with 3.63 dps... Sophomore setter Amanda Welsh is fifth in the WAC for overall assists per set (8.77), and is also fifth in the conference for aces per set (0.27).

UTA head coach Diane Seymour is in her ninth season with a 131-144 record.

USU VOLLEYBALL’S SHAY SORENSEN COLLECTS WAC PLAYER OF THE WEEK ACCOLADES TWICE
Utah State volleyball player Shay Sorensen has been named the Western Athletic Conference Volleyball Player of the Week twice this season, the first on Sept. 17 for the week of Sept. 10-16 and the second on Oct. 22 for the week of Oct. 15-21. These are the first two WAC honors of Sorensen’s career.

Sorensen, a senior opposite side hitter from North Ogden, Utah, earned the honor for the first time on Sept. 17 after she averaged 4.30 kills on .296 hitting, 3.30 digs and 0.60 blocks per set in a pair of road wins at UTSA and Texas State. She posted a pair of double-doubles to lead Utah State to its first 2-0 start to WAC action since 2007. In the Sept. 13 four-set win over UTSA, Sorensen logged 15 kills and 11 digs, adding a pair of blocks and a service ace. In the sweep at Texas State on Sept. 15, she tallied a match-high 15 kills on a season-high .353 hitting to go with 12 digs and two blocks.

The Aggie senior earned it a second time on Oct. 22 after she averaged 4.18 kills, 3.36 digs and 1.09 blocks per set. Sorensen posted double-doubles in two of the three matches in helping the Aggies to a 2-1 record, including winning two on the road to give Utah State its first six-match road win streak since 1978. She started the week with 15 kills and 11 digs, along with four blocks in a five-set loss to UTSA on Oct. 15. In the Oct. 18 five-set win at Idaho, Sorensen logged her team-leading 10th double-double of the season with 18 kills and tied a career-high with 17 digs to go along with five blocks. She then added 13 kills without posting any hitting errors for a .382 attack percentage to go with nine digs and three blocks in a sweep at Seattle U on Oct. 20.

Sorensen’s on Sept. 17 was the first of the season for the Aggies, and was the first for a USU vollleyball player since Liz McArthur earned the accolade last season on Oct. 17. 

KAITLYN VANHOFF NAMED WAC VOLLEYBALL PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Utah State volleyball player Kaitlyn VanHoff has been named the Western Athletic Conference Volleyball Player of the Week for the week of Oct. 1-7. This is VanHoff’s first-ever WAC Player of the Week honor.

VanHoff, a sophomore middle blocker (Draper, Utah) averaged a remarkable 2.12 blocks and 2.00 kills on .300 hitting as the Aggies went undefeated on the week. She posted a career-high .333 attack percentage and added seven total blocks as Utah State swept New Mexico State on Oct. 4, handing NM State its first conference loss of the season to take over first place in the WAC standings. Van Hoff then tied a career high with 10 block assists in five-set win over Denver on Oct. 6, registering four blocks in the third set alone. Van Hoff entered the week averaging 1.30 kills on .144 hitting and 1.21 blocks per set. 

JOSSELYN WHITE NAMED USU ATHLETE OF THE WEEK TWICE
Utah State volleyball player Josselyn White has been named the America First Credit Union Utah State Student-Athlete of the Week twice this season, earning the honors on Aug. 27 and Oct. 1. This award is voted on by a state-wide media panel.

White, a senior outside hitter from Smithfield, Utah (Sky View HS),  was the first USU student-athlete to earn the honor this school year, getting recognized after she was named to the Utah State Invitational, sponsored by Gossner Foods, all-tournament team in the season-opener weekend as she helped USU to a 3-1 record and a second-place finish. During the tournament, White hit .278 (43-13-108) with 43 kills, 34 digs and 10 blocks. White posted a career-high .500 attack percentage (14-0-28) in the win against Portland and logged a career-high 18 digs against Southern Utah.

The senior earned it a second time this season after she led USU to a pair of Western Athletic Conference road wins over the weekend of Sept. 27 and Sept. 29, with a four-set win over Louisiana Tech on Sept. 27 and a sweep at UT Arlington on Sept. 29. She tallied her fourth double-double of the season in the win over Louisiana Tech, posting a career-high 20 digs to go with 10 kills. White added a season-high 17 kills on a .429 attack percentage (17-2-35), her third-highest of the season in the sweep of UT Arlington. For the weekend, the senior had a .338 attack percentage (27-5-65), averaging 3.86 kills per set to go with a matching 3.86 digs per set average, adding 0.43 blocks per set and 0.29 aces per set.

These are White’s first two career USU Student-Athlete of the Week accolades. 

UTAH STATE VERSUS THE STATE OF UTAH
Utah State improved to 30-20 (.600) versus the state of Utah during the last 12 years after going 2-1 against in-state foes in the opening weekend... The Aggies have a 16-7 (.696) home record against in-state foes... Under seventh-year head coach Grayson DuBose, USU is 14-12 (.538) versus teams from the Beehive State, including an 8-6 (.571) record at home.

AGGIES NAMED TO ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAMS HISTORY
With two USU players named to the SDSU Aztec Challenge all-tournament team and three Aggie players being named to the USU Invitational sponsored by Gossner Foods all-Tournament team, Utah State adds to its collection of all-Tournament team honors... Here’s a closer look at the current Aggies’ all-Tournament team collection:


2012
SDSU Aztec Challenge
Rachel Orr - OH
Elle Brainard - MB

Utah State Invitational
Josselyn White - OH
Elle Brainard - MB
Ashlan Rogers - LIB

2011
Utah State Invitational
Shay Sorensen - OH
Josselyn White - OH - *MVP

2010 
Utah Classic
Josselyn White - OH

Montana Invitational
Shay Sorensen - OPP - *MVP

UTAH STATE RANKED 10TH IN THE NATION IN BLOCKING LAST SEASON
Utah State ranked 10th in the country in blocking (2.79) last season... Individually, middle blocker Kaitlyn VanHoff ranked 47th in the nation in blocking (1.19), while senior All-American outside hitter Liz McArthur ranked 82nd in the nation in kills per set (3.72) and 98th in points per set (4.17).

UTAH STATE LED THE WAC IN BLOCKING 
Utah State finished the 2011 season ranking first in the WAC in blocks (2.79), second in digs (15.05), sixth in hitting percentage (.168), seventh in kills (11.15), seventh in assists (10.38) and eighth in service aces (0.97). 

RECAPPING LAST SEASON 
Utah State finished the 2011 season with a 17-12 overall mark, posting an even 7-7 WAC record to tied for fourth in the conference... As the No. 4 seed, the Aggies lost to fifth-seeded Fresno State in three sets (25-18, 25-19, 25-10) in the quarterfinals of the WAC Tournament... Opposite side hitter Shay Sorensen earned second-team all-WAC honors following her junior season as she hit .202 and averaged 2.57 kills, 0.71 digs and 0.86 blocks per set... Setter Paige Neves was named to the WAC’s all-freshman team in 2011 after hitting .225 and averaging 8.83 assists, 2.48 digs and 0.71 blocks... Sorensen hit .202 last season and averaged 2.57 kills, 0.71 digs and 0.86 blocks per set... Neves ranked seventh in the WAC in assists at 8.83 per set and added 2.48 digs per set as well as 16 service aces, second among the USU returners... Outside hitter Josselyn White was among the WAC leaders statistically last year as she was ninth in kills (2.73), eighth in blocks (1.01) and seventh in points (3.45) per set... Libero Ashlan Rogers averaged 2.61 digs per set as well as leading the team with 23 service aces a season ago as a freshman, while Kaitlyn VanHoff was fourth in the WAC in blocks at 1.19 per set. 

-USU-

WAC Volleyball Player of the Week Announced

WAC Volleyball Player of the Week Announced

 

DENVER – San Jose State sophomore middle blocker Mary Alice O’Reilly has been named Western Athletic Conference Volleyball Player of the Week for the week of Nov. 5-11. This is her first-ever WAC Player of the Week honor.

 

The San Bruno, Calif. native averaged 4.67 kills on .393 hitting to go along with 1.33 blocks and a WAC-best 5.67 points per set to lead the Spartans to a sweep of league-leader Utah State last Saturday. She posted a match-high 14 kills to along with four blocks, including a match-high two solo blocks. O’Reilly entered the week averaging 3.21 kills and 0.95 blocks per set.

 

Other nominees included: Faimie Kingsley of Denver averaged 2.67 kills and 1.00 blocks per set as the Pioneers went 1-1 on the week ... Idaho’s Alex Sele averaged 3.00 kills on .583 hitting and 1.86 blocks per set as the Vandals went 2-0 last week ... Caitlin Germany of Louisiana Tech averaged 2.00 kills and 1.25 blocks per set ... New Mexico State’s Desiree Scott averaged 4.12 kills on .468 hitting and 1.12 blocks per set ... Kaytlyn Dill of Seattle U averaged 3.80 kills and 1.90 digs per set as the Redhawks went 2-0 on the week ... UT Arlington’s Charmaine Whitmore averaged 2.56 kills and 1.30 blocks per set last week ... McKenzie Adams of UTSA averaged 5.13 kills and 4.00 digs per set as the Roadrunners went 2-0 on the week ... Utah State’s Shay Sorensen averaged 4.00 kills, 2.33 digs and 0.67 blocks per set on the week.

 

 

Utah State Volleyball Captures Share Of First Regular-Season WAC Title With 3-1 Win Over New Mexico State Saturday

Utah State Volleyball Captures Share Of First Regular-Season WAC Title With 3-1 Win Over New Mexico State Saturday

USU Continues Its History-Making Season For First Regular-Season Title Since 1999

LOGAN, Utah -- Utah State volleyball continued to make history Saturday, clinching at least a share of its first Western Athletic Conference regular-season title with a commanding 3-1(25-17, 25-13, 22-25, 25-21) win over  New Mexico State in Las Cruces, N.M.

This is the first WAC regular-season title for the navy Aggies, adding to Utah State's WAC Tournament title won in 2010. USU's last conference title was winning the Eastern Division of the Big West in 1999 under Tom Peterson. Current USU head coach Grayson DuBose was an assistant on that team, and has now been a part of the last two conference titles.

USU's regular-season sweep over NMSU was the first since both teams joined the WAC for the 2005 season.

With the win, the northern Aggies improve to 19-7 overall and 14-2 in WAC play. NMSU falls to18-8 overall and 11-4 in conference matches.

USU also won its eighth-straight road match for a new school record for single-season consecutive road wins in a season, topping the previous mark of seven from 1978. The Aggies won their sixth-straight win overall as well as winning their ninth WAC match in their last 10, winning 11 of their last 13 matches overall. The 19 wins this season is also the second-most during DuBose's seven seasons at the helm of the Aggie program behind 24 victories in 2010. 

The Aggies had three players in double digits in kills, led by 13 kills from senior outside hitter Josselyn White (Smithfield, Utah). Senior opposite side hitter Shay Sorensen (North Ogden, Utah) and sophomore outside hitter Rachel Orr (Thatcher, Ariz.) both added 12 kills each.

Sophomore setter Paige Neves (Otto, Wyo.) also dished out a match-high 36 assists, leaving her with 979 assists on the season, 21 shy from the 1,000 assists milestone. Neves also had a double-double on the night with 36 assists and 10 digs. 

Redshirt-freshman middle blocker Elle Brainard (Saratoga Springs, Utah) had four blocks on the night, giving her 140 this season. She now moves up to eighth on the single-season block list. Brainard now has 134 block assists which places sixth on the single-season list.

New Mexico State was led by a 15-kill performance from Lauren Loerch, who was one of three southern Aggies to reach double figures in kills.

USU came out strong in the first set, jumping out to a 6-3 lead after an Orr kill. Later in the set, USU used a 3-0 run to stretch its lead to 19-13 after a shared block by Sorensen and sophomore middle blocker Kaitlyn VanHoff (Draper, Utah). The teams traded points with USU keeping at least a five-point advantage. Utah State finished of the 25-17 first set win with a Brainard kill.

In the second set, the navy Aggies continued their strong play. A Loerch kill tied the scored at 4-4 but from that point Utah State churned out three-straight points to take a 7-4 lead. The visiting Aggies did not look back in that set jumping out to a 18-10 advantage after a White kill. USU later scored the final three points of the frame to take the second set, 25-13.

New Mexico State battled back in set three, as the set began with the pair of Aggies trading points, as there were a total of five ties in the set. NMSU pulled away from a 12-12 tie with four unanswered points, capped by a block by Desiree Scott and Bradley Nash for a 16-12 lead.  USU pulled within 23-20 on a service ace by freshman defensive specialist McKell Staheli (Pleasant Grove, Utah), but NMSU closed out the set with a kill by Meredith Hays at 25-22.

The fourth frame saw even more ties, with eight in the set. After the visiting Aggies took a 14-11 lead on a kill by Orr, the home team surged ahead with four-straight points for a 15-14 lead.  The score was later tied at 21-all before USU sealed the victory with four unanswered, staring with an NMSU service error, then another Staheli ace preceded two more NMSU errors to capture the set, the match and the share of the regular-season WAC title for Utah State at 25-21.

USU will play at San Jose State on Saturday, Nov. 10 in its final road match of the regular season, before returning home to host Texas State on Wednesday, Nov. 14 in the Aggies' final home match. It will be Senior Night as USU will be honoring its three seniors: Kassi Hargrove, Shay Sorensen and Josselyn White.

Utah State volleyball tickets are available by contacting the USU Ticket Office at the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum or by phone by calling 1-888-USTATE-1 or (435) 797-0305.

USU volleyball action can be followed live on the Internet with live stats available through the "GameTracker" link at www.UtahStateAggies.com. Aggie volleyball home matches are also streamed online by clicking on the "Watch Live" link atwww.UtahStateAggies.com. There is a Utah State All-Access Monthly Subscription for $9.95 and a Utah State All-Access Yearly Subscription for $79.95.

Fans can follow the Aggie volleyball program at twitter.com/USUVolleyball or on facebook at facebook.com/USUVolleyball. Aggie fans can also follow the Utah State athletic program at twitter.com/USUAthletics or on facebook atfacebook.com/USUAthletics.

-USU-

Western Athletic Conference Volleyball Players of the Week

 

Western Athletic Conference Volleyball Players of the Week

DENVER – UTSA junior outside hitter McKenzie Adams has been named Western Athletic Conference Volleyball Player of the Week for the week of Oct. 29-Nov. 4. This is her fourth WAC Player of the Week honor of the season.

 

The Schertz, Texas native averaged a WAC-best 5.33 kills on .310 hitting to go along with 3.83 digs per set to lead the Roadrunners to a pair of road wins last week. She opened the week with her 16th double-double of the season in a sweep of UT Arlington, finishing with 21 kills on .357 hitting to go along with 14 digs. Her 21 kills was a season high for the Roadrunners in a three-set match. Two days later against Louisiana Tech, Adams tallied a match-high 11 kills and was just shy of a double-double, finishing with nine digs. Adams entered the week averaging 4.19 kills on .206 hitting and 3.74 digs per set.

 

Other nominees included: Faimie Kingsley of Denver averaged 2.92 kills on .341 hitting and 1.69 blocks per set on the week ... Idaho’s Allison (Walker) Baker averaged 4.56 kills and 2.56 digs per set last week ... Kaytlyn Dill of Seattle U averaged 4.75 kills and 1.75 digs per set on the week ... UT Arlington’s Taylor Gross averaged 2.57 kills and 0.71 blocks per set last week ... Ashlee Hilbun of Texas State averaged 3.00 kills, 3.00 digs and 1.86 blocks per set as the Bobcats went 2-0 last week ... Utah State’sJosselyn White averaged 2.67 kills, 1.44 digs and 0.78 blocks per set in as the Aggies clinched at least a share of the WAC regular-season title with a 2-0 mark on the week.

 

UTSA junior McKenzie Adams named Western Athletic Conference Player of the Week

UTSA junior McKenzie Adams named Western Athletic Conference Player of the Week

DENVER – UTSA junior McKenzie Adams was named the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) Player of the Week, it was announced on Monday by the league office. It marks the fourth time this season that Adams has earned the league's weekly award.

Adams, who also was named WAC Player of the Week on Sept. 10, Sept. 24 and Oct. 29, guided the Roadrunners to their fourth consecutive win and third straight sweep. UTSA swept both UT Arlington and Louisiana Tech in road contests last week.

The 6-foot-3 outside hitter averaged 5.33 kills and 3.83 digs while hitting at a .310 clip in the the two victories.

The Schertz, Texas, native logged her team-leading 16th double-double of the campaign after posting 21 kills and 14 digs against UT Arlington last Thursday. Her 21 winners also was a season high for the Roadrunners in a three-set match. Two days later, Adams tallied a match-high 11 kills and was just shy of a double-double, finishing with nine digs.

Adams ranks second in the WAC with 4.77 points and 4.26 kills per panel and also stands fifth with 3.75 digs per frame.

UTSA (17-8, 10-5 WAC) returns to action at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday against Denver (15-11, 8-7 WAC).

-UTSA-

WAC Volleyball Player of the Week Announced

WAC Volleyball Player of the Week Announced

 

DENVER – Utah State senior opposite hitter Shay Sorensen has been named Western Athletic Conference Volleyball Player of the Week for the week of Oct. 15-21. This is her second WAC Player of the Week honor of the season and her career.

 

The North Ogden, Utah native averaged 4.18 kills, 3.36 digs and 1.09 blocks per set. Sorensen posted double-doubles in two of the three matches in helping the Aggies to a 2-1 record, including winning two on the road to give Utah State its first six-match road win streak since 1978. She started the week with 15 kills and 11 digs, along with four blocks in a five-set loss to UTSA last Monday. In Thursday’s five-set win at Idaho, Sorensen logged her team-leading 11th double-double of the season with 18 kills and tied a career-high with 17 digs to go along with five blocks. She then added 13 kills without posting any hitting errors for a .382 attack percentage to go with nine digs and three blocks in a sweep at Seattle U. Sorensen now has 801 career kills, becoming just the 11th player in school history to reach the 800-kill plateau.

 

Other nominees included: Faimie Kingsley of Denver averaged 2.62 kills and 2.00 blocks per set as the Pioneers went 2-0 on the week ... Idaho’s Katelyn Peterson averaged 3.33 kills and 1.11 digs last week ... Caitlin Germany of Louisiana Tech averaged 2.13 kills and 0.75 blocks per set ... New Mexico State’s Desiree Scott averaged 2.43 kills on .355 hitting and 1.14 blocks per set ... Lani Beadle of Seattle U averaged 6.83 digs and 0.67 service aces per set ... UT Arlington’s Shelby Dickson averaged 2.75 kills and 4.38 digs per set ... McKenzie Adams of UTSA averaged 4.5 kills, 2.75 digs and 1.00 blocks per set last week ... Texas State’s Caylin Mahoney averaged 1.88 kills on .389 hitting, 4.63 assists and 1.00 digs per set as the Bobcats went 1-1 on the week.

WAC Volleyball Player of the Week Announced #volleyball #collegevolleyball

WAC Volleyball Player of the Week Announced

DENVER – Denver senior middle blocker Faimie Kingsley has been named Western Athletic Conference Volleyball Player of the Week for the week of Oct. 8-14. This is her first-ever WAC Player of the Week honor.

The Brooklyn, N.Y., native averaged 4.00 kills on .509 hitting and 1.88 blocks per set as the Pioneers went undefeated on the week. In Denver’s 3-1 win over Texas State, Kingsley tallied 18 kills on .548 hitting to go along with seven blocks. She followed that up with a 14-kill, eight-block performance in the Pioneers’ 3-1 win over UTSA. Kingsley entered the week averaging 2.25 kills on .369 hitting and 1.67 blocks per set.

Other nominees included: Idaho’s Allison (Walker) Baker of Idaho averaged 4.29 kills, 3.29 digs and 0.86 blocks per set as the Vandals went 2-0 last week ... Meredith Hays of New Mexico State averaged 3.62 kills and 1.50 digs per set ... UT Arlington’s Ashley Bennett averaged 2.43 kills, 1.00 blocks and 0.43 digs per set ... Ashlee Hilbun of Texas State averaged 3.11 kills on .393 hitting, 1.89 digs and 0.56 blocks per set as the Bobcats went 1-1 on the week ... Utah State’s Rachel Orr averaged 3.38 kills on .382 hitting, 0.62 blocks and 0.50 digs per set last week.

 

WAC Volleyball Player of the Week Announced #volleyball #collegevolleyball

WAC Volleyball Player of the Week Announced

 

DENVER – Idaho junior outside hitter Allison (Walker) Baker has been named Western Athletic Conference Volleyball Player of the Week for the week of Sept. 24-330. This is her first WAC Player of the Week honor of the season and the fifth of her career.

 

The Othello, Wash. native posted a pair of double-doubles as the Vandals went 2-0 on the week for the first time all season. Baker averaged WAC bests of 5.83 points and 5.33 kills to go along with 2.44 digs and 0.56 blocks per set. She opened the week with her 10th double-double of the season with 19 kills and 12 digs in a five-set win over Texas State. Baker then led Idaho to a four-set victory over UTSA, giving the Roadrunners just their second WAC loss of the season. In that contest, she posted her 11th double-double of the season with a career-high 29 kills on .329 hitting to go along with 10 digs and four blocks. Baker has had double-digit kills in all 16 of Idaho’s matches this season and has passed the 20-kill mark on six occasions.

 

Other nominees included: Faimie Kingsley of Denver averaged 1.62 kills on .435 hitting to go along with 1.88 blocks per set ... Louisiana Tech’s Caitlin Germany averaged 1.71 kills and 1.14 blocks per set last week ... Desiree Scott of New Mexico State averaged 2.75 kills on .545 hitting and 0.88 blocks per set as the Aggies remained the only unbeaten team in WAC play ... Seattle U’s Kaytlyn Dill posted a pair of double-doubles and averaged 4.71 kills and 2.86 digs per set ... Taylor Gross of UT Arlington averaged 2.71 kills on .375 hitting last week ... UTSA’s McKenzie Adams averaged 5.12 kills and 4.50 digs per set as the Roadrunners went 1-1 on the week ... Amari Deardorff of Texas State averaged 3.38 kills and 0.62 blocks per set as the Bobcats went 1-1 on the week ... Utah State’s Josselyn White averaged 3.86 kills and 3.86 digs per set in helping the Aggies to a 2-0 mark on the week.