DENVER The Western Athletic Conference volleyball coaches selected their 2002 preseason award winners today. Earning preseason Player of the Year honors was Hawaii junior left side hitter Kim Willoughby.
Hawaii, which was picked to finish first in the WAC in 2002, led all schools with four players on the all-WAC preseason team. San Jose State, which was picked to finish second, placed three players. Fresno State was the only other team with multiple honorees with two, while Nevada, Rice and SMU each had one.
Willoughby, a native of Napoleanville, La, was also the 2001 WAC Player of the Year and a first-team all-WAC selection. She also was a Volleyball Magazine and AVCA first-team All-American, who led the nation in kills (850) and kills per game (7.2). The 850 kills and 7.2 kpg were both new WAC single-season records.
Along with Willoughby, five first team all-WAC honorees return this season, including Hawaiis Maja Gustin and Margaret Vakasausau, Nevadas Michelle More, Rices Rebeca Pazo (2001 Freshman of the Year) and San Jose States Liz Hudson. Returning second team all-WAC selections are Fresno States Christy Burnett and SMUs Leslie Lasiter.
The 2002 volleyball season begins Friday, August 30 with all 10 teams in action. The 2002 WAC Volleyball Tournament is Nov. 22-24 in Reno, Nevada. Hawaii opens the season ranked No. 2 in the Volleyball Magazine preseason poll, while San Jose State received votes
2002 WAC VOLLEYBALL PRESEASON AWARD WINNERS
Name School Pos. Yr.
Christy Burnett Fresno St. OH Sr.
Maja Gustin Hawaii MB So.
Liz Hudson SJSU MB Jr.
Java Johnson Fresno St. MB/OH Sr.
Lily Kahumoku Hawaii LS Jr.
Leslie Lasiter SMU MB Sr.
Michelle More Nevada MB Sr.
Kimberly Noble SJSU OH Jr.
Stephanie Pascucci SJSU MB Sr.
Rebeca Pazo Rice OH So.
Margaret Vakasausau Hawaii S Sr.
Kim Willoughby Hawaii LS Jr.
Preseason Player of the Year: Kim Willoughby, Hawaii