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Weekly Release.pdf 2003 All-WAC.pdf

WAC PLAYER OF THE WEEK Fresno State outside hitter Kristen Fenton has been named the Western Athletic Conference Volleyball Player of the Week for the week of Nov. 17. This is the junior's fourth Player of the Week honor. She was named player of the week two other times this season and once during the 2002 season.

The junior from Marysville, Mich., led the Bulldogs to a perfect 2-0 mark in the last week of regular-season play, as Fresno State posted a five-game regional victory over CS Northridge and a sweep over Boise State in WAC play.

The outside hitter recorded a team-high 53 kills for a 6.62 kills per game average. Fenton made history when she recorded her first career 40-plus kill match. With 41 kills against the Matadors, she tied the national mark for most kills collected this fall, while being just the fifth player in the country to post a 40-kill match this season. In addition, Fenton became just the ninth player overall in Division I history to total at least 40 kills since rally scoring was introduced in 2001. She joins Hawai'i's Kim Willoughby, as the only other WAC player to have accomplished a 40-kill feat since 2001.

Hitting .325 last weekend, she posted her 27th-straight double-figure kill match of the year and 14th double-double. Against CS Northridge, Fenton collected a match-high 41 kills and hit .323 (41-10-96) with two assists, 14 digs and three blocks.

Other nominees included: Kim Willoughby, Hawai'i; Salaia Salave`a, Nevada; Linsdsey Carter, Rice and Ashley Zener, SMU.

HAWAII LANDS TOP SEED IN WAC TOURNAMENT All eight seeds are secured for the 2003 WAC Volleyball Tournament. Hawaii looks to win its fourth-straight tournament, as the tournament returns to Reno, Nev., for the second year. Hawaii is the top seed followed by Eastern Division champion SMU. Fresno State is the No. 3 seed with Nevada taking the No. 4 seed. Rice is the No. 5 seed followed by No. 6-seeded San Jose State. Louisiana Tech and Tulsa take the No. 7 and No. 8 seeds, respectively.

The tournament begins Friday with No. 2 SMU taking on No. 7 Louisiana Tech at noon (PT). No. 3 Fresno State will face No. 6 San Jose State in the second match of the day at 2:00 p.m. (PT). In the second session of the day, top-seeded Hawai`i will face No. 8 Tulsa at 5:30 p.m. (PT). In the final match of the quarterfinals host and No. 4 seed Nevada will take on No. 5 Rice at 7:30 p.m. (PT). The championship match will be live on College Sports Television on Sunday, Nov. 23 at 3:00 p.m. (PT).

WAC TOURNAMENT RETURNS TO RENO For the second-straight season the WAC Volleyball Tournament returns to Nevada and the Virginia Street Gym, Nov. 21-23. Hawaii looks to repeat as champions as the Rainbow Wahine defeated host Nevada in four games last season.

Ticket prices will be $30 for adults and $15 for children and students for an all-session pass (7 matches). All seats are general admission and prices apply to all age groups.

Tickets may be purchased at the University of Nevada Athletic Ticket Office or by calling (775) 348-PACK (7225). WAC volleyball fans can also obtain a room rate at the Silver Legacy Hotel at 1-800-687-8733 and requesting the fan rate for the WAC Volleyball Tournament. The reservation ID code is volley. Rooms are limited and will cost $49.00 Sunday-Thursday and $79.00 for Friday-Saturday.

Eight of the 10 WAC teams will compete in the tournament. On Friday, Nov. 21, the first session match times are slated for 12:00 and 2:00 p.m. In the nightcap, the times are scheduled for 5:30 and 7:30 p.m. On Saturday, Nov. 22, the semifinals will be held at 5:00 and 7:00 p.m. The WAC championship match is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 23.

At last seasons WAC Championship, in Reno, Nev., Hawaii earned its third-straight WAC Tournament title, defeating Nevada, 3-1, in front of 1,023 fans. With a 13-0 regular season WAC record, the Rainbow Wahine earned their seventh overall WAC title. For the second-straight season, the WAC had three teams advance to the NCAA Tournament, Hawaii, Nevada and Fresno State. Nevada and Fresno State both lost in the first round, while Hawaii advanced to its seventh Final Four.

CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH TO BE TELEVISED The 2003 WAC Tournament's championship match is going to be televised live by College Sports Television. As part of their season-long Sunday Night Spikes, the live WAC Championship match will conclude CSTV's volleyball season. Announcers Chris Marlow and Krista Blunk will have the call, beginning at 3:00 p.m. (PT).

FRENSO STATE SETS NEW SCHOOL ATTENDANCE RECORD Fresno State got a bigger stage when the Bulldogs hosted No. 2 Hawaii at the Save Mart Center (16,116). Being the first true athletic competition in the Save Mart Center, the Bulldogs drew 4,708 fans for a new school volleyball record, shattering the previous mark of 1,982 versus UH on Nov. 23 1996 at the North Gym. The attendance also is the 27th-best attended NCAA Division I volleyball match in the nation this fall. In addition to drawing its second 1,000-plus match of the year, the volleyball program has totaled its 19th 1,000 crowd, 18 of which have come under 13th year head coach Lindy Vivas. The $100+ million Save Mart Center has the distinction of being the largest, privately funded project in the history of the California State University system.

FINAL POINT STANDINGS The final point standing for seeding in the WAC Tournament are as follows:

Hawaii, 18
SMU, 15
Fresno State, 14
Nevada, 11
Rice, 11
San Jose State, 9
Louisiana Tech, 3
Tulsa, 3
UTEP, 3
Boise State, 2

HAWAII AND NEVADA INCLUDED IN 2003 CSTV VOLLEYBALL SCHEDULE College Sports Television (www.cstv.com), the first 24-hour college sports network, and the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) is presenting a national volleyball match of the week package, Sunday Night Spike 2003, this fall that will boast 15 teams who competed in the 2002 NCAA Championships, including national semifinalists Florida, Stanford and Hawaii. The schedule began on Sunday, Sept. 7 with Florida at Stanford and will include an October 26 doubleheader featuring Santa Clara-Pepperdine and Utah-Colorado State.

The WAC will have at least two teams featured. Hawaii defeated Santa Clara on Sept. 28 in California. The Rainbow Wahine also defeated Nevada on Oct. 5 in Honolulu. Finally, the WAC Tournament Championship match will be televised on Nov. 23 in Reno, Nev.

Five teams featured within the Sunday Night Spike 2003 schedule have won volleyball national championships (Hawaii in 1982, 1983, 1987; Nebraska in 1995, 2000; Pacific in 1985, 1986; Stanford in 1992, 1994, 1996, 1997, 2001; Texas in 1988) and seven won conference titles in 2002.

Sunday Night Spike 2003 (all times ET)
Sept. 7 - Florida def. Stanford, 3-0
Sept. 14 - Pepperdine def. Pacific, 3-1
Sept. 21 - Illinois State def. No. Iowa, 3-1
Sept. 28 - Hawaii def. Santa Clara, 3-0
Oct. 5 - Hawaii def. Nevada, 3-0
Oct. 12 - E. Washington def. Sacramento State, 3-0
Oct. 19 - Kansas State def. Texas, 3-2
Oct. 26 - Pepperdine def. Santa Clara, 3-1
Oct. 26 - Colorado State def. Utah, 3-1
Nov. 2 - Nebraska def. Northern Iowa, 3-0
Nov. 9 - Miami (Fla.) def. Notre Dame, W, 3-0
Nov. 16 - Best of Sunday Night Spike, 6:00 p.m.
Nov. 23 - WAC Championship, 6:00 p.m.

NON-CONFERENCE OPPONENTS So far this season, the WAC is 85-64 (.570) against non-conference opponents. The WAC is 7-7 against ranked teams. Hawaii is 7-1 with wins over Louisville, UCLA, Kansas State, Stanford, Minnesota, LMU and Santa Clara. San Jose State fell to No. 20 Santa Clara, and Nevada fell to No. 15 Long Beach State. Boise State and Louisiana Tech also have losses to ranked teams. Rice has lost to formerly ranked Ohio State, and Fresno State lost to No. 23 Long Beach State.

HAWAII'S WILLOUGBY BREAK WAC CAREER KILL RECORD Against Baylor on Sept. 6, Hawaii senior Kim Willoughby had three great feats. She tied the school record for single-match aces with six. She also broke the school record for career aces (140). To top both of those achievements, she surpassed the 2,000 career kill mark, breaking the WAC record for career kills. The two-time WAC Player of the Year has 192 kills this season, to give her 2,038 career kills, breaking the record previously held by San Jose State's Joslynn Gallop (1997-00). Gallop ended her illustrious career with 1,196 kills. Willoughby is currently first in the WAC in kills per game (6.81 kpg).

2003 WAC VOLLEYBALL POSTSEASON AWARD WINNERS ANNOUNCED
The Western Athletic Conference 2003 postseason award winners were announced today as selected by the leagues head coaches.

Hawaii left side hitter Kim Willoughby earned her third-straight WAC Player of the Year honor. The senior is the first three-time winner of the honor. Hawaiis Kanoe Kamanao is the fourth Wahine to win Freshman of the Year honors, while SMUs Lisa Seifert captured Coach of the Year accolades.

Six different schools were represented on the first team and eight overall. Hawaii, the first seed in the WAC Tournament, had six players named to the first team and one to the second team. Third-seeded Fresno State had two named to the first team and added two more on the second team. Second-seeded SMU had one player on the first team, while placing four on the second.

For the eighth-straight year, Hawaii boasts the Player of the Year. Willoughby has been among the nations leaders in kills per game, hitting percentage and aces all season. The senior finished conference play leading the WAC in kills per game (6.24 kpg) and service aces with 27 (0.79 sapg).

Hawaiis Kanoe Kamanao earned the schools fourth Freshman of the Year honor, finishing second in the WAC in assists per game with 12.92. She guided the Wahine, who as a team, are ranked in the top five in the nation in both hitting percetage and kills per game.

This is the first Coach of the Year honor for Lisa Seifert, as she led SMU to its best season in school history. The Mustangs posted 22 wins to only six losses during 2003. They were 11-2 in conference play, a turnaround of five wins, earning them the Eastern Division Championship. SMU earned the second-seed in the conference tournament, defeating both Fresno State and Nevada, both of whom were 2002 NCAA Tournament participants.

The WAC Tournament will begin Friday, Nov. 21 in Reno, Nev. The first match will see Eastern Division second-seeded SMU take on No. 7 Louisiana Tech, followed by No. 6 San Jose State against No. 3 Fresno State. In the second session, the nations No. 2 team, top-seeded Hawaii will battle No. 8 Tulsa, while No. 4 Nevada will face No. 5 Rice.

AROUND THE COURT News and notes from around the league:

Boise State played its final match of the season losing to Fresno State in three games. The Bulldogs upped their record to 21-6 overall and 10-3 in the conference with the 30-18, 30-26, 30-23 win. Kelsey Young led the Broncos with 10 kills. Cameron Flunder and Christina Moore each added nine kills. Christina Melvin added 34 assists. Megan Tranter had seven digs.

Fresno State junior Kristen Fenton became the second-fastest Bulldog to reach the historic 1,000-career kill milestone after picking up 13 at home against Nevada on Nov. 1. She has a career total of 1,037 kills. Fenton recorded her first 40-plus kill match, notching 40 against CS Northridge. She tied the national mark for most kills collected this fall, while being just the fifth player in the country to post a 40-kill match. The Bulldogs notched their seventh sweep of the season, defeating Boise State, 3-0, in their final match of the season. The win gave Fresno State 10 conference wins on the season, the seventh time in school history, sixth under head coach Lindy Vivas. The win was also Vivas' 320th in her career. The Bulldogs, who are the third seed at the 2003 WAC Tournament, will face sixth-seeded San Jose State. The Bulldogs picked up, 3-1 victories in both matches with the Spartans this season. The winner will face the winner of SMU, Louisiana Tech.

Hawaii has now won 78-straight WAC matches, dating back to 1998. Hawaii also won their eighth-straight WAC regular-season title. The Rainbow Wahine also earned the No. 1 seed in the 1996, 2001 and 2002 seasons. In 1997, the Rainbow Wahine earned the Pacific Division No. 1 seed and earned the Pacific Division No. 2 seed in 1998. All-American Kim Willoughby has earned the all-tournament MVP honor the last two seasons as well as WAC Player of the Year honors. Willoughby is second in the nation in kills per game, averaging 6.60 kpg. She is also among the leaders in hitting percentage and aces, despite missing time due to illness. Hawaii will take on eighth-seeded Tulsa in the first round, with winner taking on the winner of Rice versus Nevada.

Louisiana Tech locked up the 2003 WAC Tournament's No. 7 seed with a win over UTEP on Nov. 13 night in its final match of the season. The win gave the Techsters the first back-to-back winning seasons since the 1995-96 seasons. Junior libero Heather Anderson can set a school record for digs per game in a season if she maintains her 3.79 digs per game average. Lousiana Tech will face second-seeded SMU in the first round of the tournament. The Mustangs hold a 2-0 advantage over the Techsters this season.

Nevada sophomore Salaia Salave`a has posted double-doubles in four of the last seven matches. She leads the team with nine double-doubles on the season. As a team, Nevada has reached double figures in blocks in seven of its last nine matches including the last three. The Wolf Pack had a season high 20 blocks in the Nov. 8 match versus SJSU. Tristin Adams 1,104 assists this season is the eighth-best single season total in Nevada history. Salave`a has 62 block solos leaving her one shy of Jamie Keith for second on the Pack career list. Salave`a ranks fourth in block assists (204) and total blocks (265) at Nevada.

Rice owns a five-match win streak heading to Reno, Nev., for the WAC tournament. With 12 kills and 12 digs against Tulsa, Rebeca Pazo now has 13 double-doubles on the year. Pazo is just nine digs shy of cracking the Rice all-time list. She has 944 for her career. Pazo needs just four kills to move into third on the Rice career list. The Owls out-blocked both Houston and Tulsa, bringing the Owls' season total to 20 times they have out-blocked their opponents this year. The Owls will be the fifth seed at the WAC tournament, and face fourth-seeded Nevada on Friday, Nov. 21.

San Jose State freshman Jessie Schull is first in the WAC in digs per game, averaging 4.29 dpg. The rookie has a total of 390 digs this season. Teammate Kimberly Noble is third in the WAC in kills per game, averaging 5.37 kpg. Noble has a total of 489 kills this season. The Spartans have secured the sixth seed in the 2003 WAC Tournament. San Jose State finished sixth with nine points. They will take on in-state rival, third-seeded Fresno State in the first round.

SMU completed one of its winningest regular seasons in school history since the program's inception, eight years ago. The Mustangs are 22-6, 11-2 in WAC play. The last time the Mustangs won 20 games was in the 1999 season. SMU earned the 2003 WAC Tournament's second seed with their performance. They will face seventh-seeded Louisiana Tech in the first round, a team they swept their two meetings this year. The winner takes on the winner of the Fresno State, San Jose State match in the semifinals.

UTEP wrapped up its season last week as it was swept by the SMU Mustangs. In failing to win at least two games over its final two matches the Miners did not make the 2003 WAC Tournament in Reno, Nev. UTEP finished the season 8-22, 2-11 in the WAC. Although the Miners had three points during the season to tie Tulsa, they were edged from the tournament due to the WAC tie-breaker.

Tulsa lost its final WAC match of the season to Rice, but still secured its second bid to the WAC Tournament in school history. Rice won the match, 3-0 (30-19, 30-28, 31-29) before a crowd of 328 at Autry Court in Houston. The Hurricane tied UTEP with three points during the conference season, but earned the tie-breaker with their games won percentage. They will head into the WAC Tournament as the No. 8-seed, taking on the nation's No. 2-ranked, and top-seeded team, Hawaii, in the first round. Following a break for Thanksgiving, TU will conclude the 2003 regular-season by traveling to Arkansas for a non-conference match at 7 p.m., on Nov. 28.

PACKING THE STANDS Once again, Hawaii is leading the nation in attendance. The Rainbow Wahine have drawn 123,194 in 14 home matches so far this season for an average of 7,165. The Rainbow Wahine have led the nation in attendance the last eight years. Hawaii also holds 14 of the top 15 single-match highs this season, including the nation's second best, 9,345 fans that saw No. 1 USC defeat No. 2 Hawaii. The attendance for UH's win over Stanford was 8,740 on Sept. 13. On Oct. 4, 8,529 fans saw the Rainbow Wahine sweep Nevada.

2003 Division I Volleyball Attendance

School	Avg. 	Total 	Matches
1.	Hawaii 	7,214	129,844	18
2.	Wisconsin	4,289	55,757	13
3.	Nebraska	4,277	51,320	12	
4.	Penn State	2,843	34,119	12
5.	Florida	        2,653	34,493	13
6.	Minnesota	2,342	32,871	14
7.	Kansas State	2,088	25,062	12
8.	Texas A&M	1,926	21,189	11
9.	Stanford	1,866	20,522	11
10.	Northern Iowa	1,787	19,661	11