Click here for a PDF of the WAC Volleyball Notes PLAYER OF THE WEEK ?“ Idaho?™s Saxony Brown has been named the Western Athletic Conference Volleyball Player of the Week for the week of August 29. This is the first WAC Player of the Week honor of the year for the Vandals and the first of the season.
The Nanaimo, British Columbia (Dover Bay HS), native was selected to the AmeriHost Invitational Invitational team after leading the Vandals to a 2-1 record, only losing to host Ohio University. The Vandals captured wins over Tennesee-Martin and West Virginia before falling to host Ohio in four. The junior setter recorded a career-high 50 assists against West Virginia. Over the three matches, she averaged 11.2 apg and 2.1 dpg. Brown had 123 assists and 23 digs in three matches. Brown is the first of the new schools (Idaho, New Mexico State and Utah State) to earn Player of the Week honors.
Other nominees included: Victoria Prince of Hawai'i hit .421 with eight kills in the loss to No. 1 Nebraska. She hit .500 with 14 kills in the loss to No. 5 Penn State … Ambra Hayes of Louisiana Tech had 25 digs and 30 kills as the Lady Techsters went 1-1 in their first two matches … Carly Sorensen of Nevada had a match-high 18 kills in the Wolf Pack?™s, 3-2 loss to BYU … Kristin Conrad of San Jose State had 20 kills and 20 digs as the Spartans defeated UC Davis, 3-1 … Zuzana Cerninaska of Utah State led the Aggies to the Hurricane Invitational title with a 4-0 record. The opposite side hitter had 77 kills and 37 digs in four matches.
LET THE GAMES BEGIN ?“ Alls nine teams are in action this week with New Mexico State starting the week off with a 3-0 win over New Mexico on Aug. 29. Hawai'i looks to pick up its first win this week with matches against Western Michigan, Southern California and a re-match with Penn State. This second match will be on the Rainbow Wahine?™s home floor.s Nevada, Hawai"i and New Mexico State all host tournament this week.
Utah State looks to extend its winning streak on the road at the Arkansas Tournament. Fresno State will stay in state at the Golden Gate Classic. Louisiana Tech will also stay in state at the UL-Lafayette Tournament.s Boise State and San Jose State will be out west with the Broncos at the Wyoming Tournament and San Jose State in Colorado at the Falcon Invitational in Colorado Springs.
UTAH STATE STARTS OFF STRONG ?“ Utah State is 4-0 to start the season for only the second time in the last 26 years after winning the 2005 Hurricane Invitational hosted by Tulsa University.s USU started the 2003 season with a 5-0 record before losing its first match and prior to that the last team to begin the year 4-0 was the 1979 squad that won its first 11 matches.
San Jose State and New Mexico State are the WAC?™s other two undefeated teams. San Jose State is 1-0 with a win over UC Davis. New Mexico State is also 1-0 with a sweep of instate rival New Mexico.
NEW MEXICO STATE PACKS THE STANDS ?“ New Mexico State set a school record in attendance in its sweep of rival New Mexico. There were 3,183 fans in the Pan American Center to see the Aggies season opener on Aug. 29. The match was the first of the season for both teams as NMSU jumps to 1-0 and New Mexico falls to 0-1.
The Aggies will be back in action this weekend as they host the 2005 Hilton Classic Tournament Sept. 2-3. Teams competing in this year?™s tournament are Texas-Pan American, Tulsa and Cincinnati. NMSU?™s first match will be against Texas-Pan American Friday night at 7:00 p.m. in the Pan American Center.ss
WELCOME TO THEs WAC ?“ This season, Idaho, New Mexico State and Utah State join the WAC.
Last year, New Mexico State was 30-3, 15-0 in the Sun Belt and won the conference tournament. The other Aggies, Utah State, were 9-18, 5-13 in the Big West. The Idaho Vandals were 17-13 last season, 9-9 in the Big West.
Both New Mexico State and Idaho lost in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. The Aggies lost to San Diego in the opening round, while the Vandals lost to Washington in the first round
In 2003, both Idaho and New Mexico State advanced to the NCAA Tournament. The Vandals lost to Hawai'i in Honolulu in the first round. New Mexico State lost to BYU in the first round. The Aggies were a perfect 15-0 in the Sun Belt in 2003.
TWO CONFERENCE CHAMPIONS ?“ This season, the WAC will have two 2004 conference champions vying for the title. Both Hawai'i and New Mexico State won conference titles and tournaments last season. The Rainbow Wahine had a perfect 13-0 season as the WAC champion. The Aggies had their second-straight 15-0 perfect season as the Sun Belt champs.
CHANGE OF VENUE ?“ San Jose State has changed its volleyball home this season. San Jose State moves from the Events Center to Spartan Gym. The Spartans played over 100 matches at the Events Center. San Jose State is no stranger to Spartan Gym. The Spartans have a 129-57 record there where they have played at least one match every season.
VOLLEYBALL FORMAT ?“ For the first time since 2001 the WAC will not compete in divisions. The teams competing in the WAC this season are: Boise State, Fresno State, Hawai'i, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico State, San Jose State and Utah State. This season?™s format will be a double-round robin. Each team will face the other eight at home and on the road.
2005 WAC TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE
November 24 (Quarterfinals)s
Match 1 - No. 8 vs. No. 9 ?” 9:30 a.m.ss
Match 2 - No. 4 vs. No. 5 ?” 12:00 p.m.
Match 3 - No. 3 vs. No. 6 ?” 2:30 p.m.
Match 4 - No. 2 vs. No. 7 ?” 5:00 p.m.
Match 5 - Winner Match 1 vs. No. 1 ?” 7:30 p.m.
November 25 (Semifinals)
Match 6 - Winner Match 3 vs. Winner Match 4 ?” 4:00 p.m.
Match 7 - Winner Match 2 vs. Winner Match 5 ?” 6:30 p.m.
November 26 (Championship)
Match 8 - Winner Match 6 vs. Winner Match 7 ?” 4:30 p.m.
REGIONAL SITES SET ?“ The 2005 NCAA Volleyball Championship will be the 25th. The NCAA Division I Women?™s Volleyball Committee has announced the following sites for regional competition of the 2005 NCAA Division I Women?™s Volleyball Championships. The first sight is the Qwest Center in Omaha, Neb., along with the The Recreation Bulding in University Park, Pa.; the Maples Pavillion in Stanford, Calif., and the G. Rollie White Cloiseum in College Station, Texas. The University ofs Nebraska, Penn State University, Stanford University and Texas A&M University are the hosts for the regionals, which will be held December 8-11. The first and second rounds will be held December 1-4 in sites yet to be determined. The Final Four will be held December 15-17 in San Antonio, Texas.
RETURNING ALL-WAC PLAYERS ?“ Of the 12 first-team all-WAC players in 2004, seven should return for the 2004 season, including Hawai'i?™s Kanoe Kamana`o, the WAC?™s Player of the Year and Tara Hittle, the WAC?™s Freshman of the Year. Hawai'i also returns first-team all-WAC selections Alicia Arnott and Victoria Prince. Nevada?™s Salaia Salave`a, San Jose State?™s Jessie Shull and Boise State?™s Cameron Flunder also return from the 2004 first team. Four of the second-team all-WAC performers will also return this season, including Nevada?™s Tristin Adams and Karly Sipherd. Hawai'i has a duo returning, including Susie Boogaard and Ashley Watanabe.
Boise State Broncos (0-0, 0-0 WAC)
Three decades worth of alumni volleyball players came out for the Boise State Varsity-Alumni match on Aug. 27 ... the match was pre-determined to go five games to 30 so both squads could try some different line-ups ... the Varsity won all five games 30-13, 30-19, 30-16, 30-17, 30-18 ... the varsity was led by senior Telia Peterson who had 28 kills, eight digs and eight service aces ... junior Cameron Flunder followed with 14 kills, six blocks and seven service aces ... sophomore Tiffany Starring added 11 kills ... it is all for real this week as the Broncos travel to Laramie for the Wyoming Invitational.
Fresno State Bulldogs (0-0, 0-0 WAC)
The Bulldogs open their season this weekend as the team travels to the first of two tournaments that the squad will participate in this season ... Fresno State will start with the USF Coca Cola/Asics Classic in San Francisco ... the five-team tournament features round robin play, as each team will play two matches in a day ... the Bulldogs?™ first match is against William & Mary on Friday, Sept. 2 ... other competition at the tournament includes North Carolina, Long Island, and the host, San Fransico.
Hawai'i Rainbow Wahine (0-2, 0-0 WAC)
All-American Victoria Prince was named to the AVCA/NACWAAs Volleyball Showcase all-Tournament team after hitting over .465 in the two losses ... her hitting percentage is second in the WAC this young season behind New Mexico State?™s Alice Borden, who is hitting .474 ... All-American Kanoe Kamana`o is third in the league in assist, averaging 12.50 apg ... this week, the Rainbow Wahine return to the islands and face Western Michigan, Southern California and Penn State ... the Nittany Lions defeated Hawai'i, 3-0 last week.
Idaho Vandals (2-1, 0-0 WAC)
Saxony Brown and Andrea Fox were selected to the AmeriHost Invitiational all-Tournament team after leading the Vandals to a 2-1 record ... Brown, a 6-0 setter, recorded 13 kills, 123 assists and 23 digs on the weekend ... she recorded a career high 50 assists against West Virginia ... Fox, a senior libero, recorded 53 digs on the weekend, an average of 4.82 dpg ... Fox recorded a career high 25 digs against West Virginia ...s the Vandals are now 5-1 in season openers under head coach Debbie Buchanan ... Idaho defeated Tennessee-Martin in three games to open the 2005 season.
Louisiana Tech Lady Techsters (1-1, 0-0 WAC)
Louisiana Tech split its first two matches at home, defeating Northwestern State and losing to Baylor ... the Lady Techsters won their first five-game match against Northwestern State ... Ambra Hayes is seventh in the league in kills per game, averaging 3.75 ... freshman Meghan Haas is off to a swift start, averaging 4.38 dpg which is fifth in the WAC.
Nevada Wolf Pack (0-1, 0-0 WAC)
The Wolf Pack dropped its first match of the season at home against BYU ... Nevada lost the tough five-gamer to the Cougars ... Nevada hosts the Sands Regency/SBC Tournament in the Virginia Street Gym ... Nevada takes on No. 18 San Diego on Friday night at 7:00 p.m.s ... Saturday the Pack take on Eastern Kentucky at noon and close out the tournament versus 13th ranked UCLA at 7:00 p.m.
New Mexico State Aggies (1-0, 0-0 WAC)
This year, the Aggies will again host the annual Las Cruces Hilton Classic Volleyball Tournament Sept. 2-3 in the Pan American Center.s Teams competing this year?™s tourney are New Mexico State, Tulsa, Texas-Pan American and Cincinnati.s Last season, the Aggies won the tournament in dominating fashion as they swept all three opponents three games to none.s Teams that attended last year?™s tournament were Northwestern State, Texas Southern and South Dakota State.s The Aggies?™ first match of this year?™s tournament will be against UTPA, Friday night at 7:00 p.m.
San Jose State Spartans (1-0, 0-0 WAC)
Libero and WAC record holder, Jessie Shull continues her impressive ways ... after week one, Shull is tied for first in digs per game with teammate Danielle Orong with 5.50 ... San Jose State travels to the Falcon Invitational hosted by the United States Air Force Academy .... On Friday, September 2, the team plays Weber State at 11 a.m. and No. 10 Wisconsin at 3 p.m.s ... on Saturday, September 3, the Spartans will face either Butler, Southeast Missouri State or Air Force.
Utah State Aggies (4-0, 0-0 WAC)
Prior to defeating Fordham in three games to start the 2005 season, the last time Utah State won a match in three games was on Nov. 15, 2003 at Cal State Fullerton ...s Utah State had three of its players named to the 2005 Hurricane Invitational all-tournament team in seniors Zuzana Cernianska and Erin Graybill, and redshirt sophomore Beth Hodge ... Cernianska averaged 5.92 kills and 2.85 digs per game in the tournament, Graybill averaged 2.20 kills and 1.47 blocks, and Hodge averaged 4.00 kills and 3.33 digs per game.
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