NEW MEXICO STATE FAVORED IN WAC PRESEASON POLL
The WAC volleyball coaches selected New Mexico State to win the WAC regular-season crown in 2012. The Aggies received eight first-place votes, while Idaho received the other two. Coaches were not allowed to vote for their own team.
The Aggies earned 79 total points, followed by Idaho with 67. UTSA was picked to finish third with 58 points, followed closely by Utah State in fourth with 57 points and Texas State in fifth with 52. Denver was picked sixth with 43 points, while San Jose State was selected seventh with 34 points. UT Arlington, Seattle U and Louisiana Tech rounded out the poll with 27, 18 and 15 points, respectively.
PRESEASON ALL-WAC
New Mexico State sophomore outside hitter Meredith Hays, who last year led the league in kills and points per set, was selected as the WAC Preseason Player of the Year. The American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) West Region Freshman of the Year, Hays ranked 18th nationally with 4.42 kills per set last year.
The Aggies placed the most players on the preseason all-WAC team with three, while Idaho, UTSA and Utah State had two apiece. Joining Hays on the preseason team are teammates Lauren Loerch and Desiree Scott, Idaho’s Alex Sele and Allison Walker, UTSA’s McKenzie Adams and Whitney Walls, Utah State’s Shay Sorensen and Joselyn White, Denver’s Faimie Kingsley, San Jose State’s Alex Akana and Texas State’s Amari Deardorff.
2012 PERSONNEL CAPSULE
Eight of the 10 schools return at least four of their starters from last year for the 2012 campaign. Idaho returns six starters, while Denver and Utah State return five each. Denver returns 11 letterwinners, while Louisiana Tech and Seattle U return 10 each. The following is a breakdown of each team’s letterwinners returning and lost and starters returning and lost.
| Team |
LR |
LL |
SR |
SL |
| Denver |
11 |
2 |
5 |
2 |
| Idaho |
9 |
3 |
6 |
1 |
| Louisiana Tech |
10 |
5 |
4 |
3 |
| New Mexico State |
6 |
6 |
3 |
4 |
| San Jose State |
7 |
4 |
4 |
3 |
| Seattle U |
10 |
4 |
4 |
3 |
| UT Arlington |
6 |
7 |
1 |
6 |
| UTSA |
8 |
7 |
4 |
3 |
| Texas State |
9 |
6 |
4 |
3 |
| Utah State |
9 |
4 |
5 |
2 |
2012 WAC TOURNAMENT
The 2012 WAC Volleyball Tournament will be held Nov. 19-21 at the Convocation Center on the campus of UTSA in San Antonio, Texas, and will include the top eight teams in the regular-season standings. The championship match will be televised live on ESPNU.
2012 WAC TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE
Monday, Nov. 19 (Quarterfinals)
Match 1 - No. 6 seed vs. No. 3 seed noon
Match 2 - No. 7 seed vs. No. 2 seed 2:30 p.m.
Match 3 - No. 5 seed vs. No. 4 seed 5 p.m.
Match 4 - No. 8 seed vs. No. 1 seed 7:30 p.m.
Tuesday, Nov. 20 (Semifinals)
Match 5 - Winner Match 1 vs. Winner Match 2 4 p.m.
Match 6 - Winner Match 3 vs. Winner Match 4 6:30 p.m.
Wednesday, Nov. 21 (Championship)
Match 7 - Winner Match 5 vs. Winner Match 6 4 p.m. (ESPNU)
TOP STAT LEADERS
The following are the returning statistical leaders in the WAC from the 2011 season.
In hitting efficiency, two of the top 10 hitters are back, led by San Jose State’s Alex Akana (.309) and Idaho’s Alyssa Schultz (.296), who ranked seventh and ninth, respectively, in the league a year ago.
Three of the top 10 kill leaders are back for the 2012 season. New Mexico State’s Meredith Hays, who led the WAC last season with 4.42 kills per set, followed by Idaho’s Allison (Walker) Baker in second with a 4.24 average. Utah State’s Josselyn White ranked ninth last year with 2.73 kills per set.
Two of the top assist leaders from last season return for the 2012 campaign. Idaho’s Jenny Feicht is the top setter to return, finishing last season second in the WAC (11.09 aps). Utah State’s Paige Neves was seventh in assists, averaging 8.83 assists per set.
Five of the top blockers return, led by Utah State’s Alyssa Everett and Idaho’s Schultz, who ranked second and third, respectively, in the WAC with 1.27 blocks per set. Utah State’s Kaitlyn Van Hoff was fourth, averaging 1.19 blocks per set, followed by Idaho’s Alex Sele (1.08 - seventh) and Utah State’s White (1.01 - eighth).
Three of the top 10 servers return, led by Idaho’s Feicht, who ranked seventh in the WAC with 0.31 per set. San Jose State’s Kiely Pieper was eighth, averaging 0.30 service aces per set, followed by New Mexico State’s Hays (0.28 - ninth).
Two of the top 10 dig leaders return for the 2012 season, led by Louisiana Tech’s Stephany Salas, who last year led the league with 4.62 digs per set. Teammate Clara Vido was eighth with 3.04 digs per set.
In addition, several newcomers to the WAC ranked in the top 10 in various statistical categories in their respective conferences last year. Faimie Kingsley of Denver led the Sun Belt in blocks (1.59), ranked third in hitting percentage (.345) and sixth in kills (3.25). Her teammate Lyndi Johnson ranked fourth in digs (4.24).
UT Arlington’s Amanda Welsh ranked seventh in the Southland in service aces (0.28) and eighth in assists (9.68).
McKenzie Adams of UTSA led the Southland in blocks (1.33), and ranked ninth in both hitting percentage (.285) and kills (2.88). Brittany Malloy ranked second in blocks (1.18) and third in hitting percentage (.319), while teammate Whitney Walls ranked fourth in hitting percentage (.317) and eighth in kills (2.92).
Texas State’s Amari Deardorff ranked second in the Southland in hitting percentage (.330) and 10th in kills (2.86). Ashlee Hilbun was third in blocks (1.15), while Caleigh McCorquodale was fourth in assists (10.13).
RETURNING ALL-WAC PLAYERS
Of the 12 first team All-WAC players in 2011, two return for the 2012 season, led by reigning Freshman of the Year Meredith Hays of New Mexico State. Also returning from the first team is Allison (Walker) Baker of Idaho.
Four of the second team All-WAC performers return this season, including Alex Akana of San Jose State, Shay Sorensen of Utah State, and Jenny Feicht and Alex Sele of Idaho.
REGIONAL, SEMIFINAL/CHAMPIONSHIP SITES SELECTED
The NCAA Division I Women’s Volleyball Committee announced the following sites for regional and semifinal/championship competition of the 2012 NCAA Division I Women’s Volleyball Championships.
Regionals (4): Dec. 7-8, 2012
Host: University of California
Haas Pavilion
Berkeley, Calif.
Host: University of Nebraska
CenturyLink Center
Omaha, Neb.
Host: University of Texas
Gregory Gym
Austin, Texas
Host: Purdue University
Mackey Arena
West Lafayette, Ind.
Semifinals and Championship: Dec. 13 and 15, 2012
Co-Hosts: University of Louisville and Louisville Sports Commission
KFC YUM! Center
Louisville, Ky.