United Athletic Conference

 

Following a pair of dominant performances, Dixie State middle blocker Kate Hardy has been named the Western Athletic Conference Offensive, Defensive and Freshman Volleyball Player of the Week for the week of October 4 through October 10.

 

Hardy, a freshman from Fruitland, Idaho, impressed in all facets of the game as she helped lead the Trailblazers to their first two road wins of the season. On the offensive attack, she averaged 5.7 points per set behind 4.00 kills per set on .571 hitting. Hardy also added three service aces and recorded just four hitting errors. Defensively, she racked up 16 total blocks across seven sets to average a league-best 2.29 blocks per set last week. In Thursday's 3-1 win over California Baptist, Hardy posted a career-high 19 kills and racked up seven total blocks. She followed that performance with a nine-kill, nine-block outing in a 3-0 sweep of Seattle U on Saturday. On the season, Hardy ranks third in blocks per set, averaging 1.3 per set. She also ranks among the WAC's best in league play as she is fourth in hitting percentage (.338) and second in blocks per set (1.65) in WAC matches.

 

Other offensive nominees included: Abilene Christian's Madison Rohre notched her third 50-plus assist match of the year against UTRGV on her way to posting 81 total assists on the week… California Baptist's Christine Graf totaled 19 kills on .227 hitting across a pair of matches last week… Chicago State's Yanlis Feliz averaged 4.40 kills per set, including 21 total kills in the Cougars' thrilling win over Grand Canyon… NM State's Lia Mosher continued her efficient play, posting 2.60 kills per set on .524 hitting in the Aggies' lone match last week… Sam Houston's Ashley Lewis recorded a double-double last week, putting together 13 kills and 12 digs in the Kats' sweep of Stephen F. Austin… Tarleton's Lauren Kersey led the Texans with 29 total kills last week to average 3.63 kills per set in a pair of WAC matches… UT Rio Grande Valley Sarah Cruz turned in her sixth double-double of the season, coming away from the Vaqueros' five-set victory over Abilene Christian with 23 kills and 15 digs… Utah Valley's Kazna Tanuvasa averaged 4.00 kills per set on .317 hitting to help lead the Wolverines to an undefeated weekend.

 

Other defensive nominees included: Abilene Christian's Madison Lawler recorded a season-high 30 digs against UTRGV on her way to averaging 5.78 digs per set on the week… California Baptist's Chandler Gorman finished the week with eight total blocks with seven rejections coming against Dixie State… Chicago State's Mesalina Severino had an astounding 11-block outing in Saturday's victory over GCU… NM State's Darian Markham anchored the Aggies' back line as she tallied 32 total digs in a five-set win over Chicago State on Thursday… Sam Houston's McKenzie Morvant controlled the net against Stephen F. Austin, posting six total blocks in just three sets… Tarleton's Ana Costas notched a season-high 23 digs in a four-set win over Lamar… UT Rio Grande Valley's Luisa Silva Dos Santos produced a career-high 10 blocks to help the Vaqueros earn the road win over Abilene Christian… Utah Valley's Sadie Hamson managed a pair of five-block matches last week to average 1.67 blocks per set.

 

Other freshman nominees included: Abilene Christian's Braden Bossier notched eight block assists in back-to-back matches for the Wildcats last week… California Baptist's Laura Walewska turned in five kills on .273 hitting in the Lancers' lone match of the week… Chicago State's Berenice Almeyda posted 12 kills on .250 hitting while adding five total blocks and five total assists… Sam Houston's McKenzie Morvant added three kills, two digs and 6.5 points to her impressive defensive showing against Stephen F. Austin… UT Rio Grande Valley's Luanna Emiliano shined last week, recording 96 total assists and 27 total digs to lead UTRGV to a pair of road wins… Utah Valley's Jules Fink averaged 2.00 kills per set on .306 hitting, including seven kills on .500 hitting in a win over California Baptist.

 

NM State leads the WAC in overall hitting percentage (.250) and opponent hitting percentage (.148). After a strong weekend, Sam Houston leads in kills per set at 13.43 and digs per set (17.62). Utah Valley leads the group in blocks per set (2.63). Meanwhile, UT Rio Grande Valley is tops in the WAC in assists per set (12.28) and Grand Canyon leads in service aces per set (1.84).

 

Individually, NM State's Lia Mosher leads the WAC in hitting percentage (.460), while Chicago State's Yanlis Feliz is the leader in kills (4.82) and points (5.4). Utah Valley's Sadie Hamson leads the league in blocks (1.29) and Sam Houston's Hannah Baker paces the WAC in digs per set at 5.08. Madison Rohre of Abilene Christian is the top assister, posting 10.31 assists per set. Stephen F. Austin's Valeria Rosado leads the conference in service aces (0.50).

 

In WAC matches only, Utah Valley is tops in hitting percentage (.257) and blocks (3.07), while Sam Houston leads in opponent hitting percentage (.112), assists per set (13.70), and digs per set (20.900). Grand Canyon holds the lead in service aces (1.74).

 

Individually in WAC play, NM State's Lia Mosher is atop the league in hitting percentage (.464), while Utah Valley's Sadie Hamson is the top blocker at 1.68 per set. UT Rio Grande Valley's Sarah Cruz is the leader in kills (5.06) and points (5.8) and Sam Houston's Morgan Janda leads the WAC in assists (11.50). Jennifer Blessing of California Baptist paces the league in service aces (0.75) and Sam Houston's Hannah Baker records the most digs per set in conference play (6.10).

 

Conference play continues this week as teams are in action on Thursday and Saturday. The top two squads in the West Division are set for back-to-back meetings this week as NM State hosts Grand Canyon on Thursday before traveling to Phoenix on Saturday. Utah Valley and Dixie State will also see each other twice this week with the first match taking place in St. George, Utah, before rolling over to Orem, Utah, for round two.

 

Saturday's meetings kick off with a matchup between Tarleton and Abilene Christian. A pair of Southwest Division heavyweights are also on the slate on Saturday as UT Rio Grande Valley welcomes Sam Houston.

 

Volleyball drama was on full display in week one of action as both Abilene Christian and NM State won five-set matches after falling behind 0-2 after two sets. The Wildcats completed the feat against Incarnate Word on Friday, Aug. 27 as they fell 18-25 in set one and 21-25 in set two. They would go on to claim the match win behind three-straight set victories (25-21, 25-21, 15-11). In the win, ACU was led by Lindsey Toney's 29 kills and four aces while Madison Rohre added 53 assists.

 

Meanwhile, the Aggies picked up a five-set victory over UC Davis in their season opener. After dropping the opening two sets, NM State came storming back to win three straight (25-19, 25-20, 15-10) to claim its first win of the season. Shaney Lipscomb paced the Aggies in kills with 17 while Darian Markham held her own on the defensive end with a match-high 22 digs.

 

With twelve of the thirteen WAC schools first week of play coming at a pre-conference tournament, there was plenty of opportunity to shine against unfamiliar opponents. 11 athletes from five WAC schools earned honors for their play last weekend, including a trio of tournament MVP's. Abilene Christian's Lindsey Toney, Grand Canyon's Klaire Mitchell and Sam Houston's Morgan Janda each claimed MVP honors at their respective tournaments. Below is the complete list of athletes who garnered all-tournament team recognition:

 

Breanne Chausse, Sam Houston - Bearkat Invitational

Luanna Emiliano, UT Rio Grande Valley - New Orleans Invitational

Hannah Eskes, Grand Canyon - Idaho Volleyball Classic

Christine Graf, California Baptist - Georgia State Invitational

Morgan Janda, Sam Houston - Bearkat Invitational (MVP)

Ashley Lewis, Sam Houston - Bearkat Invitational

Klaire Mitchell, Grand Canyon - Idaho Volleyball Classic (MVP)

Madison Rohre, Abilene Christian - ACU Invitational

Luisa Silva Dos Santos, UT Rio Grande Valley - New Orleans Invitational

Lindsey Toney, Abilene Christian - ACU Invitational (MVP)

McKenzie Wise, Grand Canyon - Idhao Volleyball Classic

 

In week two of non-conference play, eight WAC athletes earned all-tournament honors, including Grand Canyon freshman McKenzie Wise who was named MVP of the GCU Invitational.

 

Berenice Almeyda, Chicago State - Windy City Classic

Jada Birkel, Abilene Christian - Wildcat Classic

Andrea Calderon, Chicago State - Windy City Classic

Teagan DeFalco, Grand Canyon - GCU Invitational (Outstanding Libero)

Hannah Eskes, Grand Canyon - GCU Invitational

Yanlis Feliz, Chicago State - Windy City Classic

Sydney Reed, Grand Canyon - GCU Invitational

McKenzie Wise, Grand Canyon - GCU Invitational (MVP)

 

WAC teams continued the trend in week three as eight athletes were named to all-tournament teams, highlighted by NM State's Shaney Lipscomb who earned MVP honors at the Colonel Challenge.

 

Katie Birtcil, NM State - Colonel Challenge

Teagan DeFalco, Grand Canyon - Portland State Tournament

Annabelle Kubinski, Grand Canyon - Portland State Tournament

Shaney Lipscomb, NM State - Colonel Challenge (MVP)

Darian Markham, NM State - Colonel Challenge

Makayla Pollard, Utah Valley - Lumberjack Classic

Kazna Tanuvasa, Utah Valley - Lumberjack Classic

Hannah Waters, Lamar - Lamar Invitational

 

The final week of non-conference tournament action resulted in seven more all-tournament honors, including Ariana Pagan who was named MVP of the SFA Tournament.

 

Katie Birtcil, NM State - Stetson Invitational

Kayla Brannon, Tarleton - Islander Classic

Payton Cerny, Stephen F. Austin - SFA Tournament

Carmen Kinsey, Tarleton - Islander Classic

Shaney Lipscomb, NM State - Stetson Invitational

Ariana Pagan, Stephen F. Austin - SFA Tournament (MVP)

Leah Powell, Stephen F. Austin - SFA Tournament

 

With the addition of several new programs to volleyball in the Western Athletic Conference, Stephen F. Austin is the coaches' pick to take home the regular season trophy in the Southwest Division while Utah Valley earned the nod in the West Division.

 

Southwest Division preseason favorite Stephen F. Austin heads to the WAC following a 13-1 overall record and a regular season title in the Southland Conference just last year. The Lumberjacks landed four of six possible first-place votes and 24 total points to finish atop the poll. Sam Houston was closely behind as they earned the remaining two first-place votes and 21 points. Tarleton saw its name in the third spot with 15 points followed by Abilene Christian who came in fourth with 13 points. UT Rio Grande Valley and Lamar rounded out the poll, finishing with 11 points and six points, respectively.

 

Coming off their first WAC Tournament Championship in school history, Utah Valley received four of the seven first-place votes and 34 total points to earn the top spot in the West Division. NM State earned the remaining three first-place votes to finish in second place with 33 points, followed by Grand Canyon which was slotted in third with 26 points. California Baptist picked up 20 points as they were selected fourth while Dixie State finished with 16 points to claim fifth. Chicago State collected 10 points for the sixth spot and Seattle U completed the West Division poll with six points of its own.

 

Utah Valley senior outside hitter Kazna Tanuvasa was selected as the WAC Preseason Player of the Year. NM State had the most players named to the preseason All-WAC team as the Aggies garnered four spots. Carly Aigner-Swesey, Victoria Barrett, Shaney Lipscomb and Lia Mosher each represent NM State on the Preseason All-WAC team. Joining them are Grand Canyon's Hannah Eskes and Klaire Mitchell, Sam Houston's Morgan Janda and Ashley Lewis and Stephen F. Austin's Taya Mitchell and Leah Powell. Along with the Wolverines, Chicago State, Dixie State and Tarleton each landed one player on the Preseason All-WAC Team. The Cougars' Yanlis Feliz, the Trailblazers' Megan Treanor and the Texans' Lauren Kersey each earned honors.

 

The Western Athletic Conference is a little bit bigger this season as Abilene Christian, Lamar, Sam Houston and Stephen F. Austin have all joined the party. Due to the increase from eight teams to 12 teams, the league will play in a divisional format this season.

 

The Fall 2021 WAC Volleyball Tournament will be held Nov. 18-20 at the Pan American Center in Las Cruces, N.M. and will include the top eight eligible squads.

 

November 18, 2021 (Quarterfinals)

Match 1 - No. 1 Seed vs. No. 8 Seed, 10 a.m. MT

Match 2 - No. 4 Seed vs. No. 5 Seed, 1 p.m. MT

Match 3 - No. 2 Seed vs. No. 7 Seed, 4 p.m. MT

Match 4 - No. 3 Seed vs. No. 6 Seed, 7 p.m. MT

 

November 19, 2021 (Semifinals)

Match 5 - Winner Match 1 vs. Winner Match 2, 4 p.m. MT

Match 6 - Winner Match 3 vs. Winner Match 4, 7 p.m. MT

 

November 20, 2021 (Finals)

Match 7 - Winner Match 5 vs. Winner Match 6, 7 p.m. MT

 

The NCAA Division I Women's Volleyball Championship return to its normal 64-team format following a 48-team bracket in Spring 2021. The bracket will consist of 32 automatic qualifiers and 32 at-large teams. The final site of the 2021 NCAA Championship will be Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio. The semifinals will be held on December 16 while the championship will be held on December 18.