United Athletic Conference

 

Tarleton outside hitter Carmen Kinsey and California Baptist Libero Paige Johnstone have been named the Western Athletic Conference Offensive and Defensive Volleyball Players of the Week, respectively, for the week of Oct. 11 through Oct. 17. Additionally, Utah Valley's Natalie Palmer has earned Freshman of the Week honors.

 

Kinsey, a senior from Norman, Okla., turned in a pair of dominant performances to lead the Texans to a perfect 2-0 record on the week. In back-to-back home matches, Kinsey combined to average 3.57 kills per set on .490 hitting while recording no errors. Her week was highlighted by a 17-kill outing in a four-set victory over Abilene Christian on Saturday. Against the Wildcats, Kinsey posted a .500 hitting percentage to account for 4.5 points per set.

 

Johnstone, a junior from Murrieta, Calif., helped lead the Lancers to back-to-back sweeps of Seattle U last week as she tallied 35 total digs from the Libero position. Johnstone averaged 5.83 digs per set across six sets, including a 20-dig performance in Saturday's win. Johnstone has recorded 20 digs or more three times this season while eclipsing double-digit digs in 13 of 17 matches.

 

Palmer, a setter from Highland, Ariz., averaged a double-double over two victories against in-state rival Dixie State. In a five-set thriller on Thursday, Palmer finished with 15 assists and a career-best 15 digs to help the Wolverines complete the comeback. On the week, Palmer averaged 3.25 assists per set and 2.75 digs per set while adding four service aces and three kills.

 

Other offensive nominees included: Abilene Christian's Lindsey Toney combined for an astounding 8.33 kills per set in the Wildcats' lone match of the week… California Baptist's Anouk van Noord averaged 2.83 kills per set on .483 hitting to help lead the Lancers to an undefeated week… Grand Canyon's Klaire Mitchell finished the week averaging 9.00 assists per set while posting back-to-back double-doubles for the Lopes… Lamar's Amber Johnson notched 2.43 kills per set on .394 hitting across two matches last week… NM State's Katie Birtcil paced the Aggies with 4.78 kills per set while adding seven service aces for the West Division leaders… Stephen F. Austin's Valeria Rosado rounded out the week with 15 total kills to average 3.9 points per set… UT Rio Grande Valley's Sarah Cruz managed 20 total kills in a five-set win over Sam Houston to help propel the Vaqueros into second place in the WAC's Southwest Division… Utah Valley's Abbie Miller averaged 6.00 assists per set in a pair of wins over Dixie State in the Old Hammer Rivalry.

 

Other defensive nominees included: Dixie State's Kate Hardy tallied 17 total blocks, including five solo stops in the Trailblazers' two matches against Utah Valley… Grand Canyon's Teagan DeFalco totaled 21 digs and added seven assists to help lead the Lopes past NM State… Lamar's Giselle Santini combined for 36 total digs across seven sets last week… NM State's Katie Birtcil helped the Aggies pick up a home victory over Grand Canyon on Thursday, finishing with 11 digs and a trio of blocks… Stephen F. Austin's Leah Powell produced a team-high and season-high 22 digs in the Ladyjacks four-set win over Lamar on Saturday… Tarleton's Lorin McNeil posted nine total blocks as she continues to lead the WAC in total blocks with 81 on the season… UT Rio Grande Valley's Maria Eduarda Rodrigues managed a career-high seven blocks in a five-set win over Sam Houston on Saturday… Utah Valley's Bryton Bishop averaged 4.50 digs per set last week, including a team-high 25 digs in Thursday's win over Dixie State.

 

Other freshman nominees included: California Baptist's Laura Walewska produced 10 total kills on .600 hitting in a pair of sweeps last week… Grand Canyon's McKenzie Wise led the Lopes with 18 kills in a huge win over NM State on Saturday… Lamar's Paige Dugan led the Cardinals last week offensively with 3.57 kills per set to go along with 3.29 digs per set… Stephen F. Austin's Valeria Rosado recorded a double-double in a winning effort against Lamar, totaling 15 kills and 14 digs… Tarleton's Trinity Vinzant averaged 14.5 points per set in a pair of wins last week as she notched nine kills, four aces, three assists and three blocks… UT Rio Grande Valley's Luanna Emiliano recorded a career-high 18 digs while adding 43 total assists to help the Vaqueros hand Sam Houston its first WAC loss of the season.

 

NM State leads the WAC in overall hitting percentage (.243) and opponent hitting percentage (.148). Sam Houston continues to lead in kills per set at 13.33 and digs per set (17.42). Utah Valley leads the group in blocks per set (2.61). Meanwhile, Abilene Christian is tops in the WAC in assists per set (12.21) and Grand Canyon leads in service aces per set (1.75).

 

Individually, NM State's Lia Mosher leads the WAC in hitting percentage (.432), while Chicago State's Yanlis Feliz is the leader in kills (4.82) and points (5.4). Dixie State's Kate Hardy leads the league in blocks (1.27) and Sam Houston's Hannah Baker paces the WAC in digs per set at 5.10. Madison Rohre of Abilene Christian is the top assister, posting 10.47 assists per set. Stephen F. Austin's Valeria Rosado leads the conference in service aces (0.43).

 

In WAC matches only, Stephen F. Austin is tops in hitting percentage (.240) and Dixie State leads in blocks (3.02). Sam Houston leads in opponent hitting percentage (.135), assists per set (12.78), and digs per set (18.67). Grand Canyon holds the lead in service aces (1.57).

 

Individually in WAC play, NM State's Lia Mosher is atop the league in hitting percentage (.402), while Dixie State's Kate Hardy is the top blocker at 1.80 per set. Chicago State's Yanlis Feliz is the leader in kills (4.87), whiel UT Rio Grande Valley's Sarah Cruz leads in points (5.5). Abilene Christian's Madison Rohre leads the WAC in assists (10.61). Melina Maldonado of Tarleton paces the league in service aces (0.53) and Sam Houston's Hannah Baker records the most digs per set in conference play (5.72).

 

This week we get our first taste of cross-divisional play in what should be one of the most exciting weeks in WAC Volleyball this season. Grand Canyon, Abilene Christian and Lamar will each be hosting their own WAC pod where up to five schools will get the opportunity to match up against someone from the opposite division.

 

To start things off, West Division-leading NM State will battle with Southwest Division-leading Stephen F. Austin, while Grand Canyon takes on Sam Houston on Thursday. There are six contests on Friday, including meetings between California Baptist and Tarleton, UT Rio Grande Valley and Seattle U and Chicago State and Lamar. 

 

The week concludes on Saturday as host Abilene Christian welcomes California Baptist, Dixie State takes on Tarleton and Stephen F. Austin duels with Grand Canyon.

 

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.