WAC Announces Volleyball Postseason Honors
DENVER – The 2021 WAC volleyball award winners have been announced, following a vote of the league's 13 head coaches. Chicago State redshirt sophomore outside hitter Yanlis Feliz was named WAC Player of the Year, while Grand Canyon's Klaire Mitchell earned Setter of the Year honors, fellow Lope Teagan DeFalco earned Libero of the Year honors and teammate McKenzie Wise was named Freshman of the Year. Cougar head coach Tony Trifonov was named Coach of the Year.
Feliz was named WAC Player of the Year after leading the WAC in kills per set with 5.25. Her offensive stats are one of the best in the NCAA Division I. She is ranked second in total points (555.0) and kills (499), third in kills (5.25) and points per set (5.84) and fourth in attacks per set (13.38). She also tallied 17 double-doubles this season.
Mitchell was named WAC Setter of the Year after leading the WAC in assists per set with 10.34 through the whole season and 10.60 in conference play.
DeFalco earned the WAC Libero of the Year honors after leading the WAC in digs per set with 5.21 through the season and 5.43 in conference play.
Wise was voted top freshman after averaging 3.46 kills per set in conference play, putting her eighth in the WAC. She averaged 3.62 kills per set through the whole season, sixth highest in the WAC. She tallied two double-doubles this season.
Trifonov led a historic turnaround for the Cougars that ended the regular season as runner-up of the West Division with a 9-5 conference play record and 17-9 through the season. The Cougars recorded the most wins in a season since it became Division I in 1988. Chicago State had high offensive stats, second in kills per set (13.47), fourth in hitting percentage (.217).
Player of the Year: Yanlis Feliz, R-So., OH, Chicago State
Setter of the Year: Klaire Mitchell, Jr., Grand Canyon
Libero of the Year: Teagan DeFalco, Gr., Grand Canyon
Freshman of the Year: McKenzie Wise, OH, Grand Canyon
Coach of the Year: Tony Trifonov, Chicago State
First Team All-WAC
Katie Birtcil, Jr., OH, NM State
Sarah Cruz, Jr., OH, UT Rio Grande Valley
Teagan DeFalco, Gr., L, Grand Canyon
Yanlis Feliz, R-So., OH, Chicago State
Lauren Kersey, Sr., RS, Tarleton
Ashley Lewis, Sr., OH, Sam Houston
Shaney Lipscomb, Sr., RS, NM State
Klaire Mitchell, Jr., S, Grand Canyon
Taya Mitchell, Sr., MB, Stephen F. Austin
Lia Mosher, R-Sr., MB, NM State
Kazna Tanuvasa, Sr., OH, Utah Valley
Second Team All-WAC
Carly Aigner-Swesey, Sr., S, NM State
Hannah Baker, Fr., L, Sam Houston
Breanna Box, Jr., MB, Abilene Christian
Luanna Emiliano, Fr., S, UT Rio Grande Valley
Christine Graf, Jr., OH, California Baptist
Kate Hardy, Fr., MB, Dixie State
Morgan Janda, So., S, Sam Houston
Annabelle Kubinski, R-Jr., MB, Grand Canyon
Tesa Oaks, Gr., OH, California Baptist
Leah Powell, So., OH, Stephen F. Austin
McKenzie Wise, Fr., OH, Grand Canyon
All-Freshman Team
Hannah Baker, L, Sam Houston
Luanna Emiliano, S, UT Rio Grande Valley
Jules Fink, MB, Utah Valley
Kate Hardy, MB, Dixie State
Valeria Rosado, OH, Stephen F. Austin
Bryley Steinhilber, OH, Abilene Christian
Laura Walewska, MB, California Baptist
McKenzie Wise, OH, Grand Canyon