United Athletic Conference

 

Tarleton opposite hitter Amber Strange and NM State Libero Darian Markham have been named the Western Athletic Conference Offensive and Defensive Volleyball Players of the Week, respectively, for the week of March 17 through March 23.

 

Markham, a freshman from McKinney, Texas, finished the week averaging 5.14 digs per set to lead the Aggies to a series sweep of Chicago State. Markham posted a career-high 19 digs on Monday to help NM State to a four-set win over the Cougars. In Tuesday's win, she tallied 17 digs in just three sets for a 5.67 digs per set average.

 

Strange, a senior from Granbury, Texas, carried the Texans to a 3-0 week including their second win of the year over Big XII opponent TCU. Against the Horned Frogs, she had a career-high 22 kills on .438 hitting. In the Texans' sweep over conference foe UTRGV, Strange averaged 4.71 kills per set on .370 hitting, including a 17-kill outing in a three-set sweep on Monday.

 

Other offensive nominees included: California Baptist's Cali Hoye led the Lancer offense with 30 kills on .371 hitting in a trio of victories…  Chicago State's Berenice Almeyda averaged 2.33 kills per set on .464 hitting in a pair of matches against NM State… Grand Canyon's Klaire Mitchell finished the week averaging 13.67 assists per set to help the Lopes split their series with Utah Valley… NM State's Katee Birtcil posted a career-high 19 kills in a four-set win over Chicago State on Monday… UT Rio Grande Valley's Victoire Nama closed out the regular season averaging 2.29 kills per set in a pair of matches against Tarleton… Utah Valley's Kendra Nock led the Wolverines with 4.33 kills per set on .321 hitting against Grand Canyon on Monday.

 

Other defensive nominees included: California Baptist's Paige Johnstone averaged 3.67 digs over six sets in CBU's sweeps of Northwest and Saint Martin's last week… Chicago State's Andrea Calderon posted 17 digs in a four-set match against NM State on Monday… Grand Canyon's Klaire Mitchell averaged 4.33 digs per set to go along with five total blocks in the Lopes' three-set win over Utah Valley on Monday… Tarleton's Ana Costas led the Texans defensively as she averaged 3.75 digs per set in their three wins last week… UT Rio Grande Valley's Samaret Caraballo had 18 digs and a pair of blocks on Tuesday night as the Vaqueros battled with Tarleton… Utah Valley's Seren Jardine led UVU with 40 digs in a series split with Grand Canyon, averaging 6.67 digs per set on the week.

 

Entering the tournament, NM State continues to dominate at the net as they lead the WAC in hitting percentage (.302), opponent hitting percentage (.127) and kills (15.16). The Aggies also lead the conference in assists (14.02). Meanwhile, Utah Valley sits atop the league in blocks (2.72) and service aces (1.62) with Grand Canyon pacing the conference in digs (19.28).

 

Individually, Grand Canyon's Yeny Murillo leads the WAC in kills (4.33) and points per set (4.7). Fellow Lopes Klaire Mitchell and K.J. Adams have also been impressive as Mitchell records the most assists per set at 11.89 and Adams leads the conference in digs (5.02). GCU also had the league's top blocker in Hannah Eskes (1.42) while Chicago State's Berenice Almeyda holds the top hitting percentage (.422). Lastly, NM State's Natalie Mikels notches the most service aces per set at 0.49.

 

A pair of WAC hitters posted all-time numbers in hitting percentage this season. Both Chicago State's Berenice Almeyda and NM State's Lia Mosher finished the regular season among the top-10 in WAC hitting percentage for a single season. Almeyda finished the season leading the WAC with a .422 hitting percentage, placing her fourth all-time heading into the WAC tournament. Meanwhile, Mosher's .417 hitting percentage is good to tie her for sixth-best all-time.

 

Additionally, Seattle U's Tijana Milojevic and Utah Valley's Seren Jardine each carry career marks that rank among the top-10 in WAC history. In four years as a Redhawk, Milojevic averaged 4.51 digs per set to rank eighth all-time in WAC history. Jardine's career numbers are also among the best to ever do it in the WAC as she is ranked sixth in total digs at 1798.

 

Undefeated NM State ranks inside the top-10 among Division I schools in a trio of team categories. The Aggies are tops in the nation in assists per set (14.02), second in kills per set (15.16) and tenth in hitting percentage (.302).

 

Grand Canyon has also been among the best in the NCAA as they rank seventh in digs per set (19.28).

 

Individually, the Lopes' Klaire Mitchell leads the GCU offense as she ranks third among DI players in assists per set (11.89). Chicago State's Yanlis Feliz ranks tenth in attacks per set at 12.59.

 

 

For the second consecutive year, NM State will be the WAC regular-season champions. The Aggies are 13-1 in WAC play with a series against Chicago State remaining. However, the pair of matches against the Cougars will not impact the Aggies' conference record. This marks the Aggies' fifth championship in the last six years and their sixth all-time.

 

Tuesday, Utah Valley's Seren Jardine became the Wolverines' all-time leader for digs in a career. Jardine moved into the top spot as she tallied her 1,748th dig in UVU's three-set sweep of UT Rio Grande Valley.

 

Grand Canyon's Kaira Moss became one of just two active WAC players to reach 250 career blocks last week. The junior posted six blocks (five solo) in both matches against Seattle U to reach the mark.

 

A pair of NM State teammates reached career benchmarks over the week. Lia Mosher, a junior middle blocker, tallied the 250th block of her career with NM State. She recorded number 250 in the Aggies 3-0 sweep of Utah Valley on Tuesday as she notched four total blocks against the Wolverines.

 

Fellow Aggie, Savannah Davison recorded 38 total points two weeks ago to lead her squad and put her over 1,000 points in her three years at NM State.

 

Tarleton's Lauren Kersey was named the Sports Imports/AVCA Division I Women's Player of the Week for the week of Feb. 24 through March 2. Kersey became just the fourth player in Texan volleyball history to win the award, and the first Division I program. 

 

On the week, Kersey averaged 4.00 kills per set on .378 hitting as she led the Texans to a perfect 4-0 week. The junior posted double-digit kills in each of Tarleton's victories, highlighted by a season-high 17 kills on 30 swings in a three-set win over Chicago State on Monday.

 

In NM State's impressive win over Seattle U, the Aggies set the school record for hitting percentage in a three-set match (.554). Shaney Lipscomb led the way as she set the program record for individual hitting percentage in a three-set match (1.000). Only two players in NCAA history have recorded better hitting days as The Aggies finished the day with 46 kills and Lipscomb claimed 14 kills of her own.

 

Seattle U's Tijana Milojevic notched her 100th ace last night in the Redhawks' road match with NM State. This season Milojevic currently ranks third in the WAC in service aces per set (0.36) and has recorded 15 aces this season, giving her 105 for her career.

 

NM State Head Coach Mike Jordan earned his 500th career win as the Aggies took down California Baptist in three sets on Feb. 22. The Aggies are currently 8-0 and are riding a 28-match win streak in conference play. Jordan has been at the helm for NM State since 1998 and has led the Aggies to five WAC regular-season titles and seven NCAA tournaments during his tenure. 

 

NM State's Natalie Mikels recorded her 2,000th career assist in an Aggie uniform on Feb. 16 against GCU. The senior setter from Jenks, Okla., posted 20 assists against the Lopes to join the 2,000-assist club.

 

Utah Valley's Kazna Tanuvasa placed herself among elite company as she tallied her 1,000th kill as a Wolverine. The junior outside hitter eclipsed the mark after recording 18 kills against No. 16 BYU. 

 

It was apparent that both Dixie State and Tarleton were ready for the jump as both squads dominated in their Division I debuts. The Trailblazers took down Southern Utah in straight sets, winning 25-18, 25-21, 26-24. Meanwhile, the Texans also won in three sets, taking down Louisiana Tech in just three sets (25-21, 25-23, 25-16) in their season opener.

 

The WAC volleyball coaches selected NM State to win the WAC regular-season crown this spring. Coming off back-to-back WAC Tournament Championships, the Aggies received eight of the nine first-place votes and 64 total points to earn the top spot in the poll. Grand Canyon earned the remaining first-place vote to finish in second place with 55 points, followed by UT Rio Grande Valley which slid into third with 48 points. California Baptist picked up 42 points as they were selected fourth while UT Rio Grande Valley finished closely behind with 40 points to claim fifth. Dixie State, Tarleton and Seattle U each collected 21 points to form a three-way tie for sixth while Chicago State rounded out the poll with 12 points.

 

NM State and Grand Canyon had the most players named to the preseason All-WAC team as both squads garnered three spots. Joining NM State's Savannah Davison on the preseason team are fellow Aggies Julianna Salanoa and Lia Mosher, Grand Canyon's Kaira Moss, Klaire Mitchell and Annabelle Kubinski, Utah Valley's Kazna Tarawhiti and Seren Jardine, UT Rio Grande Valley's Sarah Cruz and Samaret Caraballo, California Baptist's Sydney Marks and Christine Graf and Seattle U's Eve Kerschenbaum and Tijana Milojevic.

 

Of the seven First Team All-WAC players in 2019, four return for the season – spring 2021 Preseason Player of the Year Savannah Davison of NM State and teammate Julianna Salanoa along with Utah Valley's Kazna Tarawhiti and Grand Canyon's Kaira Moss.

 

Just two of the seven second team honorees return as GCU teammates Annabelle Kubinski and Klaire Mitchell are back.

 

Four of the six All-Freshman Team honorees from a year ago return – Grand Canyon teammates Hannah Eskes and Mitchell, California Baptist's Christine Graf and Victoire Nama of UT Rio Grande Valley. 

 

The Spring 2021 WAC Volleyball Tournament is headed back to Orem, Utah. NM State was originally set to host, but it will be unable due to current COVID-19 restrictions in Doña Ana County.

 

Instead, Utah Valley will open its doors to Lockhart Arena to host the upcoming tournament after putting on the tournament one year ago. The tournament dates will remain the same with the first round of matches to be held on April 1 and the championship match set for April 3. All six eligible teams will participate in the 2020-21 WAC Volleyball Tournament.

 

The NCAA Division I Women's Volleyball Championship 48-team bracket will be announced Sunday, April 4. The bracket will consist of 32 automatic qualifiers and 16 at-large teams. The final site of the 2020 NCAA Championship will be the CHI Health Center Omaha in Omaha, Neb. Semifinals will be held April 22 while the championship will be held on April 24.