United Athletic Conference

 

Abilene Christian middle blocker Breanna Box 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 September 6 through September 12. Additionally, UT Rio Grande Valley's Luanna Emiliano has earned Freshman of the Week honors.

 

Box, a junior from Wichita Falls, Texas, was a dominant force in the Wildcats' 2-1 weekend at the North Texas Challenge. She notched an impressive 31 total kills on 51 swings while recording only one hitting error across three matches. On the week, Box averaged 3.10 kills per set on .588 hitting, including a career-high .611 hitting percentage in a win over Jackson State on Friday. She also earned all-tournament honors for the weekend.

 

Markham, a sophomore from McKinney, Texas, helped lead the Aggies to a perfect weekend as she posted double-digit digs in three-straight sweeps. She finished the week averaging 4.89 digs per set, helping her claim a spot on the Colonel Challenge All-Tournament team. Her week was highlighted by a 20-dig showing on Friday in a win over Western Carolina. On the season, Markham ranks second in the conference in total digs (162) and fifth in digs per set (4.63).

 

Emiliano, a setter from Belo Horizonte, Brazil, helped lead the Vaqueros to a 3-1 record in the UTRGV tournament as she was a force on both offense and defense. She posted 10.67 assists per set and added 11 total kills and seven service aces. Emiliano also averaged 3.47 digs per set in addition to four total blocks across four matches. Her three double-doubles were also tied with SFA's Ariana Pagan for most in the WAC last week.

 

Other offensive nominees included: California Baptist's Christine Graf average 3.18 kills per set on .386 hitting to lead the Wolverines to an undefeated weekend… Chicago State's Yanlis Feliz continued her dominance as she posted 4.36 kills per set over the weekend… Grand Canyon's Annabelle Kubinski averaged 2.33 kills per set on a strong .453 hitting out of the middle for the Lopes last week… Lamar's Hannah Waters recorded 4.91 assists per set, including a pair of 20-plus assist performances over the week… NM State's Shaney Lipscomb hit .368 and averaged 3.33 kills per set in the Aggies' undefeated weekend… Seattle U's Sierra Bartley tabbed 3.09 kills per set as the Redhawks went 2-1 at the New Mexico Tournament… Stephen F. Austin's Ariana Pagan earned all-tournament team honors at the Tulsa Invitational as she recorded 3.45 kills per set on .289 hitting across three matches… Tarleton's Kayla Brannon notched 7.91 assists per set last week, including a season-high 37 assists against Stony Brook on Friday… UT Rio Grande Valley's Sarah Cruz posted a career-high 26 kills in a win over Louisiana on Thursday as she averaged 4.92 kills per set on the week… Utah Valley's Kazna Tanuvasa finished the week averaging 3.68 kills per set, highlighted by 23 kills against Weber State and 20 kills in UVU's meeting with Arizona State. 

 

Other defensive nominees included: California Baptist's Chandler Gorman averaged 1.18 blocks per set for the Lancers last week, with 13 across three matches… Chicago State's Andrea Calderon posted 3.82 digs per set, including 22 digs in a win over Belmont on Friday… Grand Canyon's Teagan DeFalco posted 4.67 digs per set, including a 22-dig outing that helped lead the Lopes to a four-set victory over a then-undefeated UTEP team… Lamar's Giselle Santini averaged 3.55 digs per set as she started all 11 sets for the Cardinals last week… Seattle U's Darian Goins recorded 48 total digs with just three receiving errors on the weekend, helping the Redhawks go 2-1 on the weekend… Stephen F. Austin's Alyssa Ortega finished the week with 53 total digs over the weekend, averaging 4.73 digs per set for the Ladyjacks… Tarleton's Lorin McNeil recorded 10 total blocks over the weekend, making her the WAC leader in total blocks (36) and solo blocks (9)… UT Rio Grande Valley's Luisa Silva Dos Santos averaged 1.13 blocks per set while also chipping in with 1.20 digs per set last week… Utah Valley's Bryton Bishop set a career-high with 26 digs against Weber State while also helping hold Arizona State to one of its lowest hitting percentages of the season.

 

Other freshman nominees included: California Baptist's Laura Walewska averaged 1.29 kills per set on .444 hitting in her home debut… Chicago State's Andrea Calderon notched 3.82 digs per set while also posting 1.36 assist per set for the Cougars… Lamar's Emily Surin registered 24 kills and added five digs and three total blocks… Seattle U's Katlyn Sipes recorded 2.45 digs per set on top of 5.09 assists per set last week… Stephen F. Austin's Alyssa Ortega was a standout defensively last week, averaging 4.73 digs per set and 52 total digs across three matches… Tarleton's Trinity Vinzant scored 10-plus points for the third time this season following her 12.5-point effort in a sweep of St. Thomas on Saturday… Utah Valley's Jules Fink set a career-high in points (16.5), kills (15) and digs (5) against Arizona State on Friday.

 

The final week without conference matchups on the slate is upon us. This week's featured matches include four meetings with Power Five schools and three contests against programs that competed in last season's NCAA Tournament. Abilene Christian gets the week started for the WAC as they face Big 12 foe Oklahoma who is led by Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week Callie Kemohah. Tarleton's might be the toughest as they take on two NCAA Tournament teams in Texas State and Texas A&M-Corpus Christi on top of facing a one-loss UTEP squad. 

 

Sam Houston also has a strong schedule as they face Texas Tech, Tulane and UAB in a relocated Tulane Tournament that will now be played in Birmingham, Ala. Utah Valley is set for a home stand that includes matchups with in-state rivals Utah State and No. 15 BYU. Dixie State will also take on a Utah rival as they get set for a home and home with future WAC member Southen Utah on Friday and Saturday. Meanwhile, Chicago State will look to continue its strong start with a trip to Bloomington, Ind. to face off against host Indiana and an Ole Miss team who is now receiving votes in the AVCA Division I Coaches Top 25 Poll following an 8-0 start.

 

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:

 

Lindsey Toney, Abilene Christian - ACU Invitational (MVP)

Madison Rohre, Abilene Christian - ACU Invitational

Christine Graf, California Baptist - Georgia State Invitational

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

McKenzie Wise, Grand Canyon - Idhao Volleyball Classic

Hannah Eskes, Grand Canyon - Idaho Volleyball Classic

Morgan Janda, Sam Houston - Bearkat Invitational (MVP)

Breanne Chausse, Sam Houston - Bearkat Invitational

Ashley Lewis, Sam Houston - Bearkat Invitational

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

Luanna Emiliano, UT Rio Grande Valley - New Orleans Invitational

 

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.

 

Jada Birkel, Abilene Christian - Wildcat Classic

Yanlis Feliz, Chicago State - Windy City Classic

Berenice Almeyda, Chicago State - Windy City Classic

Andrea Calderon, Chicago State - Windy City Classic

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

Hannah Eskes, Grand Canyon - GCU Invitational

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.

 

Teagan DeFalco, Grand Canyon - Portland State Tournament

Annabelle Kubinski, Grand Canyon - Portland State Tournament

Hannah Waters, Lamar - Lamar Invitational

Shaney Lipscomb, NM State - Colonel Challenge (MVP)

Katie Birtcil, NM State - Colonel Challenge

Darian Markham, NM State - Colonel Challenge

Makayla Pollard, Utah Valley - Lumberjack Classic

Kazna Tanuvasa, Utah Valley - Lumberjack Classic

 

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 is 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 all six eligible teams.

 

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 the 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. Semifinals will be held December 16 while the championship will be held on Decemer 18.