United Athletic Conference

 

UT Rio Grande Valley outside hitter Sarah Cruz and Utah Valley Libero Bryton Bishop have been named the Western Athletic Conference Offensive and Defensive Volleyball Players of the Week, respectively, for the week of September 13 through September 19. Additionally, UT Rio Grande Valley's Luanna Emiliano has earned Freshman of the Week honors for the second consecutive week.

 

Cruz, a junior from Olomouc, Czech Republic, helped lead the Vaqueros to a perfect weekend, going 3-0 at the Pirate Invitational last week. Cruz finished the week averaging 4.67 kills per set on .345 hitting. Her top performance came against host East Carolina as she recorded 22 kills on 42 swings to average 7.33 kills per set. Cruz also added a pair of assists and four service aces on the weekend. The junior now ranks third amongst WAC hitters in both total kills (168) and kills per set (4.20).

 

Bishop, a sophomore from Pleasant Grove, Utah, recorded a pair of 20-plus dig outings to lead the Wolverines to a 2-1 record during last week's homestand. On the week, she averaged 5.00 digs per set, including 5.75 digs per set in a four-set victory over Idaho State. She also notched 12 digs against No. 15 BYU on Saturday. Bishop now ranks second in the WAC in total digs with 190 across 11 matches.

 

Emiliano, a setter from Belo Horizonte, Brazil, tabbed her second straight weekly award as she notched her eighth and ninth double-doubles of the season last week. In three-straight sweeps, Emiliano averaged 10.33 assists per set and 4.22 digs per set while also tallying four service aces and four total blocks. She also set the mark for most digs in a three-set match across Division I this season as she managed 45 digs in a sweep of East Carolina on Friday.

 

Other offensive nominees included: California Baptist's Tesa Oaks led the Lancers in both kills (22) and points (23.0) last week… Chicago State's Yanlis Feliz continued to dominate at the net, averaging 5.20 kills per set during the Cougars' 2-1 weekend… Dixie State's Hannah Howard led the Trailblazers in total kills with 27 across two matches last weekend… Lamar's Malaysia Murdock finished the week with 22 total kills and a .429 attack percentage… NM State's Shaney Lipscomb helped the Aggies extend their winning streak to six matches as she averaged 3.56 kills per set on .394 hitting in three-straight sweeps… Seattle U's Amaris Carter had a monster 29 kills on .356 hitting in a five-set thriller on the road at Eastern Washington… Stephen F. Austin's Ariana Pagan picked up Tournament MVP honors after averaging 3.44 kills per set on .299 hitting and leading the Ladyjacks to an undefeated weekend… Tarleton's Kayla Brannon recorded double-doubles against Texas State and UTEP last week as she finished with 71 total assists across a trio of matches… Utah Valley's Kazna Tanuvasa averaged 4.00 kills per set in a pair of matches against Utah State and BYU last week.

 

Other defensive nominees included: California Baptist's Paige Johnstone posted an impressive 5.57 digs across seven sets for the Lancers last weekend… Chicago State's Andrea Calderon averaged 3.70 digs per set as the Cougars swept both Indiana and Alabama A&M last week… Dixie State's Kate Hardy led DSU in blocks with 12 total blocks as the Trailblazers split their series with Southern Utah… Lamar's Giselle Santini led the Cardinals last week, averaging 3.09 digs per set, including 16 digs in a five-set win over Eastern Kentucky on Saturday… NM State's Darian Markham anchored the Aggies' back line, averaging 3.00 digs per set in a pair of wins last week… Seattle U's Darian Goins posted a career-high 47 assists to go along with 2.20 digs per set in the Redhawks' lone match last week… Stephen F. Austin's Ariana Pagan was also big for SFA on the defensive side as she averaged 2.78 digs per set, including a double-double against Houston Baptist… Tarleton's Lorin McNeil finished with season-highs in both digs (7) and blocks (6) in a four-set victory over Texas A&M-Corpus Christi… UT Rio Grande Valley's Luanna Emiliano had another impressive week, finishing with 38 total digs and four blocks in just nine sets.

 

Other freshman nominees included: California Baptist's Anna Jackson averaged 2.43 kills per set as she posted 17 total kills in the Lancers' two-match road trip… Chicago State's Andrea Calderon tallied 37 digs, six assists and two service aces across three matches… Lamar's Emily Surin made an appearance in all 11 sets for the Cardinals, finishing with 18 kills, nine digs and seven blocks last week… NM State's Alana Embry hit a collective clip of .360 while dishing out 5.13 assists per set during the Aggies' perfect weekend… Stephen F. Austin's Alyssa Ortega helped the 'Jacks go undefeated last week, finishing with 48 digs, seven assists and four aces… Tarleton's Trinity Vinzant filled up the stat sheet last week as she totaled 25 digs, 14 kills, five assists, three blocks and one ace across three across the Texans' three matches… Utah Valley's Jules Fink averaged 2.70 kills per set on the week while also posting a career-high in blocks with six against Idaho State on Thursday.

 

Only a few non-conference matches are on the slate this week as we officially start WAC play on Thursday evening. Lamar and Stephen F. Austin get the week started as they compete today. Lamar is set to take on Louisiana while Stephen F. Austin hosts Prairie View. Prairie View gets its second taste of WAC volleyball on Wednesday as they take on Abilene Christian. UT Rio Grande Valley also has a big non-conference test before heading into league play as they host UTEP on Thursday.

 

This week's WAC matchups get underway on Thursday as Dixie State is at home against Grand Canyon and Chicago State visits Seattle U. A rematch of the Spring 2021 WAC Championship match is also on tap on Thursday as Utah Valley hosts NM State. Conference battles continue on Saturday as Grand Canyon and NM State switch locations with the Lopes on the road at UVU and the Aggies making the trip to St. George, Utah, to face Dixie State.  Meanwhile, Chicago State heads down the coast to look for a win at California Baptist. Southwest Divisional play also starts Saturday with UT Rio Grande Valley welcoming Stephen F. Austin.

 

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.