United Athletic Conference

ARLINGTON, Texas – The 2022 WAC volleyball award winners have been announced, following a vote of the league’s 13 head coaches. UTRGV’s graduate outside hitter Sarah Cruz was named WAC Player of the Year, while fellow Vaquero Luanna Emiliano earned Setter of the Year honors. Stephen F. Austin’s Haley Hoang collected Libero of the Year honors and Utah Valley’s Avery Shewell was named WAC Freshman of the Year. UTRGV’s head coach Todd Lowery was named WAC Coach of the Year. 

Cruz, a graduate outside hitter, earned WAC Player of the Year honors after averaging 4.43 kills per set on .249 hitting, with 2.31 digs per set and 5.07 points per set during the regular season. Cruz ranked first in the WAC in kills per set and points per set as she led the Vaqueros to a 24-5 overall record and 13-1 record in WAC play and the No. 1 seed in the upcoming WAC Volleyball Tournament. 

Emiliano, a sophomore setter, was named WAC Setter of the Year after leading the league with 10.74 assists per set during regular season play. She posted 20 double-doubles in regular season play. Emiliano recorded a career-high 72 assists on Aug. 30, 2022, against Texas A&M Corpus Christi. 

Hoang, a junior defensive specialist, picked up the WAC Libero of the Year award after leading the WAC in digs per set (5.26) during regular season play. Additionally, Hoang was named WAC Defensive Player of the Week three times this season. 

Shewell earned WAC Freshman of the Year honors after averaging 2.72 kills per set on .223 hitting with 3.32 points per set during the regular season. She also tallied three double-doubles in WAC matches in her debut season. Shewell recorded season highs in kills (20) and points (23) on Oct 15, 2022, against SFA. 

Lowery led his team to an impressive 13-1 record in conference play with an overall record of 24-5. The Vaqueros led the WAC in team assists (1,387), team digs (1,677), team kills (1,498) and team total attacks (3,937) during the regular season as they secured their second WAC regular-season title along with the No. 1 seed in the WAC Tournament.  

2022 WAC Volleyball Postseason Award Winners 

WAC Player of the Year: Sarah Cruz, Gr., OH, UTRGV 
WAC Setter of the Year: Luanna Emiliano, So., S, UTRGV 
WAC Libero of the Year: Haley Hoang, Jr., DS, Stephen F. Austin 
WAC Freshman of the Year: Avery Shewell, Fr., OH, Utah Valley 
WAC Coach of the Year: Todd Lowery, UTRGV 

First Team All-WAC 
Christine Graf, Sr., OH, California Baptist 
Melanie Brecka, Gr., OH, Grand Canyon 
Klaire Mitchell, Sr., S, Grand Canyon 
Tatum Parrott, Fr., OH, Grand Canyon 
Molly Johnson, Gr., OH, NM State 
Ielan Bradley, Jr., MB, Stephen F. Austin  
Tori Dorius, Sr., OH, Utah Valley 
Kazna Tanuvasa, Gr., OH, Utah Valley 
Brianna Ford, So., OH, UT Arlington  
Sarah Cruz, Gr., OH, UTRGV 
Luanna Emiliano, So., S, UTRGV 
 
Second Team All-WAC 
Katie Birtcil, Sr., OH, NM State 
Lia Mosher, Gr., MB, NM State  
Hannah Baker, So., DS/L, Sam Houston  
Haley Hoang, Jr., DS, Stephen F. Austin 
Ariana Pagan, Sr., OH, Stephen F. Austin 
Makenzie Templeton, Jr., OH, Southern Utah  
Kate Hardy, Jr., MB, Utah Tech  
Taela Laufiso, Sr., S, Utah Tech  
Whittnee Nihipali, Sr., OH, Utah Tech 
Avery Shewell, Fr., OH, Utah Valley 
Luisa Silva Dos Santos, Jr., MB, UTRGV 

All-Freshman Team 
Ashli Edmiston, OH/DS Abilene Christian  
Tatum Parrott, OH, Grand Canyon 
Madison Dyer, MB, Sam Houston  
Jayden Flynn, S, Stephen F. Austin 
Izabella Ortiz, MB, Stephen F. Austin 
Ailie Hair, MB, Tarleton  
Avery Shewell, OH, Utah Valley  
Sophie Skinner, S, UT Arlington 

- WAC -