Nov. 20, 2011
LAS VEGAS - The WAC 2011 volleyball award winners, as selected by the league's head coaches, were announced tonight at the WAC Tournament banquet. For the 16th-straight year, Hawai'i boasts the WAC Player of the Year, as senior outside hitter Kanani Danielson earned the honor for the third consecutive year. New Mexico State's Meredith Hays captured Freshman of the Year honors, while Idaho head coach Debbie Buchanan was named WAC Coach of the Year.
Five different schools were represented on the first team, led by top-seeded Hawai'i with five players on the first team and one on the second team. No. 2 seed Idaho had two players on the first team and three on the second team, while New Mexico State had three first-team selections and two second-team picks. Meanwhile, Fresno State and Utah State had one player each on the first team.
Danielson becomes just the third player in WAC history to earn WAC Player of the Year honors three times, joining Hawai'i players Kim Willoughby and Kanoe Kamana'o. She has posted a WAC-best 15 double-doubles on the season, was twice named WAC Player of the Week and ranks 40th nationally in points per set and 50th in kills per set. She is also just the fourth four-time first-team all-WAC honoree, joining Hawai'i's Kamana'o and Lily Kahumoku, and Rice's Rebeca Pazo.
Hays earned Freshman of the Year honors, becoming just the second New Mexico State player to do so (Amber Simpson, 2005). She currently leads the WAC and ranks 22nd nationally in kills (4.29) and leads the WAC and ranks 26th in the nation in points (4.79) per set. Hays was also honored as an All-Freshman Team selection and a first team all-WAC pick.
Buchanan led her team to its highest-ever finish in the WAC and the No. 2 seed in the WAC Tournament, its highest ever. Earlier this year, she became the all-time wins leader at Idaho. Her team is 10-2 since Oct. 1 and is currently on a five-match winning streak. This is her first WAC Coach of the Year honor.
2011 WAC Volleyball Award Winners
First Team
|
Team
|
Pos.. |
Yr. |
| Kelsey Brennan^# |
New Mexico State |
OPP |
Sr. |
| Brianna Clarke^^## |
Fresno State |
MB |
Sr. |
| Kanani Danielson*^# |
hawai'i |
OH |
Sr. |
| Jennah DeVries^# |
New Mexico State |
S |
Sr. |
| Emily Hartong## |
Hawai'i |
MH |
So. |
| Meredith Hays |
New Mexico State |
OH |
Fr. |
| Brittany Hewitt^^# |
Hawai'i |
MH |
Jr. |
| Liz McArthur^^# |
Utah State |
OH |
Sr. |
| Alicia Milo |
Idaho |
OH |
Sr. |
| Chanteal Satele# |
Hawai'i |
OH |
Sr. |
| Mita Uiato |
Hawai'i |
S |
So. |
| Allison Walker# |
Idaho |
OH |
So. |
|
|
|
|
| Second Team. |
Team |
Pos. |
Yr. |
| Alex Akana |
San Jose State |
MB |
Jr. |
| Janelle Batista |
Nevada |
MB |
Jr. |
| Jane Croson |
Hawai'i |
OH |
Fr. |
| Jenny Feicht |
Idaho |
S |
Jr. |
| Cassie Hamilton |
Idaho |
L |
Sr. |
| Michelle Kuester |
New Mexico State |
MH |
Sr. |
| Kylie Miraldi |
San Jose State |
MB |
Sr. |
| Kelsi Phillips |
New Mexico State |
L |
Sr. |
Tatiana Santiago
|
Nevada
|
S |
Sr. |
| Alex Sele |
Idaho |
M |
Jr. |
| Shay Sorensen |
Utah State |
OPP |
Jr. |
| Korrin Wild |
Fresno State |
OH |
So. |
| All-Freshman |
Team
|
Pos. |
| Jane Croson |
Hawai'i |
OH |
| Meredith Hays |
New Mexico State |
OH |
| Tessa Lea'ea |
Nevada |
MB |
| Maci Murdock |
Fresno State |
MB |
| Paige Neves |
Utah State |
S |
| Alyssa Schultz |
Idaho |
M |
WAC Player of the Year: Kanani Danielson, Hawai'i
WAC Freshman of the Year: Meredith Hays, New Mexico State
WAC Coach of the Year: Debbie Buchanan, Idaho
*2008 first team pick
**2008 second team pick
^2009 first team pick
^^2009 second team pick
#2010 first team pick
##2010 second team pick
