In a tough season for the University of Hawaii at Hilo women’s volleyball team, freshman Bria Morgan put up big power numbers, leading the Pacific West Conference and NCAA Division II with 5.16 kills per game.
In a tough season for the University of Hawaii at Hilo women’s volleyball team, freshman Bria Morgan put up big power numbers, leading the Pacific West Conference and NCAA Division II with 5.16 kills per game.
For her strong performance, Morgan, a 5-foot-11 outside hitter from Soquel, Calif., has been named the PacWest Freshman of the Year in balloting of league coaches.
The All-PacWest teams were announced Tuesday, and conference champion Brigham Young University-Hawaii had four players honored as well as longtime coach Wilfred Navalta.
BYUH’s Shih Ting Chen, a 5-10 sophomore outside hitter/middle blocker from Taiwan, won PacWest Player of the Year honors for the second straight year. Teammates Ying Chun Chen, a 5-7 sophomore setter, and Lauren Hagemeyer, a 6-1 junior outside hitter from Ridgway, Colo., joined her on the first team.
BYUH’s Melanie Manutai, a 5-4 junior libero from Oahu’s Moanalua High, earned second-team honors.
Navalta was named the PacWest Coach of the Year, leading the Seasiders (21-3 overall) to the league title and a 16-0 conference record.
Cal Baptist’s Ingrid Carmona, a 5-11 senior outside hitter from the Dominican Republic; Fresno Pacific’s Rupia Inck, a 6-1 sophomore outside hitter from Brazil; Grand Canyon’s Mackenzie Phelps, a 5-10 sophomore libero; and Kristen Preach, a 5-10 senior setter from Phoenix, also earned All-PacWest first-team honors.
Phelps was named PacWest Setter of the Year, and Fresno Pacific’s Kathleen Anderson, a 6-1 junior middle blocker, earned PacWest Newcomer of the Year honors.
Morgan was named to the All-PacWest second team. Besides her 5.16 kills per game, she also averaged 2.54 digs and 5.60 points per set in a productive first year under Vulcans head coach Tino Reyes.
Other second-team selections included BYUH’s Manutai; Fresno Pacific’s Anderson, Erica Adachi, a 5-9 senior setter, and Hannah Butler, a 5-7 freshman libero; Azusa Pacific’s Jackie Landers, a 5-11 junior outside hitter; and Cal Baptist’s Malika O’Brien, a 6-1 freshman middle blocker.
Hawaii Pacific University’s Chelsey Buyuan, a 5-6 junior libero and former Waiakea High standout, topped the seven-member third team.
Morgan was the only UH-Hilo player honored by the conference.
The Vulcans finished the year 4-17 overall and 4-11 mark in the PacWest.