Dixie State's Anna Bullard chosen PacWest
Player of the Week
QUEEN CREEK, AZ - Dixie State College freshman setter Anna Bullard (Farmington, UT/Davis) was named the PacWest Player of the Week for leading her Rebels to a pair of wins over NDNU over the weekend.
The rookie averaged 1.00 service aces per game, pounding out nine over nine games as the Rebels wound up tied for fifth with Hawai‘i Pacific in the PacWest standings. Bullard also amassed 103 assists for an 11.44 per game rate.
Dixie State's first win over NDNU coupled with two losses by Hawai‘i Pacific forced a tie for fifth place between the Rebels and the Sea Warriors.
Rebels sweep NDNU, finish tied for 5th; UHH completes perfect 14-0 season
QUEEN CREEK, AZ - Dixie State College will use its pair of victories over Notre Dame de Namur on the final weekend of the 2007 season to springboard into the 2008 campaign. The Rebels earned a 3-1 PacWest triumph on Friday night over NDNU to secure a tie for fifth place in the conference with Hawai‘i Pacific, then Dixie State nipped the Argo 3-2 on Saturday in a non-league matchup.
The Rebels used a variety of players to secure the twin victories. Freshman MB Amanda Goodell (Fort Collins, CO/Rocky Mountain) posted a .386 hitting percentage with 22 kills and just five errors in 44 attempts, while freshman setter Anna Bullard (Farmington, UT/Davis) tied for third in the league last week by averaging 1.00 service aces per game. She pounded out nine in nine games to produce the highest total among all PacWest players and also amassed 103 assists.
Rookie setter McCall Johnson (Sandy, UT/Alta) was strong on defense, amassing 45 digs for a 9.00 digs per game average, while junior MB Mariesa Nielson (Oak City, UT/Delta) had a league-best 11 total block assists last week to average 1.22 blocks per game. Sophomore OH Cami Johnson (Morgan, UT/Morgan) totaled 47 points over the two games.
NDNU was led by last week's PacWest Player of the Week Marissa Miller (Linden, CA/Linden). The senior outside hitter averaged 5.22 points per game in nine games, posting 38 kills, eight service aces and a block solo. She also had 39 digs on defense (4.33 d/g).
Freshman setter Pamela Alano (Daly City, CA/Mercy), sophomore setter Joanna Gresh (Pacifica, CA/Sacred Heart Cathedral Prep) and senior setter Shasta Millhollin (Solano, CA/Solano College) each racked up a ton of assists for the Argos. Alano had 37, Gresh totaled 42 and Millhollin contributed 29 (5.8).
Hawai‘i Hilo will holds its breath for Monday's NCAA Division II Championship selection announcement as the Vulcans hope their 23-5 record will lead to a playoff berth. UHH has won 14 straight matches and finished 14-0 in the PacWest, but the Vulcans were not listed in the regional ranking last week.
Still, UHH put an exclamation point on its regular season with a 3-0 victory at Hawai‘i Pacific on Saturday night. Sophomore MB Lauren Bayer (San Antonio, TX) hit .667 with 10 kills, while rookie OP/OH Hillary Hurley (Anderson, CA/Enterprise) posted 16 kills for a 5.33 per game average. Sophomore setter Chelsea Spadaro (Colorado Springs, CO) registered 40 assists.
Hawai‘i Pacific sophomore DS Charly Sampaga (Honolulu, HI/Kalani) turned in 34 digs in two matches to finish off the year for the Sea Warriors.
BYU-Hawai‘i closed out its season with a 3-0 sweep of Chaminade on Saturday night. Junior MB Faylynn Merrick (Sauk Rapids, MN/Sauk Rapids Rice) hit .619 with 13 kills in 21 attempts, while junior setter LeeAnn Mapu (Laie, HI/Kahuku) had four service aces and 41 assists vs. the Silverswords.
Chaminade rookie setter Tanya Alvino (Brentwood, CA/Liberty) posted 67 assists in two matches and freshman teammate Samantha Miller (San Bruno, CA/Aragon) had 24 kills.
Grand Canyon ended the 2007 campaign with a tough non-league loss vs. Embry-Riddle by the score of 3-1. Junior MB Shea Robinson (Phoenix, AZ/North Canyon) recorded 22 kills.