Conference Second Half Begins
The second half of Mountain West Conference schedule got underway with the top three teams continuing to distance themselves from the rest of the field. BYU regained the league lead with a pair of conference victories over New Mexico and Air Force to move percentage points ahead of Colorado State. The Rams claimed a win over Wyoming in their only action. Utah also claimed wins over Air Force and New Mexico to solidify its place in the standings. San Diego State won its rivalry match with UNLV in five games.
This week’s schedule is packed with only conference matches. Action begins on Thursday as UNLV plays host to Utah. The Utes get a day off before traveling to San Diego State for a Saturday match. No. 10 BYU plays at San Diego State on Friday, then at UNLV on Saturday. Air Force and New Mexico will host No. 11 Colorado State and Wyoming on Friday and Saturday.
USA Today/AVCA
National Poll
BYU No. 10, CSU No. 11
The top eight teams remained the same, but upsets caused shifting in the middle and lower portions of the ranks in this week¹s USA Today/AVCA Division I Coaches’ Top 25 national poll.
BYU (19-3/8-1 MWC) took advantage of a loss by Texas and a win over then-No. 19 Arizona to move up a notch to No. 10 in this week’s listing. The Cougars’ only losses this season were to Michigan in the season opener, to then-No. 7 Stanford on Sept. 25 and to then-No. 15 Colorado State on Oct. 22. BYU also owns wins over Top 25 members Loyola Marymount and Pepperdine.
Colorado State (20-1/7-1 MWC) also climbed a spot to No. 11 in this week’s national poll. Thus far, the Rams have registered three tournament titles and wins over Top 25 teams Colorado, Loyola Marymount and BYU.
Others Receiving Votes: Wisconsin, Cal Poly, Illinois
San Diego State’s Akporiaye Selected
Mountain West Conference Volleyball Player of the Week
Freshman middle blocker Nicole Akporiaye from San Diego State becomes the first rookie to be selected the Mountain West Conference Volleyball Player of the Week. Akporiaye was instrumental in the Aztecs’ two five-game come-from-behind victories over Northern Arizona and UNLV this past week. With the wins, SDSU improved to 10-12 overall and 3-5 in conference play.
Akporiaye collected nine blocks in each outing and reached double figures in kills in both matches. She collected 12 kills vs. Northern Arizona and a career- and team-high 18 against UNLV when she led the Aztecs with a .343 attack percentage (18-6-35). She hit a consistent .320 (12-4-25) vs. Northern Arizona.
For the week, Akporiaye hit .333 with 30 kills and only 10 errors in 60 attempts. She averaged 3.0 kills and 1.13 blocks per game, totaling 30 kills and 18 blocks. She also added four digs and one assist.
A product of Canyon Del Oro High in Tucson, Ariz., Akporiaye currently is second on the team with 80 total blocks (14 BS, 66 BA). She also ranks third in the kills category with 159 total and an average of 2.15 kills per game.
This is the first player of the week honor for Akporiaye in her career and the first in volleyball for San Diego State this season.
Sooner Than You Think … Conference Championships at BYU
Just three weeks away now, the inaugural Mountain West Conference Volleyball Championship will be hosted by Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah. All eight MWC institutions will compete for the first league title November 24-27 in the Smith Fieldhouse.
Tickets for the event are available through the BYU ticket office by calling (801) 378-2981 or (800) 322-2981. For media credentials contact Elaine Adams at the Mountain West Conference Office (719) 533-9510.
Non-conference Wrap
Four non-conference matches took place this past week as Mountain West Conference action continued to dominate the schedule. The MWC went 3-1 in non-league action. BYU claimed wins over Pac-10 members Arizona State and Arizona. The MWC split matches with the Big Sky as San Diego State defeated Northern Arizona, but Wyoming suffered a loss to Weber State. Combined, Mountain West Conference teams own a 72-39 record against opponents from other conferences, to date. Collectively, MWC teams have won 238 games and lost just 156 in non-league contests. Here’s a quick look at how the Mountain West Conference stacks up against conferences MWC teams have faced at least three times:
ACC 3-2
Big East 6-3
Big Sky 5-3
Big 12 4-7
Big West 4-3
Colonial 2-1
C-USA 4-0
Missouri Valley 5-1
Ohio Valley 3-0
Pac-10 4-5
SEC 3-1
Sun Belt 4-2
West Coast 3-7
WAC 3-2
Team Notes:
Air Force Falcons (16-7, 4-5 MWC)
The Falcons faced one of the toughest weekends in conference play as they suffered losses at Utah and BYU … Despite the losses, the Falcons continued to hold on to fourth place in the league standings … Historically, AFA entered the season with just two wins ever over Mountain West Conference opponents, yet they have totaled four already this season … Individually, the Falcons’ BROOKE EFFLAND (SR., OH) closed in on the prestigious 1,000 career kill milestone and should pass the mark at home this week as she brings a 999 career kill total into Friday¹s match vs. CSU … Effland will become only the 10th player in Air Force history to collect 1,000 career kills and the first since the program moved to the Division I level in 1996 … On the conference statistical leaders list, the Falcons have individuals at the top of two categories, THARMMONY IN (SR., S) leads the league in service aces (0.49) per game and TRACEY WILKERSON (SR., OH) tops the digs list with a 3.72 per game average … This week, Air Force faces a tough challenge in hosting No. 11 Colorado State on Friday and Wyoming on Saturday.
BYU Cougars (19-3, 8-1 MWC)
The Cougars are listed No. 10 in this week’s edition of the national rankings … This past week BYU claimed four victories, including a pair over Pac-10 foes ASU and No. 19 Arizona … With two more sweeps in conference action, the Cougars have won eight of their nine conference matches in the minimum three games, however their only loss was also a sweep (by CSU) … Coming off a BYU record .909 (10-0-11) hitting percentage against Wyoming last week, SUNNY TONGA (FR., OH) hit .857 (13-1-14) against Arizona State for the third highest outing in BYU history Š For the week, Tonga hit .373 and averaged 2.54 kills over 13 games … CAROLINE BOWER (SR., OH) matched her career-high with 27 digs at No. 19 Arizona to turn in the best effort in the MWC thus far … MELISSA LAYTON (JR. MB/OH) tied her personal best with 13 kills at Arizona and was just one block short of a triple-double as she added 12 digs and nine blocks … Layton also served a career-high six aces against New Mexico … MARI CARPENTER (SR., OH) tied her season-high with 20 kills while hitting .581 at ASU … NINA PUIKKONEN (SO., MB) totaled 54 kills, 20 blocks and 24 digs during the week and led the Cougars in kills in both conference matches this past week Š She continues to lead the league and ranks fifth in the nation in blocks with an average of 1.65 per game … She also leads the conference in kills per game with a 4.21 average … As a team, BYU continues to lead the conference in two categories - blocks per game (3.47) and hitting percentage (.296) … This week, the Cougars will play at San Diego State and UNLV.
Colorado State Rams (20-1, 7-1 MWC)
The Rams are listed No. 11 in the USA Today/AVCA national poll this week … In a light week of action, CSU swept Wyoming to register win number 20 on the season and the 70th for head coach Tom Hilbert … CSU is now 14-0 at home this season and owns a 24 match home win streak … The Rams have claimed 17 matches in the minimum three games this season … CSU is 3-0 against ranked teams, including an upset of then-No. 8 BYU in the first battle between two nationally ranked conference teams … A crowd of 4,112 against BYU marks the largest attendance figure for the Rams during the 1990s and is the highest total by a conference team … COURTNEY COX (SO., OH) was the only Ram to reach double figures in kills as she put away 13 and hit. 375 vs. the Cowgirls … KATHERINE PETTIT (JR., S) came in to provide 12 assists in one game … As a team, CSU claimed the conference lead in kills (16.71) per game and service aces (1.87) and maintained the lead in assists (15.07) … The Rams also stand second in hitting percentage (.273) … In this week’s action, CSU travels to Air Force on Friday and New Mexico on Saturday.
New Mexico Lobos (7-19, 2-7 MWC)
The Lobos endured a tough weekend in Mountain West Conference action, losing to two of the top-three teams on the road at BYU and Utah … Four Lobos reached double figures in kills against Utah as MICAELA CONLEY (JR., OH) had 13, JESSIE GOFFARD (SO., OH) 12, AMBER SMITH (SR., OH) 14 and VANESSA SHIELDS (SO., MB) 10 … CONLEY notched her eighth double-double by adding 12 digs vs. the Utes … ERIKA SANSONI (FR., MB) currently leads the Lobos with 89 totals blocks (21 solo/68 assisted) … The Lobos hit .210 as team vs. BYU … SMITH led the team with 12 kills and CONLEY added 10 vs. the Cougars … This week, New Mexico plays host to Wyoming on Friday and No. 11 Colorado State on Saturday.
San Diego State Aztecs (10-12, 3-5 MWC)
The Aztecs pulled out two come-from-behind five-game victories with wins over Northern Arizona on Monday and UNLV on Friday … Instrumental in the Aztecs victories was NICOLE AKPORIAYE (FR., MB) who was rewarded as the Aztecs’ first Mountain West Conference Player of the Week recipient … AKPORIAYE collected nine blocks and registered double digits in kills in each match with 12 vs. NAU and a career and team-high 18 against UNLV … She hit .333 during the week and totaled 30 kills and 18 blocks … In her first significant action, MELISSA CANSDALE (Fr., OH) provided a huge spark in the come-from-behind win over Northern Arizona drilling a career-high 15 kills with a .371 attack percentage … JAMIE EVANS (SR., OH) notched her seventh double-double of the season with 19 kills and 13 digs and ERIN GRADY (JR., MB) registered a career-high 14 kills against NAU … AMY HALLQUIST (JR., OH) added her sixth double-double of the season with 13 kills and 12 digs vs. UNLV … The schedule has not been easy for SDSU which opened the season against four ranked opponents and has played a total of seven top-25 foes thus far … This week, the Aztecs concluded a crucial four-match homestand playing host to Utah and No. 10 BYU.
UNLV Rebels (9-10, 1-7 MWC)
The Rebels suffered a five-game conference loss at rival San Diego State last week … Individually, ANGIE SYLVAS (SR., OH) continues to be a bright spot for the Rebels as she recorded her seventh double-double at SDSU with 21 kills and 11 digs … This 21-kill outing marked her fourth entry into the 20-kill club as she led all hitters in the match-high … JEANETTE GRAVES (SR., OH) also notched a double-double with 17 kills and 15 digs … ALICIA ERICKSON (SO., MB) registered her second double-figure blocking effort with 11 total blocks (1 BS/10 BA) at SDSU, ironically her first double-digit effort was also vs. SDSU in the first meeting of the season when she totaled 10 blocks … JUSTINE KAMELAMELA (JR., OH) just missed a triple-double, but joined the elite blocking group at SDSU, she totaled 56 assist, 10 total blocks (1 BS/9 BA) and nine digs in the match … After opening the season with a school-best seven consecutive wins, the Rebels have now lost seven of the last eight matches, three of those losses have come at the hands of ranked foes (USC, Pepperdine and BYU) … UNLV claimed its only league win with an upset of previously undefeated No. 14-ranked Colorado State on Oct. 16 … UNLV faces another tough week as the Rebels play host to Utah on Thursday and BYU on Saturday.
Utah Utes (17-6, 7-2 MWC)
Utah notched two more conference victories with 3-1 wins over Air Force and New Mexico last week … The Utes scored 11 unanswered points in game two vs. New Mexico to come back and win the game, 16-14, then scored the final 12 points of the match to claim game four 15-9 … Individually, MCKELLE STILSON (SO., MB) has reached double-figures in kills in 19 of the 23 matches this season … ALISA GEDDES (SO., OH) has reached double figures in kills in 13 of 20 matches … GRACIELA TORRES-LOPEZ (SR., S) owns three triple-doubles this season … Utah’s all-time assist record holder, TORRES-LOPEZ has totaled 1,038 assists this season, bringing her career total to 4,744. Averaging 12.66 assists per game, Torres-Lopez continues to close in on the 5,000 milestone … As a team, Utah leads the league in digs per game with a 16.08 average … In this week’s action, the Utes play at UNLV on Thursday and at SDSU on Saturday.
Wyoming Cowgirls (8-15, 2-6 MWC)
The Cowgirls suffered a conference loss to No. 12 Colorado State, then fell just short in a five-game battle with Weber State in non-league play last week … Individually, MELODY FRIEHAUF (JR., MB) … continued to lead the Cowgirls as she notched her fourth 20-plus kill outing and 15th in double-figures when she drilled a match-high 21 vs. Weber State … FRIEHAUF was the only Cowgirl to reach double-figures with 11 kills against CSU … FRIEHAUF is listed third in the conference with a team-high .358 attack percentage and a 1.30 blocks per game average … FRIEHAUF owns the only 30-kill outing in MWC history, after drilling the career-high against Evansville on Sept. 25 … RACHEL LAU (SO., MB/OH) hit .462 with 15 kills and five blocks against Weber State … As a team, Wyoming out blocked both of its opponents this past week, despite suffering two losses … This week, Wyoming travels to New Mexico and Air Force.
Match-Bests
Attack Percentage
Indiv.: .909 (10-0-11) by Sunny Tonga (BYU) at Wyoming O 23
Team: .537 (34-5-54) New Mexico vs. Jackson State S 3
Kills
Indiv.: 30 by Melody Friehauf (Wyo) vs. Evansville S 25
Team: 86 UNLV at Nevada, Reno S 28
Blocks
Indiv.: 13 (1/12) by Summer Jennings (CSU) vs. Utah O 23
Team: 22 Wyoming vs. Montana State S 4
Digs
Indiv.: 27 by Caroline Bower (BYU) at Arizona O 26
Team: 95 Colorado State vs. Utah O 23
New Mexico at Wash. State S 11
Assists
Indiv.: 78 by Maria Julia Goes (UNLV) at Nevada, Reno S 28
Team: 81 UNLV at Nevada, Reno S 28
Service Aces
Indiv.: 8 by Christel Eves (UNLV) at Maryland S 11
Team: 17 UNLV at Maryland S 11
Mountain West Among NCAA Leaders (As of 10/24)
Assists
19th Anna-Lena Smith (BYU) 13.42
Blocks
5th Nina Puikkonen (BYU) 1.73
Team Hitting Percentage
10th BYU (1011-368-2233) .288
18th Colorado State (1127-434-2523) .275
Team Kills
20th BYU (1011/60 games) 16.85
Team Assists
20th Colorado State (1018/67 games) 15.19
Team Blocks
5th BYU (44 BS/335 BA/211 TB) 3.53
Rich Postseason History
Six of the eight MWC women’s volleyball programs have competed in postseason action over the years while the other two programs have only been in competition since 1996. Leading the charge is Brigham Young University, which has competed in the NCAA tournament 17 times. Highlighting BYU’s NCAA success is a national runner-up finish in 1993. The Cougars have also reached the Regional Final seven times - including the past three years.
Colorado State has competed in the last four NCAA tournaments bringing its total to 10. San Diego State has made 12 NCAA appearances, New Mexico seven, Wyoming four and Utah one. In addition, CSU and Utah have each competed in the National Invitational Volleyball Championship (NIVC).
MWC Volleyball Milestones
First Serve: Colorado at CSU, 6:58 p.m., Sept. 1.
First MWC Kill: by CSU’s Catie Vagneur at 6:59 p.m., Sept. 1 against Colorado.
First Point Scored: On a kill by CSU’s Catie Vagneur at 6:59 p.m., Sept. 1 against Colorado.
First Victory: CSU d. Colorado (3-0) Sept. 1.
First 3-Game Win: CSU d. Colorado (3-0) Sept. 1.
First 4-Game Win: BYU d. Toledo (3-1) Sept. 4.
First 5-Game Win: BYU d. Georgia (3-2) Sept. 3.
First Victory vs. Ranked Opponent: No. 24 CSU d. No. 19 Colorado (3-0) Sept. 1.
First Home Victory: CSU d. Colorado (3-0) Sept. 1.
First Away Victory: BYU d. Georgia (3-2) Sept. 3.
First Neutral Victory: UTAH d. SMU (3-0) Sept. 3.
First Loss: Denver d. WYOMING (3-0) Sept. 1.
First 3-Game Loss: Denver d. WYOMING (3-0) Sept. 1.
First 4-Game Loss: Montana State d. WYOMING (3-1) Sept. 4.
First 5-Game Loss: Georgia d. UTAH (3-2) Sept. 7.
First Home Loss: Northern Iowa d. UTAH (3-0) Sept. 1.
First Away Loss: Denver d. WYOMING (3-0) Sept. 1.
First Neutral Loss: Michigan d. BYU (3-0) Sept. 3.
First Tournament Title: AIR FORCE won the Air Force Invitational Sept. 3.
First Tournament Title at Home: AIR FORCE won the Air Force Invitational Sept. 3.
First Tournament Title on Road: UTAH won the Texas Tech Four Points Sheraton Classic Sept. 4.
First Player of the Week: CSU’s Courtney Cox (So., OH)
First 10-Block Outing: 10 (1/9) by Wyo’s Melody Friehauf vs. Montana State and (4/6) by BYU’s Nina Puikkonen vs. Toledo on Sept. 4.
First 20-Kill Outing: 20 by AFA’s Shaylor Billings vs. Morgan State and 21 by UNLV’s Angie Sylvas on Sept. 10.
First 30-Kill Outing: 30 by Wyo’s Melody Friehauf vs. Evansville on Sept. 25.
First 20-Dig Outing: 20 by SDSU’s Jamie Evans vs. Creighton on Sept. 12.
First Triple-Double: (16k-1d-11b) by Wyo’s Rachel Lau vs. Montana State on Sept. 4.
Grand Fan Club
4,112 BYU at Colorado State O 22
3,533# Pepperdine at BYU S 18
2,584 Colorado at Colorado State S 1
2,063 Notre Dame at Colorado State S 25
1,532 Utah State at BYU S 17
1,471 SMU at Colorado State S 17
1,415 Wyoming at Colorado State O 29
1,381 Colorado State at Wyoming O 2
1,318 Evansville at Colorado State S 24
1,218 Notre Dame at BYU O 19
1,175 Utah at Colorado State O 23
1,154 New Mexico at BYU O 29
# New Arena Record
Triple-Double Club
(12k-10d-62a) Graciela Torres-Lopez (Utah) vs. CSU O 23
(12k-16d-60a) G. Torres-Lopez (Utah) vs. Pepperdine S 17
(10k-11d-60a) G. Torres-Lopez (Utah) vs. Weber State S 7
(16k-11d-11b) Rachel Lau (Wyo) vs. Montana State S 4
20-Dig Club
27 Caroline Bower (BYU) at Arizona O 26
26 Alisa Geddes (Utah) at Colorado State O 23
25 Brooke Effland (AFA) vs. Tennessee Tech S 11
22 Micaela Conley (UNM) at Wyoming O 9
22 Tracy Wilkerson (AFA) vs. Denver O 6
22 Alisa Geddes (Utah) at California S 25
21 Janelle Torres (UNM) vs. Wash. State S 11
21 Brooke Effland (AFA) vs. UNLV O 23
20 Tharommony In (AFA) vs. Utah O 2
20 Jamie Evans (SDSU) at Creighton S 12
20 Tracy Wilkerson (AFA) vs. UNLV O 23
20 Nana Allison (UNM) vs. SDSU O 23
30-Kill Club
30 Melody Friehauf (Wyo) vs. Evansville S 25
20-Kill Club
27 Brooke Effland (AFA) vs. Denver O 6
25 McKelle Stilson (Utah) at Cal S 25
25 Angie Sylvas (UNLV) at Air Force O 23
24 Jamie Burke (Wyo) vs. Arkansas S 11
24 Shaylor Billings (AFA) vs. Tenn. Tech S 11
24 Amber Smith (UNM) vs. SDSU O 23
23 Courtney Cox (CSU) at Denver S 21
23 Catie Vagneur (CSU) at Denver S 21
23 Angie Sylvas (UNLV) at Nevada-Reno S 28
23 Angela Knopf (CSU) vs. Utah O 23
23 Catie Vagneur (CSU) vs. Utah O 23
23 Alisa Geddes (Utah) vs. Notre Dame O 20
22 Amy Hallquist (SDSU) at Creighton S 12
22 Brooke Effland (AFA) vs. Utah O 2
21 Angie Sylvas (UNLV) at Louisville S 10
21 Melody Friehauf (Wyo) vs. Arkansas S 11
21 Jamie Burke (Wyo) vs. Notre Dame S 24
21 McKelle Stilson (Utah) at Air Force O 2
21 Shaylor Billings (AFA) vs. UNLV O 23
21 Angie Sylvas (UNLV) at San Diego State O 29
21 Melody Friehauf (Wyo) vs. Weber State O 30
20 Shaylor Billings (AFA) vs. Morgan State S 10
20 Amber Smith (UNM) vs. Wash. State S 11
20 McKelle Stilson (Utah) vs. Utah State S 16
20 Brooke Effland (AFA) at Alabama S 17
20 McKelle Stilson (Utah) vs. Pepperdine S 17
20 Nina Puikkonen (BYU) vs. Pepperdine S 18
20 Melody Friehauf (Wyo) vs. Notre Dame S 24
20 Amber Smith (UNM) vs. SMU S 25
20 Mari Carpenter (BYU) vs. Weber State O 5
20 Jamie Burke (Wyo) vs. New Mexico O 9
20 Nina Puikkonen (BYU) vs. Notre Dame O 19
20 Jeanette Graves (UNLV) at Air Force O 23
20 McKelle Stilson (Utah) at Colorado State O 23
20 Mari Carpenter (BYU) at Arizona State O 25
Double-Figure Block Club
13 Summer Jennings (CSU) vs. Utah O 23
11 Summer Koons (AFA) vs. Utah O 2
11 Rachel Lau (Wyo) vs. Montana St. S 4
11 Alicia Erickson (UNLV) at SDSU O 29
10 Alicia Erickson (UNLV) vs. SDSU O 2
10 Melody Friehauf (Wyo) at Colorado S 14
10 McKelle Stilson (Utah) at Georgia S 10
10 Melody Friehauf (Wyo) vs. Montana St. S 4
10 Nina Puikkonen (BYU) vs. Toledo S 4
10 Justine Kamelamela (UNLV) at SDSU O 29
