Conference

The Big Sky Conference has announced its volleyball All-Conference team and individual award winners for the 2008 season. The awards were decided following a vote by the league’s nine head coaches and announced from the site of the championship on Nov. 27. Eastern Washington’s Hayley Hills, Weber State’s Brittney Bisaillon and Montana’s Jaimie Thibeault were unanimous selections to the first team.

Hills, a two-time first team selection, was also named this year’s MVP. The 5-11 outside hitter helped the Eagles to the Big Sky’s 2008 outright title with a 12-4 league and a 17-10 overall record.

The junior leads the conference with 4.56 kills per set. That average is the eighth best in NCAA Division I. In Big Sky play, she also ranks first with 5.15 kills per set. Hills has notched 25 or more kills in six matches this season. Against Idaho State on Oct. 23, she knocked down 30.

Hills has recorded 14 double-doubles this season and is averaging 4.97 points per set. The native of Quesnel, British Columbia was named the Big Sky Player of the Week four times.

Bisaillon received eight votes to the first team after placing in the top 10, in conference play, in five different categories. The senior middle blocker was first in hitting percentage (.366) and blocking (1.35), eighth in kills (3.00), fourth in points (3.98) and 10th in service aces (0.21). Thibeault, a sophomore middle hitter, averaged 2.82 kills and 1.25 blocks per set during the Big Sky season. The native of Red Deer, Alberta was named the Outstanding Freshman last year.

Montana also took home the Top Newcomer Award in Brittney Brown. The sophomore libero joined the Grizzlies this season after transferring from St. Edwards Univeristy. Heading into the Big Sky Championship, she is averaging 4.47 digs per set overall and 4.72 per set in league play. Brown, a native of San Antonio, Texas, has recorded double-digit digs in 24 of Montana’s 26 matches this season.

Northern Arizona swept the Libero of the Year and Outstanding Freshman Awards as Brittany Stowers and Lexi Sullivan were both honored. Stowers also became the first libero in conference history to receive first-team accolades. The senior closed out her career with the Lumberjacks having recorded double-digit digs in 52-straight matches. That streak lasted two entire seasons. The native of Phoenix, Ariz. averaged a conference-leading 6.32 digs, which also currently ranks second in the nation. Stowers earned honorable mention honors as a junior, and was the Big Sky Newcomer of the Year as a sophomore transfer.

Sullivan, an outside hitter, notched 4.13 kills per set as a freshman to finish the season ranked second in the Big Sky. That average is also 26th best in the nation. The native of Mesa, Ariz. is the only freshman ranked in the top 50 in the NCAA this season. Sullivan had 10 or more kills in all but one of Northern Arizona’s 26 matches, and recorded a conference-high 31 against Weber State on Nov. 13.

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Hayley Hills^*#, Eastern Washington, Jr., OH

Brittney Bisaillon*, Weber State, Sr., MB.

Jaimie Thibeault*, Montana, So., MH 

Brittany Stowers, Northern Arizona, Sr., L

Marija Vojnovic, Portland State, Jr., OH

Kenzie Shreeve, Northern Colorado, Jr., OH .

^ MVP, *Unamimous Selection, # Two-time First Team selection

 SECOND-TEAM ALL-CONFERENCE

Nique Fradella ,Portland State, Jr,. S

Chelsea Bair, Weber State, Jr., OH

Chenoa Coviare, Eastern Washington, So., MB

Taryn Wright, Montana, Jr,. S

Amy Roberts, Montana, So.,OH

Allison Raguse, Northern Colorado, Jr., MB.

HONORABLE MENTION

Alysha Cook, Eastern Washington; Ashley Hamilton, Eastern Washington; Mandy Daniels, Eastern Washington; Lexi Sullivan, Northern Arizona; Lauren Carter, Northern Colorado; Taylor Smith, Northern Colorado; Jalen Pendon, Portland State; Rose Burke, Sacramento State; Desiree Hoyum, Sacramento State; Leah Burmeister, Weber State

INDIVIDUAL AWARD WINNERS