Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State Volleyball Hands Out Team Awards
12/9/2001 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Dec. 9, 2001
FRESNO, Calif. - Fresno State volleyball reflected on the 2001 season with delight and handed out postseason team awards at its annual awards banquet held at TorNino's this afternoon.
Senior middle blocker Shauna McQuaid (San Diego, Calif.) and junior outside hitter Christy Burnett (Fallbrook, Calif.) were named team co-MVP's after leading the Bulldogs to the semifinals of the 2001 Western Athletic Conference Volleyball Championship Tournament.
Also receiving the Best Offensive Player award for the second straight year, McQuaid made her mark throughout the past season as well as in the Bulldogs' annals.
Sweeping up Western Athletic Conference honors with preseason, first team and all-tournament accolades, McQuaid led the WAC in hitting in six of the 11 weeks and in blocking throughout the conference season. Ranking among the nation's best in blocking for 10 consecutive weeks while making one appearance in hitting, McQuaid led the Bulldogs in seven categories this past year: kills (321), kills per game (3.91), hitting (.289), block solos (21), block assists (97), total blocks (118) and blocks per game (1.44). McQuaid, a three-year starter, finished her career ranked in seven all-time Top 10 school records: No. 3 blocks per game (1.13), No. 5 block assists (268), No. 5 total blocks (335), No. 6 hitting percentage (.280), No. 7 kills per game (3.37), No. 7 block solos (67) and No. 9 kills (991).
Burnett also was honored with the Best Defensive Player award and the Most Improved Player award. She was the most consistent Bulldog in the second half of the season. Burnett, who averaged 3.49 kills per game and 3.55 digs per game, was a second team all-WAC pick. Having ranked among the WAC's top ten in league play, Burnett also appeared in the WAC' top 10 in hitting, kills per game and service aces this past season. With six double-doubles in her last 12 matches, Burnett had 10 or more kills in seven and averaged 12.50 kills a match. She also had 10 or more digs in eight of her last 12 and averaged 12.75 digs a match. As the team's top dig leader with 297, Burnett led all Bulldogs with nine double-doubles in 2001.
The Coaches Award went to freshman setter Whitney Arena (West Linn, Ore.). Getting the starting nod at setter, Arena quarterbacked the Bulldogs in 24 straight and averaged nearly 12 assists per game (11.87) after dishing out 997 assists on the season. Ranked among the WAC's top 10 this season, Arena was consistent in conference play as well with a 12.71 assist per game average in 13 WAC matches -- good for second place with 534 total assists. The second team all-WAC pick had a career-high 70 assists against Rice in the quarterfinal round of the WAC tournament. With double-figure digs in four matches and tallying a block in every match but five, Arena recorded 40 or more assists 12 times, 50 or more assists seven times and 60 or more assists four times.
The Academic Award was given to sophomore outside hitter Kara Verwey (Kerman, Calif.). Verwey, who set career-high marks in digs (17 vs. UTEP) and kills (26 vs. Florida State) finished second on the team in kills (282), kills per game (3.32) and digs (213). The 2001 all-WAC preseason pick recorded all-tournament honors at the Fresno State Invitational and the Howdy's Pepperdine Tournament. Verwey picked up double-figure kills in 16 matches, including a season-best streak of six straight.
