Fresno State Athletics
Eppright Named a 2015 All-Conference Selection
11/30/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
By: Kimberly Fisher
kimfisher@csufresno.edu
GoBulldogs.com
FRESNO, Calif. - The 2015 Mountain West All-Conference Women's Volleyball Team was announced Monday, as Fresno State's libero Maggie Eppright became the fourth Bulldog to be honored since joining the conference in 2012.
"Maggie was one of the best liberos in the conference this year," head coach Lauren Netherby-Sewell said. "Being that she's one of only two liberos to make the All-Conference Team, shows the impression she made on opposing coaches and teams. She shifted momentum in matches and made big plays that others didn't think could be made. I'm proud of her growth—she earned this."
Eppright accompanies 17 additional honorees chosen by the league's 11 head coaches, along with six honorable mention selections. The Bulldog volleyball program has totaled 57 all-conference awards since 1979, including nine under the direction of Netherby-Sewell in the past eight seasons. Barbara Alcantara became the first Bulldog volleyball player to earn All-Mountain West honors as a senior setter in 2012, followed by a pair of All-MW nods earned in 2013.
Fresno State was one of nine Mountain West programs that reaped at least one individual all-conference honoree including Air Force (1), Boise State (5), No. 12 Colorado State (4), Nevada (1), New Mexico (2), San Diego State (1), UNLV (1) and Wyoming (2). Eppright and Boise State's Maddi Osburn were the lone liberos who earned the award, joined by eight middle blockers on defense, a pair of setters and the final selections were rounded out with six outside hitters.
The San Luis Obispo, Calif., native settled into the starting lineup in 2014 and has competed in all 96 matches in her three collegiate seasons at Fresno State. While pacing the team defensively, Eppright added a season-high 573 digs to her career total of 1,372 and averaged 4.82 over 119 sets played as a junior. She also contributed 85 assists and had a top five team finish in service aces (18).
As an interior design major, Eppright's Bulldog career is highlighted by multiple academic achievements including All-MW (2013) and CoSIDA All-District (2014) accolades, while also being named all-tournament on three occasions for an outstanding performance on the court – Jack Kaiser Classic (2014), Western Carolina Tournament (2015) and the 2015 Fresno State Classic. Fresno State Athletics nominated the defensive specialist for the first time as the Student-Athlete of the Week (powered by Deli Delicious) on Aug. 31, following the ‘Dogs 2015 opening weekend in Cullowhee, N.C.
As the first member of the current roster to recognized with an all-conference honor, the 2015 co-captain capped her junior season ranked first in overall digs among Mountain West competitors and had a second-best 319 coming during MW play, only 14 shy of tying the conference leader. Individually, she captured the team's highest national ranking in the most recent NCAA Women's Division I Volleyball statistics, finishing No. 35 in total digs and No. 52 in digs per set (4.82).
During what was the fourth season as a MW member, Fresno State finished 14-18 and 6-12 in the regular season, including nine victories as the home team at the Save Mart Center.
2015 Mountain West All-Conference Team
Akokwe Clement# (Sr., OH, Air Force)
Sarah Baugh# (Sr., S, Boise State)
Sierra Nobley# (So., OH, Boise State)
Maddy O'Donnell# (Jr., MB, Boise State)
Kaitlyn Oliver (So., MB, Boise State)
Maddi Osburn (So., L, Boise State)
Acacia Andrews (Jr., MB, Colorado State)
Adrianna Culbert%# (Sr., S/OPP, Colorado State)
Alexandra Poletto (So., MB, Colorado State)
Alex Reid (Sr., OH, Colorado State)
Maggie Eppright (Jr., L, Fresno State)
Madison Morell (Jr., OH, Nevada)
Skye Gullatt (Sr., MB, New Mexico)
Hannah Johnson%# (Sr., S, New Mexico)
Deja Harris (R-Fr., MB, San Diego State)
Bree Hammel# (Jr., MB, UNLV)
Laura Beach# (So., MB, Wyoming)
Kayla Slofkiss (Jr., OH, Wyoming)
Honorable Mention
Shelley Spires (So., OH, Air Force)
Jaime Colaizzi# (Sr., L, Colorado State)
Simone Henderson (Sr., MB, New Mexico)
Cassie House# (Jr., OH, New Mexico)
Bailey Little (Jr., RS, San Diego State)
Tyanna Roy (Sr., OH/OPP, San José State)
Player of the Year: Adrianna Culbert, Sr., S/OPP, Colorado State
Freshman of the Year: Reed Copeland, MB, Wyoming
Newcomer of the Year: Alex Reid, Sr., OH, Colorado State
Coach of the Year: Shawn Garus, Boise State
% = 2013 honoree
# = 2014 honoree
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