Lewis-Clark State College volleyball assistant coach Marie Balmer was named the American Volleyball Coaches’ Association’s Northwest Region Assistant Coach of the Year and senior outside hitters Lauryn Herrick and Kelli Tikker were named to the all-Northwest Region team, AVCA officials have announced. Senior middle blocker Nicole Graybeal was an honorable mention selection.
Balmer, who played as an outside hitter for the Warriors from 2003-05 and in 2007, enjoyed her first year as an assistant coach for LCSC. Serving underneath first-year head coach LaToya Harris, Balmer played an instrumental role in the Warriors’ success this season as the team won its fifth consecutive conference title and made a fifth straight appearance at nationals.
Herrick, who was named the Frontier Conference Player of the Year in November, finished the season ranked No. 7 in the nation in service aces per game (0.6) and No. 15 in total aces (67). She was second on the team in kills with 307, third in hitting percentage at .265, and third in digs with 230. The native of Cypress, Calif., was also third on the team in total blocks with 49.
Tikker, from Nine Mile Falls, Wash., led the Warriors with 337 kills on the season. She also finished second on the team in service aces (31) and digs (324), and was fifth on the team in total blocks with 34. Tikker was an honorable mention AVCA selection last year.
Graybeal was an AVCA first-team NAIA All-American last season. Her statistical totals were hurt a little bit this year due to the fact that she missed a number of matches early in the year because of an injury. The native of Spokane finished the season ranked No. 28 in the nation in blocks per set (1.1), and also led the Warriors with a .302 hitting percentage and was fourth on the team in kills (200).
AVCA Northwest Region Team
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Whitney Brigham
|
College of Idaho
|
L
|
Sr.
|
|
Lauryn Herrick
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Lewis-Clark State College
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OH
|
Sr.
|
|
Kristin Barott**
|
Rocky Mountain College
|
S
|
Sr.
|
|
Sara Brunner***
|
Rocky Mountain College
|
OH
|
Sr.
|
|
Sarah Becker
|
Jamestown College
|
MH
|
So.
|
|
Jessica Lea
|
Eastern Oregon University
|
S/O
|
Sr.
|
|
Kylee Nawahine
|
College of Idaho
|
RS/Opp.
|
So.
|
|
Kelsey Vanuden
|
University of Great Falls
|
OH
|
Jr.
|
|
Kelli Tikker
|
Lewis-Clark State College
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OH
|
Sr.
|
|
Sarah Holgen**
|
Southern Oregon Univ.
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OH
|
Sr.
|
|
Megan Bartling
|
Southern Oregon University
|
MH
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Sr.
|
|
Torrey Hulsey
|
College of Idaho
|
MH
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Jr.
|
|
Markki Otteson
|
Carroll College
|
MH
|
Sr.
|
|
Rebecca Haight
|
Eastern Oregon University
|
RS/Opp.
|
Jr.
|
Player of the Year: Whitney Brigham- College of Idaho
Freshman of the Year: Josette Glatt - Mayville State University
Coach of the Year: Kaki McLean Morehead - Eastern Oregon University
Assistant Coach of the Year: Marie Balmer - Lewis-Clark State College
Honorable Mention: Josette Glatt (Mayville State, OP, Fr.), Elli Graff (Carroll, MH, So.), Nicole Graybeal (Lewis-Clark, MH, Sr.), Katie Lee (Jamestown, L, Jr.), Taylor Lucero (Great Falls, MH, Sr.), Ashley Marchant (Westminster, OH, Jr.), Heather Shulke, Northwest Univ. WA, L, Jr.), Kelsey Soos (College of Idaho, S, Jr.)
