FARMINGTON, Utah (Nov. 22, 2022) – With the 2022 Big Sky Conference Volleyball Championship officially starting Wednesday, the league office has announced its 2022 All-Conference Teams, along with the yearly individual award winners.
The 2022 All-Conference Team and individual awards were voted on by the league’s 10 head coaches. Coaches were not able to vote for their own players.
Claiming the title of 2022 Big Sky Volleyball Most Valuable Player is Northern Colorado’s Syd Cole, fresh off leading her team to a regular season title. Cole led the Big Sky in assists by a large margin, dishing out 11.20 per set and 1,154 on the season. That’s roughly 100 more than the next closest player. She is also a First Team All-Big Sky performer. She was named Big Sky Offensive Player of the Week twice during the regular season.
Earning the title of Libero of the Year is a pair of players, as UNC’s Michaela Boon and Portland State’s Ellie Snook have received co-honors. Snook leads the Big Sky with 4.71 digs per set, while Boon totaled 406 over the course of the season. Boon was also two-time Big Sky Defensive Player of the Week award winner this season, while Snook just earned the title for the final week of the regular season.
Rounding out the individual awards for the players, Portland State’s Madison Friebel was named Top Newcomer and Idaho State’s Emrie Satuala was named Freshman of the Year. Friebel was a two-time Big Sky Offensive Player of the Week this season, while Satuala picked up the honor once.
Montana head coach Allison Lawrence earned Coach of the Year from her peers in the Big Sky Conference, after leading the Griz to a 17-11 overall record and a 10-6 mark in league play. This is her sixth season as head coach of the Griz.
Northern Colorado led the charge in terms of First Team All-Big Sky players, as they account for four of the top 12 spots. Portland State put three players of the Big Sky’s First Team as well.
The 2022 Big Sky Volleyball Championships will be hosted on Nov. 23, 24 and 26 on the campus of Weber State University in Ogden, Utah. The top eight teams in the conference regular season standings advance to the championship.The winner of the championship receives the Big Sky’s automatic berth to the NCAA Tournament.
All matches from Ogden will stream live on ESPN+.
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Individual Awards
MVP: Syd Cole, Northern Colorado
Co-Libero of the Year: Michaela Boon, UNC/Ellie Snook, PSU
Top Newcomer: Madison Friebel, Portland State
Outstanding Freshman: Emrie Satuala, Idaho State
Coach of the Year: Allison Lawrence, Montana
Big Sky Volleyball All-Conference First Team
Syd Cole, Northern Colorado
Rachel Hickman, Northern Colorado
Parker Webb, Portland State
Kira Thomsen, Montana State
KJ Ince, Northern Colorado
Paige Clark, Montana
Kalani Hayes, Sacramento State
Dani Richins, Weber State
Makenzie Harris, Northern Colorado
Bridgette Smith, Sacramento State
Makayla Lewis, Portland State
Madison Friebel, Portland State
Big Sky Volleyball All-Conference Second Team
Carly Anderson, Montana
Ashtin Olin, Sacramento State
Emrie Satuala, Idaho State
Jordan Radick, Montana State
Ellie Snook, Portland State
Sage Brustad, Eastern Washington
Tiyanane Kamba-Griffin, Sacramento State
Sophia Meyers, Portland State
Makayla Sorensen, Weber State
Michaela Boon, Northern Colorado
Emma Mangum, Weber State
Alyssa Radke, Eastern Washington