FARMINGTON, Utah (Nov. 21, 2023) – With the regular seasson concluded, the Big Sky Conference office has announced its 2023 volleyball award winners ahead of the conference tournament starting on Wednesday.
These awards are voted on by the league’s head coaches. Coaches are not allowed to vote for their own players in the process.
With 382 kills on the season in 27 matches, Sacramento State's Bridgette Smith was named Most Valuable Player. Smith is the first Sacramento State player to earn the honor since 2017 when Kennedy Kurtz was given the nod for Most Valuable Player.
Weber State's Makayla Sorensen was named the Big Sky’s Libero of the Year award winner, after recording 427 digs on the season. Sorensen is the second Wildcat to earn the honor in the award's history, and the first to do so since 2002 when Kendrea Meyer accomplished the feat.
Additionally, Portland State's Lauren Anderson was named Newcomer of the Year. This award is given to an athlete who is competing in their first season at a Big Sky instition that is not a freshman. Anderson started all 27 matches for the Vikings this season and was second on the team in blocks with 78.
Syd Cole from Northern Colorado was named the league's Setter of the Year, as the Bear wins the award in its first year of existence after leading her squad to a second-place finish. Cole was named the league's Most Valuable Player a season ago.
Fellow Bear Gabi Placide won Outstanding Freshman of the Year after her stellar season on the court for Northern Colorado. She is the first Bear to claim the award since 2011.
For the third time in his career at Sacramento State, Ruben Volta has been named Coach of the Year after another outstanding season with the Hornets. Volta led the Hornets to their 10th regular-season title in program history and first since 2017. Volta and the Hornets finished the regular season with a 13-3 mark, the program's best since 2017.
The 2023 Big Sky Volleyball Championship starts on Wednesday, Nov. 22, as the top eight teams from the league competes for the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Volleyball Tournament. For more information on the tournament this week in Greeley, click
here.
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2023 Big Sky Women’s Volleyball Individual Awards
Most Valuable Player: Bridgette Smith, Sacramento State*
Libero of the Year: Makayla Sorensen, Weber State
Setter of the Year: Syd Cole, Northern Colorado*
Top Newcomer of the Year: Lauryn Anderson, Portland State
Outstanding Freshman of the Year: Gabi Placide, Northern Colorado
Coach of the Year: Ruben Volta, Sacramento State
* - unanimous selection