Nov. 7, 2006

BELLINGHAM, Wash. - Western Washington University libero Courtney Schneider (Jr., Snohomish) was the only first-team repeater on the 2006 Daktronics NCAA Division II Pacific Region Volleyball All-Star Team announced today.

Schneider currently is the NCAA Division II national leader in digs at 7.65 per game. She is averaging more than a dig per game better than the GNAC record (6.59) she set last season and needs 12 more to break the school and conference record of 646 that she established in 2005.

Joining Schneider on the first team were two Seattle Pacific players - setter Jenna Von Moos and outside hitter Alyssa Given. Also picked were outside hitter Michelle (Tuli) Peters from Brigham Young University-Hawaii, who was voted Player of the Year; Antionette Kathol from Cal Poly Pomona, Brianne Koche from UC San Diego and Jessica Granados from Cal State San Bernardino.

Named to the second team were two Cal State San Bernardino players - middle blocker Sharea Drawn and libero Meghan Haas - along with setter LeeAnn Mapu from BYU-Hawaii, outside hitter Rebecca Bailey from UC San Diego, outside hitter Taina Savage from Hawaii Hilo, middle blocker Barbara Martin from Hawaii Pacific and right-side hitter Kristin Pasley from Central Washington.

The 18-6 Vikings, who placed second in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference standings at 14-2, are the No.7 seed in the Pacific Regional and play No.2-seed UC San Diego (23-2) in an opening-round match Thursday (2:30 p.m.) at San Bernardino, Calif.

2006 Daktronics Pacific Region Volleyball All-Star Team

Peters Selected NCAA Division II Pacific Region Player-of-the-Year

SPOKANE, WA - Michelle (Tuli) Peters of Brigham Young - Hawaii has been selected the 2006 Daktronics Pacific Region Volleyball Player-of-the-Year. Peters received six first-place votes, three seconds and three thirds from the panel of 18 Pacific Region sports information directors and outpointed Seattle Pacific setter Jenna Von Moos 23-14 for the award.

Peters and Von Moos were two of seven players selected to the Daktronics first-team all-region team by the SIDs. Joining them on the all-region team were Seattle Pacific outside hitter Alyssa Given, middle blockers Antoinette Kathol of Cal Poly Pomona and Brianna Koche of UC San Diego, right side hitter Jessica Granados of Cal State San Bernardino and libero Courtney Schneider of Western Washington.

Schneider was the lone player named to the first team for the second year in a row. Barbara Martin of Hawaii Pacific, who earned first team honors last season, was named to the second team. Two other players earned second team honors for the second year in a row - middle blocker Sharea Drawn of Cal State San Bernardino and outside hitter Taina Savage of Hawaii Hilo.

Completing the second team are BYU-Hawaii setter LeeAnn Mapu, outside hitter Rebecca Bailey of UC San Diego, right side hitter Kristin Pasley of Central Washington and libero Meghan Haas of Cal State San Bernardino.

Players selected to the region first team will be listed on the Daktronics All-American national ballot. The All-American team will be announced Nov. 15.

2006 DAKTRONICS PACIFIC REGIONAL VOLLEYBALL ALL-STAR TEAM

First Team

Jenna Von Moos, Seattle Pacific, Setter, Sr., Stanwood, WA
Michelle (Tuli) Peters, BYU-Hawaii, Outside Hitter, Jr., Laie, HI
Alyssa Given, Seattle Pacific, Outside Hitter, Jr., Salinas, CA
Antoinette Kathol, Cal Poly Pomona, Middle Blocker, Jr., Sierra Madre, CA
Brianna Koche, UC San Diego, Middle Blocker, Sr., San Jose, CA
Jessica Granados, Cal State San Bernardino, Right Side Hitter, So., Beaumont, CA
*Courtney Schneider, Western Washington, Libero, Jr., Snohomish, WA

Second Team

LeeAnn Mapu, BYU-Hawaii, Setter, So., Laie, HI
Rebecca Bailey, UC San Diego, Outside Hitter, So., Escondido, CA
*Taina Savage, Hawaii Hilo, Outside Hitter, Sr., Tauranga, New Zealand
*Sharea Drawn, Cal State San Bernardino, Middle Blocker, Jr., Sun City, CA
*Barbara Martin, Hawaii Pacific, Middle Blocker, Sr., Curibita, Brazil
Kristin Pasley, Central Washington, Right Side Hitter, Sr., Kent, WA
Meghan Haas, Cal State San Bernardino, Libero, So., Menifee, CA

*Repeater  from 2005 second team (Schneider and Martin 1st team; Drawn and Savage 2nd team)