Nov. 19, 2008

HONOLULU, Hawai'i - For the first time in Bulldog history two freshmen were named to the All-WAC Freshmen team in one season, as outside hitter Baylee Platt (Clovis, Calif.) and middle hitter Brianna Clarke (Fresno, Calif.) were honored by the WAC coaches at the banquet Wednesday night at the Marriot Hotel in Waikiki.

Clarke and Platt were two of six freshmen named to the team and the Bulldogs have now had a freshman on the team each of the last five seasons.

Platt leads the team with 286 kills which ranks her fifth on the Fresno State Freshmen record lists. She is just one kill shy of fourth place. She is also just six attempts shy of cracking into the top five. Platt also has 201 kills in WAC play alone and ranks in the top 10 in the conference in kills and points per set.

Clarke has also ranked amongst the top 10 in WAC play in kills and points per set. She has 220 on the year and 114 in WAC play. Her 12 solo blocks on the year rank fifth on the Fresno State Freshman list.

Kanani Danielson from Hawai'i was named the WAC Freshman of the Year while her teammate, senior Jamie Houston was named Player of the Year. New Mexico State's Mike Jordan was named Coach of the Year.

2008 WAC VOLLEYBALL POSTSEASON AWARD WINNERS

All-Conference
First Team
Krista Altermatt - New Mexico State
Lindsay Baldwin - Nevada
Kelly Crow - San Jose
Aneli Cubi-Ontineru - Hawai`i
Kanani Danielson - Hawai`i
Jamie Houston - Hawai`i
Amber Kaufman - Hawai`i
Haley Larsen - Idaho
Melissa Osterloh - Utah State
Amber Simpson - New Mexico State
Krystal Torres - New Mexico State
Lindsey Yon - New Mexico State

Second Team
Brianna Amian - San Jose State
Katie Astle - Utah State
Colleen Burke - San Jose State
Chelsea Fowles - Utah State
Kylie Harrington - Nevada
Tara Hittle - Hawai`i
Kelsey James - Idaho
Dani Mafua - Hawai`i
Sadie Maughan - Boise State
Anna McKinney - Idaho
Christine Morrill - Utah State
Nickie Thomas - Hawai`i

WAC Player of the Year: Jamie Houston, Hawai`i
WAC Coach of the Year: Mike Jordan, New Mexico State
WAC Freshman of the Year: Kanani Danielson, Hawai`i

The WAC Tournament begins Thursday morning with the Bulldogs as the No. 8 seed, take on No. 9 Louisiana Tech at 11:30 PST. The winner takes on No. 1 seed New Mexico State at 7 p.m.

"Join the State - Fresno State!" - The Bulldog volleyball team will take on Louisiana Tech in the play-in game of the WAC Tournament on Thursday, Nov. 20 in Honolulu, at 11:30 a.m. PST. For complete times and WAC Tournament action log on to www.gobulldogs.com and www.wacsports.com.