Nov. 24, 1999
PROVO, Utah - Three players recorded double-doubles in kills and digs for No. 12 Colorado State as it defeated UNLV 15-9, 3-15, 15-4, 15-9, in the first round of the Mountain West Conference Volleyball Tournament at BYU's Smith Fieldhouse Wednesday.
Colorado State (26-2, 12-2 MWC) was led by Courtney Cox's 16 kills and 10 digs. Other players recording double-doubles for CSU were Angela Knopf with 15 kills and 10 digs and Catie Vagneur with 14 kills and 17 digs.
The loss ends the season for UNLV (12-14, 4-10 MWC), which was led by Jeanette Graves' 14 kills. Angie Sylvas recorded 11 kills and 10 digs, while Danielle Gerlach added 11 kills and Alicia Erickson contributed 11 kills.
"This match represented the kind of season we had this year," UNLV Head Coach Deitre Collins said. "We played good at times. Unfortunately, we are a better team than we showed this year. Game two was evidence of that."
In other MWC volleyball news, the all-conference team has been announced. UNLV's Sylvas was the only Rebel selected as she garnered second-team honors.
BYU's Nina Puikkonen headlined the first-ever All-Mountain West Conference Volleyball Team as the unanimous choice by the coaches for Player of the Year honors.
The coaches selected Colorado State's Tom Hilbert as Coach of the Year and BYU's Sunny Tonga received Freshman of the Year accolades.
Other Cougars joining Pukkonen on the first team were Caroline Bower and Anna-Lena Smith, who was the first-team Setter of the Year. Colorado State's Catie Vagneur and Angela Knopf also earned first-team recognition, while Kristen Vance was selected the first-team Defensive Specialist of the Year. Utah's McKelle Stilson and Wyoming's Melody Friehauf completed the first-team selections.
Utah's Graciela Torres Lopez and Alisa Geddes were second-team picks, while Brooke Barton was the second-team Defensive Specialist of the Year. Colorado State's Allison Peckham was chosen the second-team Setter of the Year and was joined by Courtney Cox, giving CSU five total picks. BYU's Mari Carpetner brought the Cougars' total all-conference selections to five with her second-team selection. Air Force's Summer Koons and Sylvas completed the second-team selections.
