November 17, 1998
LAS VEGAS - UNLV head women's volleyball coach Deitre Collins has been named the WAC's Mountain Division Co-Coach of the Year as part of the annual awards announced by the league Tuesday.
Collins, who has led the Rebels since the program was resurrected in 1996, shared honors with Colorado State coach Tom Hilbert. The WAC postseason awards are determined by a vote of all WAC head coaches.
UNLV, which is currently tied for second place in the division at 9-3, has an overall record of 20-7, and earlier this year set the school record for consecutive victories with 10. Last year's squad went 9-18.
The team stages its final homestand of the year by hosting Colorado State on Thursday and Wyoming on Saturday.
Three of Collins' players also were honored.
Setter Meri-de Boyer became the program's first-ever First-Team All-WAC selection. The senior from Poway, Calif., is averaging 14 assists and 2.6 digs per game.
The second team included outside hitter Justine Kamelamela. The sophomore from Aiea, Hawaii, is averaging 3.9 kills per game.
Junior outside hitter Angie Sylvas from Las Vegas also made the second team after leading the team with 3.99 kills.
Jami Laya of Wyoming was named the division's Player of the Year while Angela Knopf of Colorado State and Marci King of TCU were named Co-Freshman of the Year.
1998 WAC ALL-CONFERENCE TEAMS -- MOUNTAIN DIVISION
FIRST TEAMMeri-de Boyer, UNLV S Sr. Poway, Calif. (UC Santa Barbara) Tiffany Carrethers ,Rice MB Sr. Houston, Texas (Pasadena Dobie)Angela Knopf, Colorado State MB Fr. Portland, Ore. (Sam Barlow)Jami Laya, Wyoming OH Sr. Ranchester, Wyo. (Tongue River)Catie Vagneur, Colorado State OH Jr. Aspen, Colo. (Aspen)Karolina Zelinka, Rice OH Jr. Houston, Texas (Spring Woods)Kristen Vance, Colorado State DS Jr. Whittier, Calif. (La Serna)
SECOND TEAMMelody Friehauf, Wyoming MB So. Windsor, Colo. (Windsor)Nil Kalagoglu, Rice S So. Istanbul, Turkey (German)Justine Kamelamela, UNLV OH So. Aiea, Hawaii (Maryknoll)Esther Langley, Colorado State MB Sr. Windsor, Colo. (Windsor)Angie Sylvas, UNLV OH Jr. Las Vegas (San Jose State)Libra Taylor, Rice MB Sr. Houston, Texas (Lee College)Marci Hammack, Wyoming DS So. Redmond, Ore. (Redmond)
