Nov. 25, 2008
LAS VEGAS - For the fourth consecutive year the UNLV volleyball program placed at least two members on the Mountain West's All-Conference Team,which was announced Tuesday and voted on by the league's nine head coaches. Melody Nua, who is a repeat selection from 2007, was joined by Camille Cunningham on the 17-member squad. Cursty Jackson rounded out the awards for the Rebels, as she was named the MWC's Freshman of the Year.
The Rebels, who finished in a fourth-place tie with TCU in final MWC standings, were led by Nua and Cunningham's senior leadership this season. Both players assaulted the UNLV record book in 2008 and will have their names etched in the all-time annals of the program.
Nua, a 5-7 senior from Long Beach, Calif., leads UNLV in assists with 1,028 and notched double-digits in all 29 matches thus far in 2008. She racked up 13 double-doubles combining her assist tallies with 13 double-figure dig matches. In all, she is second on the squad in digs with 251 and second in aces with 20. At the net, she has thrown down 80 kills and blocked 19 opponent attacks. For her career, she will leave UNLV as the all-time leader in assists, matches played and sets played.
Cunningham, a 5-8 senior from La Canada, Calif., stepped into the libero position in 2008. She topped all conference defenders in overall and conference digs-per-set statistics, while helping UNLV achieve top billing in both of those categories as a team. She sits first amongst the team with 527 digs, which currently is the third-most in a single-season at UNLV. She has registered at least 11 digs in 28 of the team's 29 matches, with a career-best 33 coming in a win over Arizona State on Aug. 29. She provides some offense, as well, as she leads the team in aces with 23 with a career-best four served up against South Carolina on Aug. 30. Overall, she is sits second in career digs, eighth in matches played and ninth in sets played and aces.
Jackson, a 6-2 middle blocker from Los Angeles, earned MWC Freshman of the Year accolades after tallying the MWC's highest freshman ranking in hitting efficiency in overall and conference matches (.264 and .236, respectively), kills-per-set in overall and conference matches (2.55 and 2.72, respectively), and points-per-set in overall and league play (3.06 and 3.24, respectively). She ranked in the top-20 in all the aforementioned categories overall. She tallied double-figure kills in eight matches this season and also averages 0.81 blocks and 0.49 digs-per-set. She has pushed her career-high in kills to 18 in a contest vs. BYU on Nov. 6, while knocking down a .750 hitting efficiency vs. Georgia State on Sept. 20. She ranks second on the team in hitting with a .264 and third in kills with 204.
Jackson becomes UNLV's first MWC Freshman of the Year since Maria Aladjova took home honors in 2004.
2008 MOUNTAIN WEST ALL-CONFERENCE VOLLEYBALL TEAM
Name, School, Class, Position, HometownRachel Dyer!**, BYU, Sr., MB, Encinitas, Calif.Kayla Walker, BYU, Jr., RS/OPP, Kaysville, UtahMekana Barnes!**, CSU, Sr., MB, Highlands Ranch, Colo.Tessa Nelson, CSU, Jr., MB, Balaton, Minn.Jeanne Fairchild!*, UNM, Sr., OH, Albuquerque, N.M.Jade Michaelsen, UNM, So., S, Tucson, Ariz.Lauren Salisbury, SDSU, So., MB, Southlake, TexasNirelle Hampton, TCU, Sr., S, Gainesville, Fla.Christy Hudson, TCU, So., RS, Yorba Linda, Calif.Melody Nua!*, UNLV, Sr., S, Lakewood, Calif.Lori Baird!**, Utah, Sr., MB, Murray, UtahKarolina Bartkowiak, Utah, So., RS, Aurora, Ill.Kathryn Haynie, Utah, Sr., OH, North Salt Lake City, UtahEmillie Toone*, Utah, Sr., MB, American Fork, Utah
SetterAshley Fornstrom, Colorado State!*, Sr., Cheyenne, Wyo.
Co-LiberoGayle Tripp, New Mexico, Sr., Rio Rancho, N.M.Camille Cunningham, UNLV, Sr., La Canada, Calif.
Co-Players of the YearJeanne Fairchild, New MexicoLori Baird, Utah
Freshman of the YearCursty Jackson, UNLV
Coach of the YearBeth Launiere, Utah
!notes repeat selection*notes two-time selection**notes three-time selection
