Colorado State University Athletics
Courtney Named Co-Player of the Year
11/19/2003 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Junior setter Melissa Courtney and Utah senior middle blocker Kim Turner were named co-Mountain West Conference Player of the Year.
Courtney, of Lakewood, Calif., guided the Rams to a perfect 14-0 record in conference play, marking the first time any team has gone unbeaten in the MWC regular season. Courtney owns the MWC season record for assists with 693 (conference matches 2002) and leads the MWC with 13.04 assists per game this season. She also has a league-high 44 aces this year.
Colorado State head coach Tom Hilbert was named MWC Coach of the Year, marking his fifth straight award. Hilbert has a career record of 362-112 in 15 seasons, including a 188-40 mark in seven years at Colorado State. Hilbert has won 10 conference coach of the year honors in 15 seasons as a head coach, including six in his seven years at CSU.
Colorado State, Utah and BYU each had three student-athletes named to this year's all-conference team, while San Diego State had two and Air Force, UNLV and Wyoming each had one. Eight seniors, three juniors and three sophomores made up the 14-member all-conference squad.
Colorado State's Katie Jo Shirley (MB) and Melissa Courtney (S) were repeat selections from last year, while Ram outside hitter Tess Rogers also made this year's All-MWC team. Utah's Turner became the only player in MWC history to be named to four All-MWC teams and she was joined on the squad by teammates Shelly Sommerfeldt (OH) and Jackie Morrill (L). BYU's Carrie Bowers (OPP) and Lauren Richards (S) were first-time honorees, while Uila Crabbe (L) garnered her second all-conference honor. San Diego State was represented by middle blockers Aspen McPartland, a two-time All-MWC selection, and Megan Schauermann. Air Force's Delevane Diaz (OH), UNLV's Leiana Oswald (OH) and Wyoming's Sara Maytorena (OPP) rounded out the team.
