Colorado State University Athletics
Jones Named Player of the Year, Kohan Coach of the Year
11/26/2024 10:24:00 AM | Volleyball
Four Rams earn All-Mountain West Team Honors
FORT COLLINS – Fresh off its 2024 Mountain West Regular Season Championship, the Colorado State volleyball team racked up four players on the All-Mountain West Team this season while also boasting the Mountain West Player of the Year in Malaya Jones and the Coach of the Year in Emily Kohan.
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Jones is the first player of the year for the Rams since Katie Oleksak in 2019. She earned the feat this season leading the conference in both kills and points with a total of 326 and 370 respectively in the Mountain West. Along with her offensive prowess, she also ranked in the top ten for hitting percentage with a .330 clip within the conference season as a pin hitter. Jones has totaled double digit kills in all but three games this season and has notched 10 double-double games as a six-rotation player.
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"Player of the Year means everything to me. It's something I've been working towards for a large part of my career," Jones said. "It's the hugest honor and I'm so happy I get to celebrate it with my best friends. It makes me feel as though I've not only made CSU proud, but also my family, who has done everything to get me here. My gratitude is through the roof."
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Kohan wins her first career Coach of the Year award in her second season at the helm of the Colorado State volleyball program after taking over for 12-time Mountain West Coach of the Year Tom Hilbert who most recently won the award in 2019. Kohan led the Rams to a 14-4 conference record and outright Mountain West Regular Season Championship. As a team, the Ram led the Mountain West in hitting percentage at .319, opponent hitting percentage at .190, assists at 12.94 per set and kills and 14.06 per set.
"I'm grateful to the Ramily that I share this award with: the best team, staff, admin, fans and family. It wouldn't be possible without everyone that supported the mission of Building Champions to Win Championships," Kohan said.
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Jones joined teammates Emery Herman, Karina Leber and Naeemah Weathers on the All-Mountain West Team where the Rams led the way with four honorees on the list.
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After winning Newcomer of the Year last season, this is Herman's second time being named to the Mountain West All-Conference team as this season she led the conference in assists, totaling 761 and 10.87 per set.
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Being named to the Mountain West All-Conference team for the third time in her career, Weathers joins her teammates after leading the conference in hitting percentage at a .450 clip in conference play while also ranking seventh in the nation for hitting percentage this season.
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Rounding out the Rams is Leber who earns her second Mountain West All-Conference team appearance after being named to the team in 2021. Leber ranked fourth in the Mountain West in hitting percentage with a .379 conference clip and finished in the top ten for blocks with 68 total blocks, averaging 0.99 per set.
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The Rams will continue their 2024 season with an appearance at the Mountain West Championship Tournament in Las Vegas, Nevada this upcoming week where they will enter the tournament as the No. 1 seed, playing the winner of San Diego State and Fresno State Friday at 2 p.m. mountain time.
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Jones is the first player of the year for the Rams since Katie Oleksak in 2019. She earned the feat this season leading the conference in both kills and points with a total of 326 and 370 respectively in the Mountain West. Along with her offensive prowess, she also ranked in the top ten for hitting percentage with a .330 clip within the conference season as a pin hitter. Jones has totaled double digit kills in all but three games this season and has notched 10 double-double games as a six-rotation player.
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"Player of the Year means everything to me. It's something I've been working towards for a large part of my career," Jones said. "It's the hugest honor and I'm so happy I get to celebrate it with my best friends. It makes me feel as though I've not only made CSU proud, but also my family, who has done everything to get me here. My gratitude is through the roof."
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Kohan wins her first career Coach of the Year award in her second season at the helm of the Colorado State volleyball program after taking over for 12-time Mountain West Coach of the Year Tom Hilbert who most recently won the award in 2019. Kohan led the Rams to a 14-4 conference record and outright Mountain West Regular Season Championship. As a team, the Ram led the Mountain West in hitting percentage at .319, opponent hitting percentage at .190, assists at 12.94 per set and kills and 14.06 per set.
"I'm grateful to the Ramily that I share this award with: the best team, staff, admin, fans and family. It wouldn't be possible without everyone that supported the mission of Building Champions to Win Championships," Kohan said.
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Jones joined teammates Emery Herman, Karina Leber and Naeemah Weathers on the All-Mountain West Team where the Rams led the way with four honorees on the list.
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After winning Newcomer of the Year last season, this is Herman's second time being named to the Mountain West All-Conference team as this season she led the conference in assists, totaling 761 and 10.87 per set.
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Being named to the Mountain West All-Conference team for the third time in her career, Weathers joins her teammates after leading the conference in hitting percentage at a .450 clip in conference play while also ranking seventh in the nation for hitting percentage this season.
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Rounding out the Rams is Leber who earns her second Mountain West All-Conference team appearance after being named to the team in 2021. Leber ranked fourth in the Mountain West in hitting percentage with a .379 conference clip and finished in the top ten for blocks with 68 total blocks, averaging 0.99 per set.
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The Rams will continue their 2024 season with an appearance at the Mountain West Championship Tournament in Las Vegas, Nevada this upcoming week where they will enter the tournament as the No. 1 seed, playing the winner of San Diego State and Fresno State Friday at 2 p.m. mountain time.
Players Mentioned
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