ALL-WAC FOOTBALL TEAMS AND PLAYERS OF THE YEAR ANNOUNCED

DENVER – The Western Athletic Conference announced its all-WAC teams and coach and players of the year awards as voted upon by the WAC’s nine head coaches. Boise State led the league with seven first-team all-WAC honorees, while Fresno State placed six on the first team and Hawai‘i, Louisiana Tech and Nevada each placed three. All nine schools were represented on the first team. Boise State’s Kellen Moore was named the Offensive Player of the Year, Nevada’s Dontay Moch earned Defensive Player of the Year honors, and Nevada’s Brandon Wimberly was named the Freshman of the Year. Boise State’s Chris Petersen was voted the WAC’s Coach of the Year for the second consecutive season.

Moore, a sophomore quarterback from Prosser, Wash. (Prosser HS), leads the nation in passing efficiency with a 167.35 rating. He has completed 254-of-392 passes for 3,325 yards and 39 touchdowns with just three interceptions in leading the Broncos to a perfect 13-0 record and a berth in the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl on Jan. 4. As a starter, Moore is now 25-1 in just two seasons. He was named the WAC’s Freshman of the Year last season. This is Boise State’s third WAC Offensive Player of the Year award as running back Brock Forsey won it in 2002 and quarterback Ryan Dinwiddie won it a year later.

Moch, a junior defensive end from Chandler, Ariz. (Hamilton HS), leads the WAC and is eighth in the nation in tackles for loss with 19.5 for a loss of 92 yards on the season. He has a total of 57 tackles (35 solo), including 6.5 sacks for a loss of 49 yards. He has also broken up three passes and forced two fumbles on the year. Moch has helped lead the Nevada defense to first in the WAC in rushing defense and third in total defense. This is Nevada’s first ever WAC Defensive Player of the Year award.

Wimberly, a redshirt-freshman wide receiver from Los Angeles, Calif. (Gardena HS), leads Nevada and is 10th in the WAC in both receptions per game (3.8) and receiving yards per game (54.4). He has caught 46 passes for 653 yards and five touchdowns. This is Nevada’s third WAC Freshman of the Year award as running back Chance Kretschmer won it in 2001 and quarterback Colin Kaepernick won it in 2007.

Petersen earned his second WAC Coach of the Year award after directing Boise State to a perfect 13-0 record and the Broncos’ seventh WAC title in eight years. Petersen has racked up a record of 48-4 (31-1 WAC) in four seasons with Boise State. It is the fourth Coach of the Year award for a Boise State head coach as Dan Hawkins won it in both 2002 and 2004.

Hawai‘i’s John Estes made the first team for the third consecutive year. Other repeat first team all-WAC selections from last season include Nevada running back Vai Taua, Boise State defensive lineman Ryan Winterswyk, Louisiana Tech defensive lineman D’Anthony Smith, Boise State defensive back Kyle Wilson and San Jose State defensive back Duke Ihenacho.

Nevada placed a WAC-high seven players on the second team while Boise State, Fresno State and Idaho had four apiece.

The complete all-WAC selections are attached as a PDF.

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Way to Go Awards 2009

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Pack Adds Three to 2009 Volleyball Team

Reno, Nev. - University of Nevada head volleyball coach Devin Scruggs has added three recruits for the 2009 volleyball season in high school seniors Janelle Batista, Elissa Ji and Kelly Chang.

Batista is a 5-11 right side/middle blocker who played her prep volleyball at Crescent Valley High School in Corvallis, Ore. where she earned first-team all-state honors as a senior after leading the Raiders to an eighth place finish at the state tournament. She was named Mid-Willamette Conference co-MVP following her senior season and was a two-time first-team all-conference selection. As a sophomore she was named the all-conference second team. A three sport athlete she also competed in basketball where she earned first-team all-conference honors her junior year and was second team selection as a sophomore. She helped guide the CVHS basketball team to a fifth place finish at the state tournament her junior season. Twice she earned all-district honors competing in track & field her sophomore and junior seasons. She plays club volleyball for Northwest Juniors.

One of two players that will be joining the Wolf Pack next season from Honolulu, Hawaii is Ji, a 5-10 outside hitter who played her prep volleyball at Maryknoll High School where she earned second-team all-state honors the past three seasons. She was honored with the 2008 Senior Volleyball Invitational Impact Player Award. A four-year member of the Jammers Volleyball Club she along with Chang helped the team to a second place finish at the 2008 Junior Olympics in Dallas.

The second Hawaii player that will join the Pack next season is libero/defensive specialist Kelly Chang who played her prep volleyball at the Hawaii Baptist Academy. She earned first-team all-state and Interscholastic League of Hawaii honors her senior year. The team’s most valuable player she helped Hawaii Baptist to a pair of league titles and two state titles. A seven-year member of the Jammers Volleyball Club she along with Ji helped the team to a second place finish at the 2008 Junior Olympics in Dallas.

“I am very pleased with our class of 2009 recruits,” said Scruggs. “We have athleticism, volleyball IQ, and fantastic ball control all rolled into each of these players. Janelle Batista will bring athleticism and an energy that I am very excited to have the opportunity to coach. Both Elissa and Kelly come from a very strong club out of Hawaii. They have ball control and they know how to win.”

Name Pos. Ht. Yr. Hometown/Previous School/Club Team
Janelle Batista RS/MB 5’11” Fr. Corvallis, Ore./Crescent Valley HS/Northwest Juniors VBC
Elissa Ji OH 5’10” Fr. Honolulu, Hawai`i/Maryknoll HS/Jammers VBC
Kelly Chang L/DS 5’2” Fr. Honolulu, Hawai`i/Hawaii Baptist Academy/Jammers VBC

Nevada Volleyball Team To Host Spring Tournament This Weekend

Reno, Nev. - The University of Nevada will host a spring volleyball tournament at the Virginia Street Gym on Friday and Saturday. Chico State, Pacific, Sacramento State and The College of Southern Idaho along with the Wolf Pack will compete in the event. The tournament is free and open to the public.

The Pack will take on The College of Southern Idaho in the only match on Friday at 7:00 p.m. On Saturday two courts will be used to complete the 10 matches. All matches will be two games played to 25 points.

Nevada Spring Volleyball Tournament Schedule

Day Time Court 1 Court 2
Friday 7:00 p.m. Nevada vs. College of Southern Idaho
Saturday 9:30 a.m. Nevada vs. Sacramento State Chico State vs. Pacific
Saturday 10:30 a.m. Nevada vs. Pacific Sacramento State vs. College of Southern Idaho
Saturday 11:30 a.m. Nevada vs. Chico State College of Southern Idaho vs. Pacific
Saturday 1:00 p.m. Chico State vs. College of Southern Idaho Pacific vs. Sacramento State
Saturday 2:00 p.m. Nevada vs. College of Southern Idaho Sacramento State vs. Chico State

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