The 2008 Big West Volleyball All-Conference honors were announced today with three different schools receiving the top awards. Cal State Fullerton's Brittany Moore was tabbed 2008 Big West Player of the Year, Long Beach State's Caitlin Ledoux garnered Big West Freshman of the Year accolades and UC Irvine's Charlie Brande collected Big West Coach of the Year honors.
Moore concluded her senior campaign with a league-leading 4.04 kill average, ranking her among the top 50 in the nation. Her offensive prowess guided Cal State Fullerton to its first-ever above-.500 conference mark of 9-7. The nine conference victories was also a school record for the Titan volleyball program. While dominating on offense, Moore also showed her defensive skills with a 3.10 dig average to finish second on the Titan squad and 10th in the league. Hailing from Orange, Calif., Moore collected two Big West Player of the Week accolades during the 2008 season. Her first honor back on Oct. 6, was awarded after she posted a pair of double-doubles that included back-to-back 20-plus kill efforts. The outside hitter's more recent nod was on Nov. 17 where she blasted a career-high 31 kills. Moore becomes the first Cal State Fullerton athlete to earn the distinguished honor of Big West Player of the Year.
In her first year donning the black and gold, Ledoux has already made her presence felt among the Long Beach State squad as she paces the team with a 3.21 kill average, ranking her 10th in the Big West Conference. As a member of the 2008 Big West Champions, Ledoux ranks second on the team with 25 service aces and third in digs with 247. The Phelan, Calif., native received Big West Player of the Week honors back on Oct. 13 following a career-high 22-kill performance. Ledoux has started in all 29 Long Beach State matches thus far and has nationally-ranked Colorado State and the NCAA Tournament still to come. Long Beach State’s last freshman of the year recipient, Alexis Crimes, went on to have a stellar career at LBSU as a four-time All-Big West First Team member and All-American.
In his ninth season at the helm of the UC Irvine volleyball program, Brande guided the Anteaters to a second place finish in the Big West Conference with a 12-4 mark, their highest finish since 2003. After a 1-2 start to conference play, the Anteaters won 10 of its final 12 matches to grab the second spot. UC Irvine's 12 wins ties for the most conference victories in UC Irvine history. Under the guidance of the UCI alum, the Anteaters pace the league in kills (14.07), digs (15.77) and assists (2.57). Brande is the first UC Irvine head coach to receive Big West Coach of the Year accolades.
Eight teams were represented on the first team with conference champion Long Beach State leading the way with five representatives, the highest 49er total since 1998 when they also tallied five members. Cal Poly picked up three selections, followed by UC Irvine and Cal State Fullerton receiving two nods. Cal State Northridge, UC Davis, UC Santa Barbara and Pacific each garnered one All-Big West First Team member.
Claiming a spot on the first team is Cal Poly's Kylie Atherstone, who becomes just the fifth four-time All-Big West First Team selection in the league. Atherstone ranks second in the conference in kills with a 3.72 average, while pacing the league and ranking sixth in the nation in service aces (.60). Moore, along with Cal Poly's Jaclyn Houston and UC Irvine's Lauren Kellerman, are making their third appearance as an All-Big West First Team member. Last year’s freshman of the year Kari Pestolesi (UC Irvine), Lauren McLaughlin (UC Santa Barbara), Nicole Vargas (Long Beach State) and Quincy Verdin (Long Beach State) are also repeat offenders.
Pacific dominated the Honorable Mention Team with three selections - Alexa Anderson, Svenja Engelhardt and Natalia Tomaszewska. Also joining the Tiger trio are Erin Saddler (Cal State Fullerton), Leigh Stephenson (UC Santa Barbara), Devon Sutherland (UC Irvine) and Ali Waller (Cal Poly).
Individuals from six different schools make up the seven-player 2008 Big West All-Freshman Team, including the Cal State Fullerton duo of Jennifer Edmond and Andrea Ragan.