Pac-10 commissioner Tom Hansen announced the Pac-10 volleyball all-conference honors Monday, naming six different Bruins, including senior setter Nellie Spicer.
The now four-time All-Pac-10 Team award-winner Spicer played in 110 of the 111 sets the Bruins have played in this year and ranked fourth in the Pac-10 in assists per set with 10.93. Spicer currently stands second on the Bruins’ all-time assists list with 5,899. The current leader is Erika Selsor with 6,234.
Though she explained the selection was an honor, Spicer added that her sights were set on the NCAA tournament beginning Friday.
Also being honored this week was freshman middle blocker Amanda Gil.
Gil was named Pac-10 Freshman of the Year as well as honorable mention on the All-Pac-10 team.
Gil ranks first in the conference, second nationally, with 1.49 blocks per set.
Gil showed significant improvement this season, not just in the front row, but also with her defense, seeing increasing time in the back row as the season progressed.
Coach Andy Banachowski agreed that the current focus was the NCAA Tournament, but the awards will give his team confidence at this stage of the season.
“The fact that they are recognized for their outstanding play is quite an honor,” Banachowski said. “I think they realize that and feel that.”
“I think the awards will boost our team’s confidence so we can go out this weekend and dominate,” Gil said.
Other Bruins receiving All-Pac-10 honorable mentions include senior outside hitter Ali Daley and senior libero Jessica Fine.
Daley also picked up Pac-10 Player of the Week honors for her performance last Friday against the Trojans.
In the seven-point run to close out the match, Daley had four kills and one block assist. Daley becomes the only Bruin to achieve the award this season.
Fine, with her first All-Pac-10 honorable mention, closed out the season third in the conference in digs per set with 4.77. She also made significant contributions to the team’s success, playing in all 111 sets this season and recording 18 service aces.
Gil also was joined on the Pac-10 All-Freshman team by classmate, middle blocker Katie Camp.
Earning honorable mention on the Pac-10 All-Freshman team was outside hitter Sara Sage.