SMU’s Sarah Sponcil Headlines All-WCC Beach Awards

  0 Wendy Mayer | May 01st, 2017 | College - Beach, News, West Coast Conference

The West Coast Conference announced its beach volleyball postseason awards last week and although Pepperdine won the team title, the list of honorees included several other schools as well.

The WCC Player of the Year was SMU junior Sarah Sponcil, who went 20-9 this year at the No. 1 spot for the Lions. Sponcil, a 2015 AVCA All-American, was a member of the Team USA squad that competed at the Four Nations U21 tournament last spring.

Sponcil’s partner, newcomer Savannah Slattery was named as the conference’s Freshman of the Year.

The Defensive Player of the Year nod went to Saint Mary’s College sophomore Lindsey Knudsen, who went 24-5 in the No. 1 position for the Gaels.  Knudsen and teammate Payton Rund ended USC’s top pair of Kelly Claes and Sarah Hughes’ 103-match winning streak during the season. Knudson was the 2016 Freshman of the Year.

Nina Matthies of Pepperdine was tabbed as the league’s Coach of the Year for the second straight year after leading the Waves to a 24-3 mark. The third ranked Waves were named to the NCAA Championships field on Sunday.

Player of the Year: Sarah Sponcil, Loyola Marymount

Coach of the Year: Nina Matthies, Pepperdine

Defensive Player of the Year: Lindsey Knudsen, Saint Mary’s

Freshman of the Year: Savannah Slattery, Loyola Marymount

In addition to the player and coach of the year awards, the WCC also announced its first and second team all-conference selections as well as a seven-member all-freshman team.

2017 WEST COAST CONFERENCE BEACH VOLLEYBALL FIRST TEAM

Name School Year
Lexi Elman Pacific Sr.
Brittany Howard Pepperdine Sr.
Delaney Knudsen Pepperdine Sr.
Lindsey Knudsen Saint Mary’s Soph.
Corrine Quiggle Pepperdine Jr.
Maddy Roh Pepperdine Soph.
Payton Rund Saint Mary’s Soph.
Andie Shelton Pacific Jr.
Savannah Slattery Loyola Marymount Fr.
Sarah Sponcil Loyola Marymount Jr.

 

2017 WEST COAST CONFERENCE BEACH VOLLEYBALL SECOND TEAM

Name: School: Year:
Emily Bible Saint Mary’s Soph.
Skylar Caputo Pepperdine Soph.
Sarah Chase Saint Mary’s R-Fr.
Heidi Dyer Pepperdine Soph.
Sara Kovac Loyola Marymount Soph.
Jessie Prichard Loyola Marymount Fr.
Emily Reed San Francisco Sr.
Tani Stephens Portland Sr.

  

2017 WEST COAST CONFERENCE BEACH VOLLEYBALL FRESHMAN TEAM 

Name: School:
Emily Baptista Pacific
Sarah Chase Saint Mary’s
Deahna Kraft Pepperdine
Alexsa Parker Saint Mary’s
Jessie Prichard Loyola Marymount
Savannah Slattery Loyola Marymount
Cali Thompson Portland

 

 

 

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About Wendy Mayer

Wendy Mayer

Wendy Mayer has worked in athletics media relations for the last 20 years. The Northwest Missouri State alumna is currently senior writer for Volleymob.com after spending the last 15 years with Purdue athletics.

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