Four From USF Recognized on All-WCC Volleyball Teams
11/26/2012 6:32:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
SAN FRANCISCO – One of the best volleyball conferences in the nation, the West Coast Conference announced its postseason awards today recognizing the efforts of four outstanding San Francisco players.
Headlining the list, Rebecca Kopilovitch nabbed Defensive Player of the Year honors along with Betsi Metter of Loyola Marymount and BYU's Nicole Warner. The redshirt sophomore libero from Israel led the conference in total digs (522) and digs per set (4.75). Defense was on display throughout the Dons squad, with the team finishing second overall in the conference standings, averaging 15.66 digs per set.
After two seasons in a USF uniform, Kopilovitch has already amassed 972 total digs, good for ninth on the career digs list. This year's 522 ranks tied for third in the USF single-season record book.
“Becky was always playing at a high level this year. She was the heart of the team on the court,” coach Gilad Doron said. “It was great to see her always on the ground working hard and going for balls.”
Middle blocker Valentina Zaloznik, a sophomore from Ljubno ob Savinji, Slovenia, was named to the All-WCC first team after racking up team-leading numbers with 78 total blocks and a .325 hitting percentage for the Dons. She finished the season ninth in the conference in hitting percentage and posted Top 20 finishes in blocks per set and service aces per set.
After a lull in the mid-season Zaloznik came on strong to close out her sophomore campaign.
“Her leadership, determination, commitment to excellence and her ways of finding ways to still be successful even things weren't going her way separated her from the pack in the conference,” Doron said. “ Valentina has been a leader on and off the court and in the classroom, too.”
Ester de Vries earned All-WCC Freshman Team recognition for her role as an outside hitter. The native of Heerlen, Netherlands, completed her first collegiate season ranked fourth in the WCC in kills per set, pounding down 3.48 balls per frame and 355 total.
“Ester is only a freshman,” Doron remarked. “I hope this is a sign of things to come and she will continue to improve for the next three years. I am excited for her future.”
A trio of Dons received all-conference honorable mention nods, with Kopilovitch, de Vries and Jocelyn Levig making the list and bringing USF's total number of honorees to four this season.
Levig, a senior from Sumner, Wash., earned a conference-high 47 total service aces and her 3.39 kills per set ranked sixth in the WCC final standings.
“I'm really proud of Rebecca, Valentina, Ester and Jocelyn for being honored by the conference,” said coach Gilad Doron. “They each made outstanding contributions to the team this year. But I will be the first to tell you that these four excelled because of a total team effort.”
Complete release
Headlining the list, Rebecca Kopilovitch nabbed Defensive Player of the Year honors along with Betsi Metter of Loyola Marymount and BYU's Nicole Warner. The redshirt sophomore libero from Israel led the conference in total digs (522) and digs per set (4.75). Defense was on display throughout the Dons squad, with the team finishing second overall in the conference standings, averaging 15.66 digs per set.
After two seasons in a USF uniform, Kopilovitch has already amassed 972 total digs, good for ninth on the career digs list. This year's 522 ranks tied for third in the USF single-season record book.
“Becky was always playing at a high level this year. She was the heart of the team on the court,” coach Gilad Doron said. “It was great to see her always on the ground working hard and going for balls.”
Middle blocker Valentina Zaloznik, a sophomore from Ljubno ob Savinji, Slovenia, was named to the All-WCC first team after racking up team-leading numbers with 78 total blocks and a .325 hitting percentage for the Dons. She finished the season ninth in the conference in hitting percentage and posted Top 20 finishes in blocks per set and service aces per set.
After a lull in the mid-season Zaloznik came on strong to close out her sophomore campaign.
“Her leadership, determination, commitment to excellence and her ways of finding ways to still be successful even things weren't going her way separated her from the pack in the conference,” Doron said. “ Valentina has been a leader on and off the court and in the classroom, too.”
Ester de Vries earned All-WCC Freshman Team recognition for her role as an outside hitter. The native of Heerlen, Netherlands, completed her first collegiate season ranked fourth in the WCC in kills per set, pounding down 3.48 balls per frame and 355 total.
“Ester is only a freshman,” Doron remarked. “I hope this is a sign of things to come and she will continue to improve for the next three years. I am excited for her future.”
A trio of Dons received all-conference honorable mention nods, with Kopilovitch, de Vries and Jocelyn Levig making the list and bringing USF's total number of honorees to four this season.
Levig, a senior from Sumner, Wash., earned a conference-high 47 total service aces and her 3.39 kills per set ranked sixth in the WCC final standings.
“I'm really proud of Rebecca, Valentina, Ester and Jocelyn for being honored by the conference,” said coach Gilad Doron. “They each made outstanding contributions to the team this year. But I will be the first to tell you that these four excelled because of a total team effort.”
Complete release
USF | USF vs. San Diego w/ Rob DiToma, Adrian Valdez, and Brendan Burke (Game 3)
Monday, April 13
BSB | USF vs. San Diego Highlights (Game 3)
Monday, April 13
BSB | USF vs. San Diego Highlights (Game 2)
Saturday, April 11
USF | USF vs. San Diego w/ Rob DiToma, Jackson Nystrom, Quentin Pohorski (Game 2)
Saturday, April 11
