10 Underclassmen Dominate All-Cal Pac Volleyball Team
Courtesy of Matt Davis, California Pacific Conference Sports Information Director

This year's all-California Pacific Conference team is dominated by 10 underclassmen, underscoring the steady rise of the competitive level of the conference. With four freshmen, three sophomores, and three juniors, the Cal Pac looks to raise the bar next season with a strong contingent of returning players vying for national attention.

The All-Cal Pac honorees are decided by a postseason vote by the conference coaches.

Benedictine-Mesa, in only its second year in the conference, landed four players to the all-Cal Pac team, while regular-season champion Embry-Riddle and La Sierra had three players named to the squad. Pacific Union added two, and UC Merced and Simpson each had one.

The 2016 Player of the Year, Hannah Mercurio of Embry-Riddle, helped guide the Eagles into the postseason with a 13-1 Cal Pac record and 20-4 overall. The senior setter triggered one of the more potent offenses in the Cal Pac, giving national recognition to ERAU, which received votes in the latest NAIA poll. She topped the Cal Pac in Assists per Set (10.0), Assists (764), and her Assists per Game ranked 28^th in the country.

BenU's Courtney Pitts was named the Libero of the Year, and the versatile senior played a key role in the Redhawks rise to second place in the Cal Pac. Pitts, who led BenU to a 10-4 record in conference and 19-7 overall, led the conference in Digs (5.4) and Digs (456), as well as ranking among the top ten in Service Aces (85).

Newcomer of the Year Lindsey Weiler played a key role in ERAU's run through the conference. The sophomore outside hitter tied for 4^th in the Cal Pac in hitting percentage (.230), 8^th in Kills per Set (2.7), and tied for 9^th in Kills (215).

La Sierra outside hitter Kianna Krumm was voted the top freshman among a strong group of first-year players. Krumm helped the Golden Eagles reach the playoffs by providing another weapon at the net--one that will be a presence for another three seasons. She ranked second in the Cal Pac in Kills (292), tied for 2^nd in Kills per Set (3.3), 7^th in Digs (271), 10^th in Digs per Set (3.0), finished with a hitting percentage of .146, and delivered 89 service aces.

After leading ERAU to back-to-back 20-win seasons, Jill Blasczyk was voted by her peers as the Cal Pac's outstanding coach for the second year in a row.

ALL-CALIFORNIA PACIFIC CONFERENCE VOLLEYBALL TEAMS

FIRST TEAM

SECOND TEAM

HONORABLE MENTION

Benedictine-Mesa: Lauren Purdy; Embry-Riddle: Jordan Jones, Megan Riley; Pacific Union: Athena Abary, Sidney Rucker, Audrey Uyemura; Antelope Valley: Alissa Sydney; UC Merced: Dominique Andrews, Jade Fachin, Genesis Hester, Jaysonna Johnson, Brooke Wheeler

INDIVIDUAL AWARDS