Five Anteaters Garner Big West Honors
November 27, 2017 | Women's Volleyball
IRVINE, Calif. – Five UC Irvine women's volleyball players earned all-conference honors as voted on by the league coaches.
Juniors Harlee Kekauoha, Haley DeSales and Idara Akpakpa were named to the first-team, while junior Ali Koumelis and senior Luna Tsujimoto received honorable mention recognition.
It is Kekauoha's third straight first-team honor, while the others are receiving their first all-league nod. Kekauoha joins Kari Pestolesi (2007-2010), Lauren Kellerman (2006-2008), Kelly Wing (2001-2003) and Popi Edwards (1993-95) as UCI's three-time honorees.
Kekauoha leads the Anteaters with a 3.33 kill average which ranks eighth best in the conference. She leads the Big West and is ranked 37th nationally with a 0.41 ace average. The opposite has recorded kills in double-figures 20 times this year and moved in to fifth all-time in UCI aces with 123.
DeSales had a breakout season, averaging 3.16 kills and 2.51 digs, which are both second on the team. The outside hitter ranks sixth in the conference in aces with a 0.31 average. She has led the team in kills 11 times this season.
Akpakpa ranks second in hitting percentage in league-only matches at .387 (158-43-297) and is third overall with a .380 mark. She is also averaging 2.53 kills and 0.61 blocks per set. She put away a career-best 19 in the first meeting with UC Santa Barbara and hit a season-high .619 (13-0-21) in the second meeting versus Cal Poly.
Koumelis is ranked second in the Big West in set assists with a 10.35 average. She totaled a career-high 54 assists versus UNLV in September and a season-high 17 digs against Cal State Fullerton in October. The setter has posted nine double-doubles this season.
Tsujimoto is third in the league in digs with a 4.12 average. The libero has recorded digs in double-digit in all but four matches this season. She is fourth in UCI career digs with 1,304.
UC Irvine will compete in the National Invitational Volleyball Championship Tuesday taking on Sacramento State at 4:30 p.m. at the Spanos Center in Stockton.
Juniors Harlee Kekauoha, Haley DeSales and Idara Akpakpa were named to the first-team, while junior Ali Koumelis and senior Luna Tsujimoto received honorable mention recognition.
It is Kekauoha's third straight first-team honor, while the others are receiving their first all-league nod. Kekauoha joins Kari Pestolesi (2007-2010), Lauren Kellerman (2006-2008), Kelly Wing (2001-2003) and Popi Edwards (1993-95) as UCI's three-time honorees.
Kekauoha leads the Anteaters with a 3.33 kill average which ranks eighth best in the conference. She leads the Big West and is ranked 37th nationally with a 0.41 ace average. The opposite has recorded kills in double-figures 20 times this year and moved in to fifth all-time in UCI aces with 123.
DeSales had a breakout season, averaging 3.16 kills and 2.51 digs, which are both second on the team. The outside hitter ranks sixth in the conference in aces with a 0.31 average. She has led the team in kills 11 times this season.
Akpakpa ranks second in hitting percentage in league-only matches at .387 (158-43-297) and is third overall with a .380 mark. She is also averaging 2.53 kills and 0.61 blocks per set. She put away a career-best 19 in the first meeting with UC Santa Barbara and hit a season-high .619 (13-0-21) in the second meeting versus Cal Poly.
Koumelis is ranked second in the Big West in set assists with a 10.35 average. She totaled a career-high 54 assists versus UNLV in September and a season-high 17 digs against Cal State Fullerton in October. The setter has posted nine double-doubles this season.
Tsujimoto is third in the league in digs with a 4.12 average. The libero has recorded digs in double-digit in all but four matches this season. She is fourth in UCI career digs with 1,304.
UC Irvine will compete in the National Invitational Volleyball Championship Tuesday taking on Sacramento State at 4:30 p.m. at the Spanos Center in Stockton.
Players Mentioned
MB
/ Women's Volleyball
OH
/ Women's Volleyball
OPP
/ Women's Volleyball
S
/ Women's Volleyball
L
/ Women's VolleyballAnteater Spotlights | Ep. 4 | Ally Bolden
Wednesday, December 03
NOT backing down 🙅♀️
Tuesday, December 02
Firing off on all cylinders, no dust 🗣️
Tuesday, November 25
𝑩𝒆 𝑮𝒆𝒏𝒆𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒔 😌
Friday, November 21
