By McCall Knowlton
The awards and recognition keep pouring in, despite the unexpected and early ending to the BYU women?s volleyball season.
The Cougars lost in four games to Pepperdine last weekend in the first round of the NCAA Tournament at USC. The loss quickly ended BYU?s season and eventually led Pepperdine to the sweet sixteen facing Santa Clara this weekend in Palo Alto, Calif.
Even though the women?s volleyball program has wrapped things up until next year, the nation is still acknowledging the efforts of senior setter Lauren Richards Evans and junior middle blocker Lindsy Hartsock.
The two BYU players were recently named to the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) West All-Region team after leading the Cougars to a 25-4 record. This honor not only distinguishes Richards Evans and Hartsock for their performances, but it also makes them eligible for All-American consideration.
?This is a wonderful recognition for our volleyball program,? said BYU head coach Jason Watson. ?I am proud of all that Lauren and Lindsy have accomplished. Their personal success this year is a reflection of the direction our program is heading. They have both helped lay a solid foundation for us to build upon.?
The two Cougar standouts are the first BYU players to be named to the West All-Region team since Nina Puikkonen and Sunny Tonga Mahe in 2000.
All-American awards are not foreign to BYU women?s volleyball either. The Cougars have produced nine All-Americans in the last 12 years, with many earning this status multiple years in a row.
In her final match, Richards Evans tallied 59 assists in the Cougars match-up against Pepperdine, bringing her career total to 4,056. That number is good enough to place Richards Evans fourth on the all-time assist list at BYU.
Hartsock received the National Player of the Week Award on Sept. 27, and has also received the Mountain West Conference Player of the Week Award twice this season. In November, Hartsock was named to the CoSIDA Academic District VIII Second Team and concluded the season with 289 kills, a .444 hitting percentage and 132 blocks.
?My biggest volleyball goal that I haven?t reached so far is to be an All-American,? Hartsock said. ?And I am working hard to reach that.?
Hartsock and Richards Evans will find out whether they have been selected as All-Americans when the awards are announced next week.
