ARLINGTON, Texas – The Western Athletic Conference announced its annual Volleyball Awards on Wednesday afternoon. Utah Valley Freshman Sami Blackett was named to the All-WAC First Team, Co-WAC Freshman of the Year, and WAC All-Freshman Team. Junior Avery Shewell earned her first nod to the First Team, and Setter Evalyn Chism was named to the second team.
 
UT Arlington's Brianna Ford was named the conference's Player of the Year, and Setter went to UTA's Mollie Blank. Amanda Darling, the Libero from California Baptist, was named Libero of the Year.
 
"I am so proud of what our team has accomplished, especially those recognized as WAC award winners this year. Avery, Sami, and Evi have played a big role in our success this year. They have been tremendous athletes on and off the court, and it's been a privilege to coach them. I am so proud of their effort, love, and care for their team," said UVU head coach Sam Atoa.
 
Blackett led UVU in kills during the regular season with 410 and 483.5 points during her freshman campaign. In her 28 matches, she averaged over 4.06 kills/set and finished third in the WAC in kills per set, just behind WAC Player of the Year, Ford, and fellow first-teamer Tatum Parrott. Her season was highlighted when she broke UVU's single match kills record with 33 against California Baptist. The Orem, Utah native has been great behind the service line with 35 aces this season and an average of 0.35 aces/set, ranking eighth among the conference.
 
Shewell earned her third All-WAC honor after being named to the second team in the last two seasons. She has gone to new heights in 2024 with career-highs in kills (366), kills per set (4.02), hitting percentage (.265), and aces (50). She has been brilliant serving for the Wolverines as she leads the WAC with 0.55 aces/set and could break UVU's single-season aces record with six more this season. The junior set a new career-high with 29 kills earlier this month against Abilene Christian, where she tallied 34 points. The match came in a stretch of five consecutive matches with 17 or more kills.
 
Chism has been named WAC Setter of the Week five times this year, earning her first second-team All-WAC honors. The Bountiful, Utah native is second in the conference with 9.96 assists/set, and she has 1,046 this season. Her career-high 58 assists came this season against Abilene Christian, but she has broken her career-high mark multiple times this season. The setter has been a duel threat this season by adding 72 kills and 22 aces to the potent UVU attack, but her defense has been just as valuable, with 62 total blocks and 245 digs.
 
2024 WAC Volleyball Postseason Awards
 
2024 WAC Player of the Year: Brianna Ford, Gr., OH, UT Arlington
2024 WAC Setter of the Year: Mollie Blank, Gr., UT Arlington
2024 WAC Libero of the Year: Amanda Darling, Gr., California Baptist
2024 WAC Co-Freshman of the Year: Sjakkie Donkers, OH, UTA; Sami Blackett, OH, UVU
2024 WAC Coach of the Year: J.T. Wenger, UT Arlington
 
2024 All-WAC First Team
Amanda Darling, Gr., L, California Baptist
Tatum Parrott, Jr., OH, Grand Canyon
Mollie Blank, Gr., S, UT Arlington
Brianna Ford, Gr., OH, UT Arlington
Paige Reagor, Gr., MB, UT Arlington
Kennedi Knudsen, Jr., OH, Utah Tech
Sami Blackett, Fr., OH, Utah Valley
Avery Shewell, Jr., OH, Utah Valley
 
2024 All-WAC Second Team
Bryley Steinhilber, Sr., OH/RS, Abilene Christian
Madison Gilliland, Gr., MB, California Baptist
Nicole Mauser, So., OPP, California Baptist
Ashley Lifgren, Gr., OH, Grand Canyon
Trista Strasser, Sr., MB, Grand Canyon
Arianna Bilby, Sr., OH/RS, Seattle U
Sjakkie Donkers, Fr., OH, UT Arlington
Evalyn Chism, So., S, Utah Valley
 
2024 WAC All-Freshman Team
Avery Thaler, MB, Abilene Christian
Aubrey Goodere, MB, Grand Canyon
Taylor Kubacak, S, Grand Canyon
Finley Charapata, OH, Southern Utah
Marlee Ervin, OH, Southern Utah
Sjakkie Donkers, OH, UT Arlington
Lusia Langi, MB, Utah Tech
Sami Blackett, OH, Utah Valley