Aug. 8, 2008

LOGAN, Utah - Utah State volleyball player Chelsea Fowles was one of 12 student-athletes named to the 2008 Western Athletic Conference preseason volleyball team that was announced on Friday. The preseason all-WAC team was voted on by the league's nine coaches.

Fowles, a sophomore setter from Hollister, Calif. (San Benito HS), is one of just two sophomores to be named to the preseason all-WAC team along with Nevada's Lindsay Baldwin. As a freshman in 2007, Fowles was named the WAC's Freshman of the Year as she finished the season ranking second in the conference with 12.45 assists per game.

"We are excited for Chelsea to receive this recognition and it is a nice tribute for both her and her teammates," said Utah State head coach Grayson DuBose. "Our entire team, including Chelsea, has worked hard during the offseason and we all realize that we must continue to improve to achieve our goals."

During her freshman season, Fowles registered 1,133 assists which ranks ninth all-time at Utah State for a single-season and is 10th all-time in school history.

Utah State opens the 2008 season on Friday, Aug. 29 in Provo, Utah against Brigham Young at 7 p.m. in a tournament hosted by the Cougars. USU will then play both Missouri and Tulane in the final day of the tournament on Saturday, Aug. 30.

2008 Preseason All-WAC Team
Krista Altermatt, Jr., New Mexico State
Lindsay Baldwin, So., Nevada
Colleen Burke, Sr., San Jose State
Niki Clement, Sr., San Jose State
Aneli Cubi-Ontineru, Jr., Hawai'i
Chelsea Fowles, So., Utah State
Jamie Houston, Sr., Hawai'i
Amber Kaufman, Jr., Hawai'i
Haley Larsen, Sr., Idaho
Amber Simpson, Sr., New Mexico State
Krystal Torres, Sr., New Mexico State
Lindsey Yon, Jr., New Mexico State
Preseason Player of the Year: Jamie Houston, Hawai'i