Aug. 11, 2007
LOGAN, Utah -
Utah State volleyball player Amanda Nielson was one of 12 student-athletes named to the 2007 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.
Nielson, a senior opposite side hitter from West Valley City, Utah (Granger HS) earned second-team all-WAC honors in 2006 as she finished the year ranked third in the conference in points per game (4.93), fourth in kills per game (4.04), ninth in service aces per game (0.34) and 10th in blocks per game (1.03).
"I am happy that Amanda has been recognized by the league coaches," said Utah State head coach Grayson DuBose. "We have known for some time how important she is to our team and it is nice to see the other coaches appreciate her style of play.
"She has spent a lot of time this summer honing her skills and fitness and she is going to see results this fall. It is a nice tribute to her and our team."
For her career, Nielson ranks seventh all-time at Utah State in block assists (243), eighth in total blocks (261), eighth in attack attempts (2,525), ninth in kills (837) and ninth in service aces (78). During the 2006 season Nielson recorded 465 kills, which ranks fourth all-time at USU for a single season.
Utah State opens the 2007 season on Friday, Aug. 24 in Tucson, Ariz., against the University of Arizona, followed by matches against St. Mary's and Eastern Washington that weekend.
2007 Preseason All-WAC Team
Niki Clement, Jr., San Jose State
Teal Ericson, Sr., Nevada
Kari Gregory, Sr., Hawai'i
Tara Hittle, Jr., Hawai'i
Jamie Houston, Jr., Hawai'i
Haley Larsen, Jr., Idaho
Amanda Nielson, Sr., Utah State
Kim Oguh, Sr., New Mexico State
Shannon Phillips, Sr., Louisiana Tech
Juliana Sanders, Sr., Hawai'i
Jennifer Senftleben, Sr., San Jose State
Amber Simpson, Jr., New Mexico State
Preseason Player of the Year: Jamie Houston, Hawai'i
