The 2010 Pac-10 postseason volleyball awards were released Tuesday with two members of the ASU volleyball team garnering honors.
On the All-Pac-10 Women’s Volleyball team, ASU senior outside hitter Sarah Reaves received Honorable Mention recognition while freshman outside hitter Danica Mendivil reeled in Honorable Mention honors on the Pac-10 All Freshman team.
Reaves and Mendivil were the only two Sun Devils recognized by the Pac-10 for their efforts throughout 2010 season.
Reaves was certainly deserving of more than an honorable mention nod with another impressive season in the desert. She climbed into second place on the ASU career kills list, and earned ASU Athlete of the Week honors for her 17 and 23 kill performances against Southern California and UCLA.
Reaves also amassed a whopping 488 kills during her final season at ASU.
Unfortunately, the Pac-10 is loaded with talented outside hitters that dominated the first team.
These include Washington’s Kindra Carlson and Becky Perry, USC’s Falyn Fonoimoana and Alex Jupiter, Stanford’s Alix Klineman and Cassidy Lichtman, UCLA’s Dicey McGraw, Oregon’s Heather Meyers, California’s Tarah Murrey, and UA’s Tiffany Owens.
Klineman also took home the Pac-10 Player of the Year award and has been a four-time selection to the All Pac-10 team.
While there is no doubt each of those outside hitters is talented, Reaves belongs among them.
Then there’s Mendivil, who burst onto the scene during her first season as a Sun Devil. Mendivil saw increased playing time, and served as a capable complement to Reaves.
Assuming Cal’s season statistics are up to date, freshman outside hitter and Pac-10 All Freshman Team selection Adrienne Gehan smacked 203 kills this season to average 2.07 kills per set.
Mendivil hammered 284 kills of her own for 2.76 kills per set, but only received honorable mention.
Stanford freshman outside hitter Rachel Williams earned Pac-10 All Freshman Team honors with only 176 kills, and 1.83 kills per set.
Oh, and Mendivil also notched ten service aces compared to Williams’ three and Gehan’s two.
Yes, Cal and Stanford experienced more success than ASU, but this is an individual award, not a team award. Mendivil and Reaves deserved better.
