SPOKANE, Wash. – Chico State outside hitter Makenzie Snyder put up statistics during the 2009 season that would look impressive as career numbers for just about any other player – besides setting a new Wildcat record for kills per set, Snyder led the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) in three offensive categories and was among the top hitters in the country in kills per set. So it came as no surprise when the Chico State sophomore was named Tuesday to both the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) and NCAA/Daktronics All-West Region First Teams. Wildcat teammates Gillian Heydorff and Sable Villaescusa also received some regional recognition – Heydorff was selected to the NCAA/Daktronics All-West Region Second Team, while Villaescusa earned an AVCA Honorable Mention.
Snyder, who won the AVCA’s West Region Freshman of the Year award in 2008 and earlier this month was an All-CCAA First Team selection, ranks No. 2 in the nation with her Chico State record 4.72 kills per set. Her 538 kills for the season lead the CCAA and is the third highest total in the country. Snyder also paced the conference in kills per set and points (5.22 per set) and finished eighth in the CCAA in service aces per set (0.38). Although only a sophomore, Snyder already ranks among the Top 10 in Chico State history in kills (802), kills per set (3.83) and hitting percentage (.225).
Heydorff, fresh off of winning her second straight All-CCAA First Team honor, earned her second regional award with Tuesday’s announcement – Gillian was the AVCA Pacific Region Freshman of the Year in 2006. It’s a fitting way to end a Chico State career that saw Heydorff make three NCAA Championship Tournament appearances and place her name prominently in the Wildcat record books, ranking No. 1 in career service aces (138), third in kills (1,204) third in digs (1,057), seventh in service aces per set (0.37), seventh in solo blocks (42) and eighth in kills per set (3.84). Heydorff is one of only two Wildcats in school history to record 1,000 kills and 1,000 digs in a career.
Villaescusa, asked to fill the shoes of Chico State’s all-time assists leader Erika Brick, exceeded all expectations in her freshman season, racking up 1,195 assists – more than Brick posted in any of her four years as a Wildcat. Villaescusa was third in the CCAA in assists per set (10.58) and ranked 22nd in the nation. Among her six matches of 50 or more assists on the season was a career-high 63-assist effort Sept. 12 against Cal State Monterey Bay. Villaescusa also contributed 90 kills, 20 services aces and 249 digs to the Wildcats’ 23-9 season.
By being selected to the West Region First Team, Snyder will be included on the NCAA/Daktronics All-American national ballot. The All-American team will be announced Dec. 4.
AVCA WEST REGIONAL TEAM SELECTIONS
DAKTRONICS REGIONAL TEAM SELECTIONS
