UVSC fall sports had highs, lows

OREM — As fall becomes winter, so too do collegiate athletic seasons change.

Now November, the end is near for Utah Valley State women's volleyball and soccer; men's and women's cross country have already run their last race. Conversely, wrestling and men's and women's basketball commence their respective seasons with clean slates and high hopes.

WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL: Coach Sam Atoa's Wolverines have been the class of UVSC athletics so far this year. Sporting an 11-11 record heading into play today, the Wolverines have a good shot to finish over .500 in only their third season competing on the Division I level.

MVP: Lacee Koelliker, junior setter. A steadying force on a very young team, Koelliker impeccably gets quality sets to her hitters on a consistent basis. Also the team' premier server, Koelliker will notch a several kills every match by catching the opposition off-guard and dumping the ball over the net instead of setting it.

Honorable mention: Jessica Endres, sophomore middle blocker. Rock-solid in the middle all year long, Endres improved on a solid freshman year by increasing her numbers across the board. She set a school record with a .773 hitting percentage in a September match against North Dakota State.

Freshman of the year: Camie Manwill, outside hitter. At the season's outset, Manwill was hit-or-miss, seemingly just as likely to resoundingly slam home a spike as she was to serve into the net at the most inopportune moment. As the year has progressed, however, Manwill has appeared more and more at ease while contributing on a more consistent basis. She is very athletic, with good lateral agility and a nice vertical jump. With the departure of senior outside hitter Anne Olsen, the Wolverines will depend heavily on Manwill next year.

Question heading into next season: Just how good can UVSC be in 2006? With only two seniors graduating, the Wolverines appear poised to turn some heads with a breakout season next year if they can improve on this season' performance.

WOMEN'S SOCCER: It's been a season of heartbreak for the Wolverines, with seven of their 11 losses coming by one goal. After going 6-9-3 last year, the team is 6-11 this fall.

MVP: Jenni Wright, freshman midfielder. This 5-foot-1 Bingham High graduate has made a huge impact for UVSC, tallying a team-high eight goals. Her scoring has been even more valuable with the injury to senior captain Carolyn Theurer.