BELLINGHAM, Wash. – For the first time in program history, four members of the Western Washington University volleyball team have been selected as American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Division II All-Americans.

 

Senior outside hitter Abby Phelps, junior middle Kayleigh Harper, senior setter Brette Boesel and senior libero Audrey Stephens were selected as All-Americans for their outstanding play on the court in 2018, helping lead the Vikings to a second consecutive Great Northwest Athletic Conference Championship and the third NCAA II West Regional title in program history. 

 

Phelps (First Team), Harper (Second Team) and Boesel (Third Team) marked the first time in program history to have more than two All-Americans named to the first, second or third team in the same season. Stephens became the 16^th player in program history to earn All-America status as an honorable mention selection.

 

Phelps (Manson, WA/Chelan) became the first two-time First Team AVCA All-American in program history, adding to her already lengthy list of career accolades. The two-time GNAC Player of the Year and school and conference record holder in kills and points has now earned three All-America awards also earning honorable mention honors as a sophomore in 2016. Phelps heads into the NCAA II National Championship averaging 3.96 kills and 4.41 digs per set. She has recorded 26 double-doubles (kills/digs) this season.

 

Harper (Oak Harbor, WA) was a second-team selection after earning honorable mention honors in 2016. During her junior season in 2018 Harper ranks amongst the nation's leaders averaging 1.40 blocks per set and a .409 hitting percentage. In three seasons with the Vikings, Harper is fourth in program history with 438 career blocks and is the all-time leader with a .369 hitting percentage.

 

Boesel (Brewster, WA) adds her name to the list of WWU All-Americans for the second time in her career, moving up from an honorable mention selection in 2017 to a third-team pick in 2018. Boesel has led the Vikings offense averaging 11.99 assists per set to rank 8^th nationally heading into the NCAA II Championship. With her balanced distribution, WWU has a team hitting percentage of .255 to rank 15^th in the nation and four players are averaging at least 2.00 kills per set. 

 

Stephens (Colville, WA) leads the team and ranks 6^th in the West Region (77^th in NCAA II) averaging 4.97 digs per set. WWU's starting libero has recorded double-digits in digs in 30 of 31 matches this season, with eight matches with 20 or more digs. Stephens joins her older sister, Joellee Buckner, who was also named honorable mention AVCA All-American in 2017.

 

Here is the full list of WWU Volleyball AVCA All-Americans:

 

 

Fans can follow WWU Volleyball online at WWUVikings.com/VB, and via social media on Twitter (@WWUVolleyball), Instagram (@WWUVB) and Facebook (@WWUVolleyball).

 

The WWU volleyball program has risen to elite level by advancing to the NCAA Division II Championships in each of the last seven seasons and 13 of the last 18 dating back to the 2001 season. The winner of nine Great Northwest Athletic Conference championships, Western won the 2018 GNAC title with a perfect 20-0 record and won the 2017 championship by posting a 19-1 league. Over the last two seasons the Vikings have combined to go 55-7 and over the last four seasons are 105-21. Led by 19th-year head coach Diane Flick-Williams, the Vikings have posted a 173-36 record over the last seven seasons (.828 winning percentage) and have played in the NCAA II West Region championship match each of the last four seasons (2015-18), winning titles in 2015 and 2018. WWU played for the NCAA II national championship in 2007 finishing 2^nd in the nation and advanced to the NCAA II Final Four in 2015.

 

-- @WWUVolleyball --