BELLINGHAM, Wash. -- It another special season for the Western Washington University volleyball program, with a 10th consecutive trip to the NCAA Championships, hosting the West Regional Tournament and posting another 20-win season.
 
And the awards and honors keep flowing in. WWU's senior trio of setter Malia Aleaga, outside hitter Calley Heilborn and middle Chloe Roetcisoender all earned honorable mention All-America honors from the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA).
 
"What a great honor for three very deserving people. I know they would share the credit to their teammates, but their hard work and constant drive to improve every day is what this award symbolizes," said WWU head coach Diane Flick-Williams. "I'm so proud of them and am grateful for the legacy they have left to our program."
 
For Heilborn, it marked the third AVCA All-America honor in her collegiate career, earning third-team honors in 2019 and honorable mention acclaim each of the last two seasons. Aleaga and Roetcisoender were both first-time award winners on the prestigious AVCA All-America team. WWU has had at least three student-athletes earn AVCA All-America honors in each of the last four seasons and two or more in five of the last six.
 
Aleaga (Burien, WA/Kennedy) was an honorable mention All-West Region award winner from the AVCA both on the All-America team and the West Region squad. Aleaga also earned First Team All-GNAC honors. During her final collegiate season Aleaga averaged 10.31 assists per set to rank second in the GNAC, third in the West Region and 35th in the nation. During her collegiate career Aleaga finished with 3,593 assists to rank fourth in WWU and 16th in GNAC history. This marks the second All-America award in her career earning third-team honors from D2CCA as a freshman in 2019.
 
Heilborn (Auburn, WA/Auburn Riverside) was a first-team West Region AVCA selection and became a three-time All-American.  The outside hitter put together a well-rounded senior season ranking as the only player in the GNAC to rank in the top 10 in the conference in both kills per set (5th, 3.16) and digs pet set (8th, 3.51). Heilborn also led WWU with 33 service aces, 384.0 total points (3.84 per set) and 13 double-doubles. During four collegiate seasons Heilborn left her mark in the WWU record book ranking seventh in total digs (1,401), 10th in kills (1,171), 10th in total points (1,395.5) and 20th in service aces (106) in 98 career matches. Heilborn also ended her career as the WWU all-time leader with 11 GNAC Player of the Week awards.
 
Here is a look at WWU's all-time award winners on the AVCA (American Volleyball Coaches Association) All-America program:
 

WWU'S  AVCA ALL-AMERICANS
First Team
2002	Liz Bishop, S
2007	Courtney Schneider, L
2008	Angie Alvord, MB
2010	Allison Gotz, L
2012	Marlayna Geary, OH
2013	Samantha Hutchinson, L
2017	Abby Phelps, OH
2018	Abby Phelps, OH
2019	Kayleigh Harper, MB
2021	Gabby Gunterman, OH
Second Team
2003	Liz Bishop, S
2012	Samantha Hutchinson, L
2014	Samantha Hutchinson, L
2018	Kayleigh Harper, MB
Third Team
2006	Courtney Schneider, L
2018	Brette Boesel, S
2019	Calley Heilborn, OH
	Gabby Gunterman, OH
Honorable Mention
2003	Nicola Parker, L
2005	Courtney Schneider, L
2007	Jaime Anderson, OH
	Tiana Roma, MB
2008	Allison Gotz, L
2013	Kayla Erickson, MB
2014	Kayla Erickson, MB
2015	Rachel Roeder, OH
2016	Abby Phelps, OH
	Kayleigh Harper, MB
2017	Brette Boesel, S
	Joellee Buckner, OPP
2018	Aubrey Stephens, L
2021	Olivia Fairchild, MB
	Calley Heilborn, OH
2022	Malia Aleaga, S
	Calley Heilborn, OH
	Chloe Roetcisoender, MB

 
WWU completed the 2022 season with a 21-6 record, advancing to the NCAA Championships West Regional tournament for the 10th consecutive season and the 16th time in program history. The Vikings placed second in the GNAC with a 16-2 league record and hosted the NCAA West Regional Championships in Carver Gym for the second time in program history.