Cougars receive all-region honors

PROVO, Utah – Four BYU women’s volleyball players received American Volleyball Coaches Association regional honors, the organization announced Tuesday.

Senior opposite Jennifer Hamson, junior outside hitter Alexa Gray and sophomore middle blocker Amy Boswell received AVCA All-Pacific South Region First Team honors.

Hamson, a Layton, Utah, native, averages 3.64 kills, 1.35 blocks and 1.38 digs per set for the Cougars. She also has a team-high 25 service aces this season. Earlier this year she was named to the All-WCC First Team. Hamson was additionally named WCC Player of the Week in October as well as to the Academic All-WCC team.

Gray leads the team in kills with 3.66 per set while additionally contributing 0.83 blocks per set. She was named the 2014 WCC Player of the Year as well as WCC Player of the Week two times this season.

Boswell is second in the nation in blocks per set, averaging 1.65. She contributes a team-high .347 hitting percentage and has a team-high 17 solo blocks. Boswell also earned Academic All-District 8 honors for maintaining a 3.92 GPA in her nursing major.

Additionally, sophomore middle blocker Whitney Young was named AVCA All-Pacific South Region Honorable Mention.

Young leads the nation in blocks per set, averaging 1.93 per set. She also adds 1.18 kills per set. Young received Academic All-WCC Honorable Mention accolades earlier this year.

Additionally, head coach Shawn Olmstead was named the All-Pacific South Region Coach of the Year after leading his squad to a 27-4, 16-2 WCC record which included an outright first-place finish in conference play. 

The Cougars face No. 6 Florida State in the regional semifinals of the NCAA tournament Friday at 4 p.m. PST in Seattle.