Larson, Nielsen Named to All-Conference Team

FORT COLLINS -- Senior rightside hitter Allison Larson and junior middle blocker Laura Nielsen were named to the 2002 All-Mountain West Conference Volleyball Team, announced Wednesday night at the MWC pre-championship banquet.

Larson leads the Cougars with 297 kills one the season (2.88 kpg) and had a career-high 20 kills in a win vs. Wyoming, Nov. 15. She has led the Cougars in kills in 12 matches this season, but has only led the team in attack attempts once. On the defensive side of the ball, Larson ranks fifth with 0.77 bpg, on a Cougar team that is the No. 13 blocking team in the nation (3.12 bpg).

Her best play has come in the conference, however. In MWC play Larson ranks No. 9 with a .295 hitting percentage and No. 13 with 3.20 kpg. She was named to the all-tournament team at Washinton State in BYU's season-opening tournament. This season Larson has picked up career-highs in kills (20), hitting percentage (.583) and blocks (10).

Nielsen stepped into the starting lineup after freshman Lexi Brown tore her ACL against Weber State, Sept. 10. Since then she has been the Cougars' most efficient attacker. Neilsen overcame her own injury, a broken foot midway through the season, and continued her consistent play throughout.

In MWC play Nielsen is second in the conference with a .353 attack percentage and is fourth with 1.40 bpg. She was named MWC Player of the Week once (Oct. 21). This season she has set career-highs in kills (15), hitting percentage (.643) and blocks (11).