Nov. 23, 2005

SAN BRUNO, Calif. - Gonzaga University sophomore outside hitter Becky Jones was named an honorable mention selection as the West Coast Conference announced its annual awards this week. Jones becomes the first GU player to earn honorable mention honors since the 2003 season when Abby Cullen ended a run of three straight honorable mention nods.

Jones was one of the top offensive players in the WCC finishing the season with 471 kills and 14 double-doubles. Her 471 kills ranked sixth on the Gonzaga single-season list as she became the first GU player since 1997 to record more than 400 kills in a season. Jones was second on the team with 336 digs and 31 aces.

Gonzaga completed the 2005 season with a 10-21 record, 2-12 in the WCC. The 10 wins was the most for the program since the 1996 season while the Bulldogs when over No. 25 Saint Mary's was the first for the Zags since 1993. Gonzaga loses only two seniors from this year's team which was comprised of 12 freshmen and sophomores.

Santa Clara University won the WCC regular-season title and won three of the WCC yearly awards. Jon Wallace was named Coach of the Year while Cassie Perret was Player of the Year and Brittany Lowe was Freshman of the Year. Jackie Bernardin of the University of San Diego was the Defensive Player of the Year.

2005 WCC YEARLY AWARDS

Player of the Year: Cassie Perret, SCU

Freshman of the Year: Brittany Lowe, SCU

Defensive Player of the Year: Jackie Bernardin, USD

Coach of the Year: Jon Wallace, SCU

2005 ALL-WCC FIRST TEAM

NAME, SCHOOL - YR - POS - HOMETOWN
Jackie Bernardin, USD - SR - L - Bakersfield, CA
Mandy Bible, SMC - JR - S - Santa Barbara, CA
Anna Cmaylo, SCU - SO - MB - Napa, CA
Christie Dawson, USD - JR - MH - Apple Valley, CA
Heather Hughes, LMU - SO - S/OH - Fallbrook, CA
Christina Kirk, SMC - JR - MB - San Jose, CA
Brittany Lowe, SCU - FR - OH - Yorba Linda, CA
Kim McGiven, SCU - JR - OH - Encinitas, CA
Sophia Milo, PEP - JR - MB - Portland, OR
Cassie Perret, SCU - SR - OP - Menlo Park, CA
Lindsey Sherburne, USD - SR - S - Saratoga, CA
Missie Stidham, SMC - SO - OH - Fresno, CA

HONORABLE MENTION
Gonzaga - Becky Jones
Loyola Marymount - Dina DeBernardi
Pepperdine - Melissa Mehlhorn, Lecca Roberts, Julie Rubenstein
Saint Mary's - Cassandra Kolkka, Kaui Salzman
San Francisco - Kristin Hasselberg, KeLicia Shorts
Santa Clara - Crystal Matich

2005 ALL-WCC FRESHMAN TEAM

NAME, SCHOOL - POS - HOMETOWN
Brittany Barker, SMC - MB - Gilbert, AZ
Darcy Carroll, USF - S - Gilroy, CA
Cassi Chamberlain, PEP - RS - Lakewood, CA
Emily Day, LMU - OH - Torrance, CA
Jeanne Fairchild, USD - OH - Albuquerque, NM
Brittany Lowe, SCU - OH - Yorba Linda, CA
Julie Rubenstein, PEP - OH - Camarillo, CA