The 2023 All-Cal Pac Women’s Volleyball Teams

Three very prominent names decorate the 2023 All-California Pacific Conference women's volleyball teams, but just as notable are the many new names among the 12 remaining honorees who earned distinction and herald a very bright future for the conference.  Of the 15 student-athletes voted to the list by Cal Pac coaches, seven have eligibility remaining, including five of the seven named to the First Team.

In a postseason poll, the Cal Pac coaches named Saint Katherine's Alexcis Morris the conference Player of the Year.  Morris, a senior middle blocker, was force at the net for the Firebirds, who established a new Cal Pac record with a perfect 20-0 record and compiled a 28-2 overall mark that ranks USK No. 17 in the NAIA.  Morris was named the NAIA Defender of the Week on Sept. 12 and led the Cal Pac with 118 blocks—1.22 per set—which ranks 14^th in the nation.

Two of Morris' teammates were also honored.  Addison Metts was voted the Attacker of the Year after averaging 2.77 kills per set with a .331 hitting percentage.  Last year, the junior outside hitter was picked as the Attacker of the Year, Newcomer of the Year, First Team, and Honorable Mention All-American.  Naomie Cremoux, a junior outside hitter, was named the Newcomer of the Year.  Additionally, USK head coach Eryn Leja-Martin was selected by her peers as the Coach of the Year.

Embry-Riddle senior Katie Rolle repeats as the Setter of the Year after compiling another stellar season for the Eagles.  Rolle finished with 999 assists, an average of 9.25 per set.  Westcliff's Ava Himstreet was voted the Defender of the Year after averaging a league-high 4.91 digs per set, and Benedictine Mesa's Jewel Carling was named the Freshman of the Year. 

Repeat individual honorees Metts and Rolle have shown sustained excellence over the past two seasons, but BENU's Brianna Rivera has taken sustained excellence to another level.  Easily the most decorated player in Cal Pac history, the grad student capped an unparalleled career with a Second Team selection in 2023.  Last year she was named to the First Team and was an Honorable Mention All-American, in 2021 she was the Cal Pac Player of the Year and Third Team All-American, in 2020 she was voted the Attacker of the Year and Honorable Mention All-American, and in 2019 she was named Freshman of the Year and All-Cal Pac Second Team.  After five years in Mesa, Ariz., Rivera earned recognition on two Second Teams, Three First Teams, and three All-America honors.

Interesting side note:  Izzy Bandy and Kayla Somontan played together at Vacaville High, went to different colleges in the same conference, and both were voted to the All-Cal Pac Second Team as seniors.

INDIVIDUAL AWARDS

PLAYER OF THE YEAR:  Alexcis Morris (Saint Katherine)

ATTACKER OF THE YEAR:  Addison Metts (Saint Katherine)

DEFENDER OF THE YEAR:  Ava Himstreet (Westcliff)

NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR:  Naomie Cremoux (Saint Katherine)

SETTER OF THE YEAR:  Katie Rolle (Embry-Riddle)

FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR:  Jewel Carling (Benedictine Mesa)

COACH OF THE YEAR: Eryn Leja-Martin (Saint Katherine)

ALL-CONFERENCE TEAMS

First Team

Second Team

Honorable Mention

Benedictine Mesa:  Annika Wallace.  Embry-Riddle: Lily Figgins.  La Sierra:  Torri Lambert.  Providence Christian:  Tiari Ho'okano.  Park-Gilbert:  Mallory Turner.  Saint Katherine:  Cassandra Orozco, Makenzie Nutting.  UC Merced:  Sera Riley, Bianca Malaluan.  Westcliff:  Sam Lister, Abbey Beckwith.