A player who can perform to the best of his or her abilities in the limelight is usually the premiere player on the team.
Winning matches, creating a better overall court atmosphere and being the difference-maker that leads the team to victory are all qualities of such a player.
Luckily, the U volleyball team has been struck with one of these players, who has helped them reach the Sweet 16 for the first time ever.
Kim Turner has become the most significant factor in the U’s success this season. She leads the team in attack percentage with .352, and is also the dominant blocker, averaging 1.50 blocks a game.
Turner was a member of the All-MWC team, and won the MWC Tournament MVP as well as several MWC Player of the Week awards.
Now Turner can add another award to her collection. Turner was named to the All West region team. She is one of only two sophomores in the West to make the cut.
With the nomination, Turner now has an automatic bid to be on the list for potential All Americans.
Coach of the Year Launiere
Utah volleyball coach Beth Launiere directed her Utes to a 25-6 record, its highest ever national ranking (No. 13), its first ever Mountain West Conference Tournament championship and its first ever trip to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament.
It’s only fitting she gets a pat on the back.
Launiere was selected Coach of the Year in the West Region by the Tachikara/American Volleyball Coaches Association. The honor makes Launiere eligible for the National Coach of the Year award. In her 12th season, Launiere inherited a 1 32 volleyball team and she has directed the team to a 228-52 record.
Both Turner and Launiere will face nationally ranked No. 3 Stanford Dec. 7 in Stanford, Calif.