Upcoming Event: Volleyball at Arizona on October 2, 2025 at 7:00 PM
7:00 PM
Volleyball
at Arizona
Bevy of Utes Honored at MWC Postseason Banquet
11/22/2006 12:00 AM | Volleyball
Nov. 22, 2006
LAS VEGAS - The Mountain West Conference honored five University of Utah volleyball players and head coach Beth Launiere here this evening with two Ute spikers garnering three of the conference's top awards.
Veteran head coach Beth Launiere earned the league's Coach of the Year honor. She guided the Utes to a perfect 16-0 conference tally and has led them on their current 23-match winning streak. Utah enters the tourney with a 25-2 overall slate.
Spikers Airial Salvo and Sydney Anderson led the way for Utah. Salvo won the MWC's Player of the Year honor and Anderson brought home both the league's Setter and Freshman of the Year accolades.
Joining Salvo and Anderson on the all-conference team were teammates Lori Baird, Emillie Toone and Whitney Webb.
Salvo was an all-around player for the Utes. She hit .311 in conference play and tallied 4.25 kills, 2.95 digs, 0.71 blocks and 0.34 aces. Salvo had double-digit kills in each conference match and recorded eight double-doubles against league rivals. She had two 20-kills matches (New Mexico, 11/4, and Air Force, 11/17). Most impressive was her numbers against New Mexico. She had 20 kills on 37 swings, with only one error (.514 hitting).
Anderson guided the Utes to a .286 hitting percentage in league play, averaging an impressive 12.78 assists per game. Utah had the top attack in the conference, chalking up 16.66 kills per game. She had eight 40-plus assists matches, including a 64-assist match against Wyoming on Nov. 9. Anderson also averaged 3.15 digs and 0.74 blocks per game.
Baird proved to be one of the most offensive middles in the league. She finished the conference season hitting .302, netting 2.50 kills. But, Baird was a defensive threat too, tallying 1.57 blocks per game. Baird was fourth on the team with 0.22 aces per game. Baird had eight double-digit kill matches, and one double-double. She tagged Wyoming for 11 kills and 13 blocks (10/14). She topped the .350 hitting plateau seven times, hitting better than .476 in three of the last four matches of the season.
Toone wasn't only one of the top blockers in the nation, but she was the top blocker in the conference. She finished league action in tallying 1.82 blocks per game. She hit a team-best .378 and tallied 2.47 kills per game. She hit better than .350 in nine matches, buoyed by a .636 (7-0-11) effort against Air Force (9/16). She also had a pair 14-block matches against Wyoming (10/14) and Colorado State (11/18).
Webb stepped up and assumed a major roll on the team in her junior season. She led every outside hitter in the league, collecting kills at an eye-popping .349 clip. She averaged 3.30 kills 2.71 digs and 1.32 blocks as well. She had 10 double-digit kills matches and three double-doubles. Among her efforts was 26-dig outing at Wyoming (10/14).
Utah returns to action in the first round of the MWC Tournament here in Las Vegas. The Utes play New Mexico at 7 p.m. (PST).
Players Mentioned
Utah Volleyball's Emrie Moea'i - ESPN+ Feature
Thursday, September 25
Hear It From Harlan featuring Utah Volleyball's Kamryn Gibadlo
Thursday, September 25
Crimson Corner with Bill Riley - Tony Caridi, voice of the West Virginia Mountaineers
Tuesday, September 23
Crimson Corner with Bill Riley - Urban Meyer
Wednesday, September 17