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Volleyball Recap - 2006
12/20/2006 12:00 AM | Volleyball
Dec. 20, 2006
SALT LAKE CITY - The University of Utah volleyball team set a new standard of achievement after turning an historic effort in 2006.
"We had an extremely successful year, yet there are still some unrealized goals left," said head coach Beth Launiere. "I think a lot of individuals established themselves and found their roles on the team which bodes well for us next season.
"Now, our goal is to mature as a team and to learn how to take it to the next level. We need to know how to beat a Florida, a USC or a UCLA-type of team on the road."
The Utes set school records for wins (28), conference wins (16) and winning percentage (.875) and also had a school-record 25-match winning streak. When the season was all said and done, Utah went 28-4 overall and was a perfect 16-0 in conference play.
The Ute spikers were only the second team in conference history to go undefeated in league play and won the program's second-ever regular season title.
Utah opened the 2006 season ranked No. 24 in the AVCA Coaches Poll but climbed to as high as No. 9, holding that spot for five straight weeks (10/23-11/20). Utah ended the regular season ranked No. 15 in the coaches poll.
The Utes were also one of the statistical powers this year, ranking No. 1 in team blocks (3.71), seventh in hitting (.281) and 10th in win percentage (.875). Emillie Toone was one the nation's top individual performers, ranking No. 2 in the country in blocks (1.93).
With the team's accomplisments came unparalleled individual success. Airial Salvo and Whitney Webb both garnered All-American honors, with Salvo earning second-team distinction and Webb landing on the third team. Those are only the second and third All-Americans in program history, joining Kim Turner who was a third-teamer back in 2003.
"This honor for Airial Salvo and Whitney Webb is unbelievably exciting for both the athletes and the University of Utah volleyball program," Launiere. "To have two All-Americans in one year says a lot about our program and the success that we enjoyed this season."
Five Utes in all were honored with conference accolades. Salvo was the MWC's Player of the Year, while Sydney Anderson won Freshman and Setter of the Year. Also named all-conference were Lori Baird, Emillie Toone and Webb. Launiere laid claim to the MWC's Coach of the Year honor and went on to win the West Region Coach of the Year as well.
Salvo, Toone and Webb were first-team all-region while Baird was a second-teamer. Anderson was the West Region Freshman of the Year.
The 2006 campaign began with Utah going 2-2.. The two losses were to then-No. 5-ranked Florida and then-No. 14-ranked USC. But after the 3-1 loss to USC, things started to roll.
A 3-0 win over Fresno State in the ensuing match on Sept. 3 set Utah up to win 25 straight matche. During that span, Utah would lose only eight games. The Utes beat No. 16 and 17-ranked Brigham Young twice and iced their second conference championship in program history.
The Utes qualified for the their ninth straight NCAA Tournament, garnering a bid that saw them take on Michigan State in the first round. They topped the Spartans, 3-2, in the first round but lost to eventual Final Four participant and No. 4-ranked UCLA.
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