Upcoming Event: Volleyball at Arizona State on October 4, 2025 at 2:00 P.M.
2:00 P.M.
Volleyball
at Arizona State
Three Utes Named to AVCA All-Region Team
12/5/2017 2:58 PM | Volleyball
Anae, Luafalemana tabbed first team; Oblad named honorable mention
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Utah seniors Adora Anae and Tawanee Luafalemana, along with junior Berkeley Oblad, have each been named to the American Volleyball Coaches Association All-Pacific South Region Team, the AVCA announced today. Anae and Luaefalemana were both named first team selections, while Obald was tabbed honorable mention.
Â
In addition to her second straight first team all-region honor, Anae was also named the region's Player of the Year, becoming the first Ute to earn AVCA Regional POY honors. This also marks the first time since 2008 that at least two players earned AVCA all-region honors and it is the first time to have at least three players named to the team since 2006, when Utah had five player selections.
Â
Anae led the team this season with 522 kills, a 4.35 kills/set average and 385 digs. She also tallied 19 service aces, which rank second on the squad. Anae tallied 10+ kills in 31 of 32 matches this season, while also notching a team-high 21 double-doubles. Midway through the season she set Utah's all-time career kills record, surpassing former All-American Kim Turner's total of 1,620 career kills. The Punaluu, Hawaii, native was tabbed AVCA's National Player of the Week back on Oct. 10.
Â
Luafalemana was Utah's leader with 149 total blocks on the season, which included a team-leading 22 solo blocks. She also led the squad with a .365 hitting percentage, which if the season ended today, would rank fourth-best in a single-season. She posted 250 kills, a 1.98 kills/set average and totaled 52 digs. The Carson, Calif., native earned Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Week honors back on Sept. 4.
Â
Oblad ranked second on the team in total blocks, just nine blocks shy of Luafalemana's total, with 140 blocks on the year. She also ranked second on the team with a .314 hitting percentage. She totaled 288 kills and a 2.29 kills/set average. The Henderson, Nev., native was a two-time Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Week honoree, earning the selection on both Sept. 11 and Oct. 9.
Â
No. 13-ranked Utah, who earned the No. 11 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament, will face the No.-2 ranked Texas Longhorns in a NCAA Sweet 16 match-up this Friday, Dec. 8, at the Stanford Regional in Palo Alto, Calif. First serve between the Utes and Longhorns is set for 6 p.m. PT/7 p.m. MT at Maples Pavilion. The contest will be aired live on ESPN3 and can be viewed via the ESPN app or logging onto www.WatchESPN.com.
Â
For a complete list of the AVCA All-Region teams, click here.
Â
Â
In addition to her second straight first team all-region honor, Anae was also named the region's Player of the Year, becoming the first Ute to earn AVCA Regional POY honors. This also marks the first time since 2008 that at least two players earned AVCA all-region honors and it is the first time to have at least three players named to the team since 2006, when Utah had five player selections.
Â
Anae led the team this season with 522 kills, a 4.35 kills/set average and 385 digs. She also tallied 19 service aces, which rank second on the squad. Anae tallied 10+ kills in 31 of 32 matches this season, while also notching a team-high 21 double-doubles. Midway through the season she set Utah's all-time career kills record, surpassing former All-American Kim Turner's total of 1,620 career kills. The Punaluu, Hawaii, native was tabbed AVCA's National Player of the Week back on Oct. 10.
Â
Luafalemana was Utah's leader with 149 total blocks on the season, which included a team-leading 22 solo blocks. She also led the squad with a .365 hitting percentage, which if the season ended today, would rank fourth-best in a single-season. She posted 250 kills, a 1.98 kills/set average and totaled 52 digs. The Carson, Calif., native earned Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Week honors back on Sept. 4.
Â
Oblad ranked second on the team in total blocks, just nine blocks shy of Luafalemana's total, with 140 blocks on the year. She also ranked second on the team with a .314 hitting percentage. She totaled 288 kills and a 2.29 kills/set average. The Henderson, Nev., native was a two-time Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Week honoree, earning the selection on both Sept. 11 and Oct. 9.
Â
No. 13-ranked Utah, who earned the No. 11 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament, will face the No.-2 ranked Texas Longhorns in a NCAA Sweet 16 match-up this Friday, Dec. 8, at the Stanford Regional in Palo Alto, Calif. First serve between the Utes and Longhorns is set for 6 p.m. PT/7 p.m. MT at Maples Pavilion. The contest will be aired live on ESPN3 and can be viewed via the ESPN app or logging onto www.WatchESPN.com.
Â
For a complete list of the AVCA All-Region teams, click here.
Â
Players Mentioned
OH/RS
/ Volleyball
MB
/ VolleyballUtah 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