ARLINGTON, Texas - The Western Athletic Conference (WAC) announced on Wednesday the postseason all-conference volleyball teams and major awards as selected by the league's nine head coaches. UT Arlington’s Brianna Ford and Mollie Blank were named WAC Player of the Year and WAC Setter of the Year, respectively. California Baptist’s Amanda Darling captured WAC Libero of the Year and UT Arlington’s Sjakkie Donkers and Utah Valley’s Sami Blackett split the WAC Co-Freshman of the Year honor. J.T. Wenger of UT Arlington was chosen as the WAC Coach of the Year.
 
Ford, a graduate outside hitter, was selected as the WAC Player of the Year after putting up conference-best numbers in kills per set (4.39) and points per set (5.24). Ford’s 5.24 points per set is 14^th best in the country. Ford recorded double-digit kills in 23 of 28 matches for UT Arlington and tallied 15 double-doubles. The five-time WAC Player of the Week in 2024 led the Mavericks to a perfect 16-0 conference record and put up a regular season statline of 503.5 points, 421 kills, 283 digs, 93 blocks, 34 assists, 34 aces, and a .305 hitting percentage.
 
Blank, a graduate setter, earned WAC Setter of the Year after leading the WAC with 10.67 assists per set this year, ranking 21^st best in the nation. Blank registered at least 23 assists in every match this year and reached a season-high of 61 against Weber State on Sept. 14. Blank recorded nine double-doubles and was one kill away from a triple-double against California Baptist on Nov. 2. Blank led UT Arlington to the 15^th best team hitting percentage in the country with .279. Like her teammate Ford, Blank picked up five WAC Setter of the Week honors this season.
 
Darling, a graduate libero, was named WAC Libero of the Year after leading the conference in digs per set with 4.33. Darling had double-digit digs in 16 of 19 matches played this year, with a season-high of 28 digs coming against Seattle U on Nov. 7. This is the third time in Darling’s career that she earned the Libero of the Year award (MAAC 2021, 2022).
 
Donkers, a freshman outside hitter from the Netherlands, was chosen as one of two WAC Co-Freshman of the Year following a stellar debut season with the Mavericks. Donkers recorded the seventh best hitting percentage in the WAC during conference play with .287. Donkers totaled 11 double-digit kill performances and three double-doubles. Donkers had a career night against CBU on Nov. 2 as she set a career-high of 21 kills and tied her career-high in assists (5) and blocks (3).
 
Blackett, a freshman outside hitter, earned the second half of the WAC Co-Freshman of the Year award after registering the second most kills (410) in the conference this season and averaging the second-best kills per set (4.34) and the third-best points per set (5.06) in conference play. Blackett tallied 21 double-digit kills in 28 matches for Utah Valley and held the record for most points scored in a match this season for the WAC with 39.5 points against CBU on Oct. 19.
 
Wenger was selected as WAC Coach of the Year after leading UT Arlington to a 26-2 overall record, the fifth best winning percentage (.929) in the nation, and a perfect conference record of 16-0 to capture the Mavericks’ first WAC regular season title. It was the first time in 32 years that UTA was undefeated in conference play. UT Arlington led the WAC in team hitting percentage (.279), opponent hitting percentage (.155), assists per set (12.81), and kills per set (13.85).
 
2024 WAC Volleyball Awards
 
2024 WAC Player of the Year
Brianna Ford, Gr., OH, UT Arlington
 
2024 WAC Setter of the Year
Mollie Blank, Gr., UT Arlington
 
2024 WAC Libero of the Year
Amanda Darling, Gr., California Baptist
 
2024 WAC Co-Freshman of the Year
Sjakkie Donkers, OH, UT Arlington
Sami Blackett, OH, Utah Valley
 
2024 WAC Coach of the Year
J.T. Wenger, UT Arlington
 
2024 All-WAC First Team
Amanda Darling, Gr., L, California Baptist
Tatum Parrott, Jr, OH, Grand Canyon
Mollie Blank, Gr., S, UT Arlington
Brianna Ford, Gr., OH, UT Arlington
Paige Reagor, Gr., MB, UT Arlington
Kennedi Knudsen, Jr., OH, Utah Tech
Sami Blackett, Fr., OH, Utah Valley
Avery Shewell, Jr., OH, Utah Valley
 
2024 All-WAC Second Team
Bryley Steinhilber, Sr., OH/RS, Abilene Christian
Madison Gilliland, Gr., MB, California Baptist
Nicole Mauser, So., OPP, California Baptist
Ashley Lifgren, Gr., OH, Grand Canyon
Trista Strasser, Sr., MB, Grand Canyon
Arianna Bilby, Sr., OH/RS, Seattle U
Sjakkie Donkers, Fr., OH, UT Arlington
Evalyn Chism, So., S, Utah Valley
 
2024 WAC All-Freshman Team
Avery Thaler, MB, Abilene Christian
Aubrey Goodere, MB, Grand Canyon
Taylor Kubacak, S, Grand Canyon
Finley Charapata, OH, Southern Utah
Marlee Ervin, OH, Southern Utah
Sjakkie Donkers, OH, UT Arlington
Lusia Langi, MB, Utah Tech
Sami Blackett, OH, Utah Valley

Others Receiving All-WAC Votes
Mykenna Nelson, Gr., S, Grand Canyon
Anaelena Ramirez, Jr., OH, Grand Canyon
Allison Bryant, Sr., OH, Tarleton State
Cansu Gunaydin, Gr., OH, UT Arlington
Casidy Fried, Jr., MB, Utah Tech
Hannah Howard, R-Sr., OPP, Utah Tech
Bella Wooden, Jr., MB, Utah Valley