Paige Bartsch Named MW Preseason Player of the Year
8/14/2024 12:03:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Boise State senior Paige Bartsch has been named the 2024 Mountain West Volleyball Preseason Player of the Year, the conference announced, Wednesday.
With just over two weeks left before the season begins the MW released its Preseason Team and Preseason Coaches' Poll. The preseason team and player of the year were voted on by the conference's 11 head coaches.
The lone Broncos on this year's team, Bartsch earned Preseason Player of the Year for the second time in her career (2022).
A native of Helena, Mont., she is the second Bronco to be named an MW Preseason Player of the Year twice, joining Sierra Nobley, who earned the accolade in 2016 and 2017.
Bartsch, who is now a three-time Preseason All-MW Team honoree, is coming off a banner year in which she received an AVCA All-America Honorable Mention recognition, was named the MW Co-Player of the Year, and was a member of the All-MW Team.
As a junior last year, Bartsch was one of the most dominant players in the conference. She finished the season leading the MW in eight statistical categories: kills (530), kills per set (5.05), attacks (1,349), attacks per set (12.85), service aces (52), service aces per set (0.50), points (614.5) and points per set (5.85).
She was ranked in the top 20 nationally in all eight of those categories: second for points per set, fifth for kills per set and attacks per set, eighth for points, 10th for kills, 14th for attacks and service aces per set, and service aces.
Bartsch moved into second place in Mountain West history for kills in a season with 530 and fourth in points with 614.5.
The outside hitter also set two school match records for attacks in a three-set match (58) and service aces in a five-set match (7), as well as four all-time season records for points (614.5), points per set (5.85), kills (530), kills per set (5.05); and two rally-scoring era records for total service aces (52) and service aces per set (0.50).
The Coaches' Poll
The MW also released the preseason coaches' poll today. The Broncos were picked third out of 11 teams, receiving 77 points. Colorado State led the poll with eight first-place votes and 98 points, followed by Utah State with two first-place votes and 84 points.
Trailing the Broncos in fourth was Fresno State (71 points), UNLV with one first-place vote (65) in fifth, Wyoming in sixth (56), San Diego State (47), New Mexico (39), San Jose State (32), Air Force (25) and Nevada with 12 points.
Boise State will host the Blue-Orange Scrimmage, Saturday, August 17 at noon in Bronco Gym. Admission is free. The Broncos open the season August 30-September 1 at the Arizona's Cactus Classic in Tucson, where they will face Arizona, Tennessee State and VCU.
The home opening weekend is slated for September 13-15 when the Broncos host CSU Bakersfield, Gonzaga and Idaho State in the Boise State Classic.
Season and Single Match Tickets Now on Sale
Season and single match tickets are available and can be purchased in person at the Albertsons Stadium ticket office, over the phone by calling 208-426-4737, or online at Buy Tickets.
With just over two weeks left before the season begins the MW released its Preseason Team and Preseason Coaches' Poll. The preseason team and player of the year were voted on by the conference's 11 head coaches.
The lone Broncos on this year's team, Bartsch earned Preseason Player of the Year for the second time in her career (2022).
A native of Helena, Mont., she is the second Bronco to be named an MW Preseason Player of the Year twice, joining Sierra Nobley, who earned the accolade in 2016 and 2017.
Bartsch, who is now a three-time Preseason All-MW Team honoree, is coming off a banner year in which she received an AVCA All-America Honorable Mention recognition, was named the MW Co-Player of the Year, and was a member of the All-MW Team.
As a junior last year, Bartsch was one of the most dominant players in the conference. She finished the season leading the MW in eight statistical categories: kills (530), kills per set (5.05), attacks (1,349), attacks per set (12.85), service aces (52), service aces per set (0.50), points (614.5) and points per set (5.85).
She was ranked in the top 20 nationally in all eight of those categories: second for points per set, fifth for kills per set and attacks per set, eighth for points, 10th for kills, 14th for attacks and service aces per set, and service aces.
Bartsch moved into second place in Mountain West history for kills in a season with 530 and fourth in points with 614.5.
The outside hitter also set two school match records for attacks in a three-set match (58) and service aces in a five-set match (7), as well as four all-time season records for points (614.5), points per set (5.85), kills (530), kills per set (5.05); and two rally-scoring era records for total service aces (52) and service aces per set (0.50).
The Coaches' Poll
The MW also released the preseason coaches' poll today. The Broncos were picked third out of 11 teams, receiving 77 points. Colorado State led the poll with eight first-place votes and 98 points, followed by Utah State with two first-place votes and 84 points.
Trailing the Broncos in fourth was Fresno State (71 points), UNLV with one first-place vote (65) in fifth, Wyoming in sixth (56), San Diego State (47), New Mexico (39), San Jose State (32), Air Force (25) and Nevada with 12 points.
Boise State will host the Blue-Orange Scrimmage, Saturday, August 17 at noon in Bronco Gym. Admission is free. The Broncos open the season August 30-September 1 at the Arizona's Cactus Classic in Tucson, where they will face Arizona, Tennessee State and VCU.
The home opening weekend is slated for September 13-15 when the Broncos host CSU Bakersfield, Gonzaga and Idaho State in the Boise State Classic.
Season and Single Match Tickets Now on Sale
Season and single match tickets are available and can be purchased in person at the Albertsons Stadium ticket office, over the phone by calling 208-426-4737, or online at Buy Tickets.
Players Mentioned
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