Three University of California San Diego women’s volleyball players were recognized by the California Collegiate Athletic Association as the conference released its postseason awards Wednesday.
Middle blocker Jessica Rieble was selected to the All-CCAA Second Team, while outside hitter Gina Cortesi and right-side hitter Cindy Tran were honorable mention picks.
Rieble led the Tritons in points per set (3.47), blocks per set (1.28), and hitting percentage (.377). The junior also averaged 2.66 kills per set, the second-highest on the roster. She totaled at least 10 points in 17 matches and five or more blocks 13 times.
Rieble’s .377 hitting percentage is the fourth-best in a single season at UC San Diego and the highest by any Triton since 2009.
Among all CCAA players in conference matches, Rieble ranked second in blocks per set (1.27) and third in hitting percentage (.370). Nationally, she is listed 21st in blocks per set, 26th in hitting percentage, and 63rd in total blocks (110).
It is Rieble’s second All-CCAA honor as she was a second-teamer in 2017 as well.
In her first season with the Tritons, Cortesi led the team with 2.85 kills per set and 770 total attack attempts and was second with 3.16 points per set and 3.06 digs per set. The sophomore transfer from Louisiana Tech recorded a team-best 12 double-doubles on the year. Cortesi’s 20 kills against national No. 1 Cal State San Bernardino were the most by any Triton during the season.
A first-year player for UC San Diego, Tran averaged 3.10 points, 2.36 kills, 2.65 digs, and 0.8 blocks as the only Triton to start all 23 matches. The junior transfer from Concordia Irvine dropped in a team-high 26 service aces. Tran had six double-doubles as well as 13 matches with at least 10 digs and 18 outings with multiple blocks.
Cal State San Bernardino produced the CCAA’s Player of the Year and Setter of the Year in Alexis Cardoza and Jayann DeHoog, respectively. Cal Poly Pomona won three major awards including Coach of the Year (Rosie Wegrich), Libero of the Year (Alex Bollier), and Freshman of the Year (Kira Zimmerman). Cal State LA’s Mickayla Sherman was tabbed the CCAA Newcomer of the Year.
UC San Diego finished its 2018 campaign at 11-12 overall and 7-10 in the CCAA.
—UC San Diego Athletics