Colorado University Athletics
Alexa Smith was named to the All-Pac-12 Team, while Brynna DeLuzio was tabbed honorable mention in addition to earning a spot on the Pac-12 All-Freshman Team
Photo by: Mark Waldron
Smith Named All-Pac-12, Four Others Earn Honorable Mention Honors
November 28, 2017 | Volleyball
DeLuzio Named To Pac-12 All-Freshman Team
SAN FRANCISCO — After leading the Buffs to a 22-9 regular season mark, junior Alexa Smith has been named to the All-Pac-12 Team. Four other Buffs, junior Naghede Abu, freshman Brynna DeLuzio, senior Joslyn Hayes and junior Frankie Shebby, were named to the honorable mention squad.
Smith, a 6-1 outside hitter from Colorado Springs, Colo., was named to the honorable mention squad in 2016 and moved up to the first team this season after averaging 4.01 kills per set, which is seventh in the Pac-12. She also ranks 10th in attacks per set (10.04) and is seventh in the league in points (4.41). Smith also adds 2.90 digs per set while hitting .246. She is the fourth Buff since 2011 to earn All-Pac-12 team honors, joining Alexis Austin, Nicole Edelman and Taylor Simpson.
Smith was named to the NIKE Invitational All-Tournament team and was the Omni Invitational MVP. She was also named the VolleyMob National Player of the Week as well as the Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Week after helping the Buffs to a 3-0 weekend in the final weekend of non-conference play, which included a five-set come-from-behind upset at then-No. 22 Colorado State. She averaged 4.56 kills and 3.33 digs per set. Smith has recorded 20 or more kills in eight matches this season, which includes a career-best 27 kills against then-No. 13 UCLA.
Abu, a 6-4 middle block from Riverside, Calif., is making her second appearance on the honorable mention team. She leads the team in blocks with 1.20, which is tied for seventh in the Pac-12 and also has the team best hitting percentage at .347, which is sixth in the league. Abu has become a bigger threat on the offensive side of the net this season, averaging 2.09 kills per set. She was named the Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Week after recording 32 kills and 13 blocks while hitting .435 against Oregon State and then-no. 12 Oregon.
A 5-9 setter from Windermere, Fla., DeLuzio was named the Pac-12 Freshman of the Week four times in 2017, a CU record. She is averaging 11.07 assists per set, which is third in the conference and 28th in the NCAA. The Buffs have hit .249 under her direction and are averaging 13.71 kills per set. DeLuzio had an outstanding freshman campaign, recording 50 or more assists in nine matches. She handed out a career-best 64 assists in a win over Arizona State. DeLuzio also adds 2.32 digs per set and 0.38 blocks per set.
DeLuzio was also named to the Pac-12 All-Freshman Team, becoming the first Buff to ever earn the honor. Five others have been named to the Pac-12 All-Freshman honorable mention team.
Hayes, a 6-4 opposite from Santa Monica, Calif., had a breakout season for the Buffs. She is averaging 1.99 kills per set and is posting 0.72 blocks per set while attacking at a .240 efficiency. She tied a career-high earlier this season with 16 kills in a narrow loss to then-No. 4 Stanford and also came up big in the upset of then-No. 12 Oregon with 10 kills, eight digs and eight blocks.
A 6-0 outside hitter from La Mirada, Calif., Shebby ranks second for the Buffs in kills with 3.50, which is 10th in the Pac-12. She is also eighth in the league in points per set (4.02) and is 10th in attacks per set (10.84). Shebby is an all-around player and adds 2.45 digs per set and 0.67 blocks per set (both fourth on the team). Her 15 block solos is second for the Buffs behind Abu's 17. Shebby has recorded 20 or more kills twice this season, which included a 25-kill performance against Arizona.
Colorado finished the regular season with a 22-9 overall record and was tied for fifth in the Pac-12 standings with a 12-8 mark. CU will face James Madison on Friday, December 1, in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
Smith, a 6-1 outside hitter from Colorado Springs, Colo., was named to the honorable mention squad in 2016 and moved up to the first team this season after averaging 4.01 kills per set, which is seventh in the Pac-12. She also ranks 10th in attacks per set (10.04) and is seventh in the league in points (4.41). Smith also adds 2.90 digs per set while hitting .246. She is the fourth Buff since 2011 to earn All-Pac-12 team honors, joining Alexis Austin, Nicole Edelman and Taylor Simpson.
Smith was named to the NIKE Invitational All-Tournament team and was the Omni Invitational MVP. She was also named the VolleyMob National Player of the Week as well as the Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Week after helping the Buffs to a 3-0 weekend in the final weekend of non-conference play, which included a five-set come-from-behind upset at then-No. 22 Colorado State. She averaged 4.56 kills and 3.33 digs per set. Smith has recorded 20 or more kills in eight matches this season, which includes a career-best 27 kills against then-No. 13 UCLA.
Abu, a 6-4 middle block from Riverside, Calif., is making her second appearance on the honorable mention team. She leads the team in blocks with 1.20, which is tied for seventh in the Pac-12 and also has the team best hitting percentage at .347, which is sixth in the league. Abu has become a bigger threat on the offensive side of the net this season, averaging 2.09 kills per set. She was named the Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Week after recording 32 kills and 13 blocks while hitting .435 against Oregon State and then-no. 12 Oregon.
A 5-9 setter from Windermere, Fla., DeLuzio was named the Pac-12 Freshman of the Week four times in 2017, a CU record. She is averaging 11.07 assists per set, which is third in the conference and 28th in the NCAA. The Buffs have hit .249 under her direction and are averaging 13.71 kills per set. DeLuzio had an outstanding freshman campaign, recording 50 or more assists in nine matches. She handed out a career-best 64 assists in a win over Arizona State. DeLuzio also adds 2.32 digs per set and 0.38 blocks per set.
DeLuzio was also named to the Pac-12 All-Freshman Team, becoming the first Buff to ever earn the honor. Five others have been named to the Pac-12 All-Freshman honorable mention team.
Hayes, a 6-4 opposite from Santa Monica, Calif., had a breakout season for the Buffs. She is averaging 1.99 kills per set and is posting 0.72 blocks per set while attacking at a .240 efficiency. She tied a career-high earlier this season with 16 kills in a narrow loss to then-No. 4 Stanford and also came up big in the upset of then-No. 12 Oregon with 10 kills, eight digs and eight blocks.
A 6-0 outside hitter from La Mirada, Calif., Shebby ranks second for the Buffs in kills with 3.50, which is 10th in the Pac-12. She is also eighth in the league in points per set (4.02) and is 10th in attacks per set (10.84). Shebby is an all-around player and adds 2.45 digs per set and 0.67 blocks per set (both fourth on the team). Her 15 block solos is second for the Buffs behind Abu's 17. Shebby has recorded 20 or more kills twice this season, which included a 25-kill performance against Arizona.
Colorado finished the regular season with a 22-9 overall record and was tied for fifth in the Pac-12 standings with a 12-8 mark. CU will face James Madison on Friday, December 1, in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
Players Mentioned
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