By: SOU Sports Information
Southern Oregon's
Josh Rohlfing was selected the American Volleyball Coaches Association's NAIA West Region Coach of the Year, and
Elliott Cook,
Makayla Hoyt and
Taylor Ristvedt were named regional all-stars for the Raiders.
Rohlfing received the honor for the second year in a row after guiding the Raiders to a 31-5 record, back-to-back Cascade Conference regular-season and tournament championships and an appearance in the NAIA Championships Round of 16. After bringing the Raiders to the quarterfinals in 2018, the 13-year head coach helped them back into the national tournament's elimination bracket for just the third time in team history.
Hoyt and Ristvedt were among just four repeat selections on the 14-person All-West Region Team, and Cook earned a spot on it for the first time after receiving honorable mention last year. All three were previously repeat selections to the All-Cascade Conference team.
Ristvedt, a senior right-side hitter, finished fourth on SOU's single-season kills list (486) and second on the career list (1,375). She led the CCC in both kills per set (3.7) and attacking average (.348) among individuals with at least five attempts per set.
Cook and Hoyt, both junior middles, helped make SOU's attack one of the most efficient in the country – Cook averaged 2.2 kills on a .294 average, and Hoyt added 2.0 on a .361 clip – while continuing to post stellar blocking numbers. Cook ranked 10th nationally in total blocks (148) and her average of 1.1 per set was a 33-percent improvement over her sophomore season, while Hoyt recorded 0.9 per set.
Providence (Mont.)'s Drew Choules was named the West Region Player of the Year.
The NAIA All-America teams will be announced Tuesday morning.