Northwest Notes Nov. 30, 2022

Lakeland grad Ryan one of four Cougs on all-Pac-12 volleyball team

Katy Ryan, a sophomore right side hitter, earned honorable mention all-Pac-12 volleyball honors on Tuesday.

Ryan was named Pac-12 All-Freshman a season ago. Heading into the NCAA tournament, Ryan is well past her freshman season totals in blocks (93) and kills (272). A native of Rathdrum, Ryan had 12 kills while hitting .632 (12-0-19) in last Friday's sweep over Apple Cup rival No. 24 Washington. Her efficient season finale was one of seven matches on the year in which she tallied double digit kills and a hitting percentage at .300 or higher.

Magda Jehlarova and Pia Timmer each earned first team all-conference honors, and Laura Jansen also earned honorable mention.

WSU (22-9), ranked 24th, plays UNLV on Thursday in San Diego at 5 p.m. on ESPN+ in the first round of the NCAA tournament.

Gonzaga to honor Olynyk, Dickau, Vandersloot

SPOKANE — Kelly Olynyk, Dan Dickau and Courtney Vandersloot will each be honored by Gonzaga Athletics and have their numbers unveiled in the McCarthey Athletic Center prior to games during the 2002-23 season.

Olynyk will be honored prior to the game against Kent State on Dec. 5. Olynyk, a member of the Utah Jazz, broke onto the national basketball scene in the 2013 season, propelling Gonzaga to its first ever Associated Press No. 1 national ranking. He earned first-team Associated Press All-America honors.

Dickau will be honored before the game against San Francisco on Feb. 9. In 2001-02, Dickau became the Bulldogs first first-team Associated Press All-America selection. Dickau helped guide the Zags to a No. 6 national ranking and a then-school record 29 victories.

Vandersloot was scheduled to be honored last December, but the game with San Francisco was cancelled due to university health and safety protocols. GU Athletics is working with Vandersloot for a date prior to a women's game this season.

In the 2011 WNBA Draft, Vandersloot became the first Bulldog player in school history to be drafted in the first round of the WNBA — as the third overall pick taken by the Chicago Sky. She is a three-time West Coast Conference Player of the Year, was named to the Associated Press All-America Team second-team and State Farm Coaches' All-America Basketball team, USBWA All-America, named the Nancy Lieberman Award winner as the top point guard in the nation, and was the Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award winner during her time as a Zag.

Avalos, Green headline Boise State's all-Mountain West football honorees

Boise State's Andy Avalos was named the Mountain West Coach of the Year and redshirt freshman quarterback Taylen Green captured conference Freshman of the Year honors, highlighting the Broncos’ Mountain Division best 14 all-conference honors.

Avalos is the first Bronco football head coach to earn a coach of the year accolade since Chris Petersen was named the Western Athletic Conference Coach of the Year in 2008 and 2009.

In just his second year at the helm, Avalos coached Boise State to an 8-0 conference record and Mountain Division title.

Green led Boise State to a 7-1 record after taking over the starting quarterback position against San Diego State five weeks into the 2022 season.

The Lewisville, Texas, native has thrown for 200-plus yards in six of his eight starts, including a 305-yard performance against Colorado State (Oct. 29). Green has also rushed for 437 yards this season, surpassing the 100-yard rushing mark in two games (Oregon State, Sept. 3 and San Diego State, Sept. 30). He has recorded 12 touchdowns passing and eight more on the ground.

Boise State sixth-year senior offensive lineman John Ojukwu and senior safety JL Skinner were both tabbed to the All-MW First Team.

Broncos named to the second-team were redshirt senior offensive lineman Cade Beresford, junior running back George Holani, redshirt senior defensive tackle Scott Matlock, sixth-year senior linebacker Ezekiel Noa and redshirt senior linebacker DJ Schramm.

Fifth-year cornerback Caleb Biggers, junior placekicker Jonah Dalmas, Green, freshman running back Ashton Jeanty and sixth-year senior nickelback Tyreque Jones earned honorable mention.

Boise State hosts Fresno State in the Mountain West Championship on Saturday (1 p.m. PST, KAYU).

Idaho's Bea named Big Sky Co-Player of the Week

Beyonce Bea of Idaho scored 46 points in two games, including 34 against Navy. She also grabbed 21 rebounds, including 13 against the Midshipmen, and earned Big Sky Co-Player of the Week honors.

Idaho (1-3) heads to the University of San Diego Winter Classic this weekend, where the Vandals will face Nevada and New Mexico State.

Idaho's Jones earns Big Sky Conference Player of the Week

University of Idaho junior forward Isaac Jones was named the Big Sky Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Week on Tuesday.

The Spanaway, Wash., native shot 73 percent (19-of-26) from the field and averaged 25 points per game and 6.5 rebounds on the road against Cal Poly and Pacific.

Jones tallied a career-high 31 points and grabbed seven rebounds in a 84-81 win over Pacific. He shot 11 for 14 from the field and 9-of-12 from the foul line, while adding one steal and one assist. Jones started the week with a 19-point and six rebound effort against Cal Poly.

The 6-9 forward/center has the sixth highest field goal percentage in the nation at 76.1 percent (51-of-67).

Jones is the Big Sky leader in points per game (20.2), field goal percentage (76.1) and field goals made (51).

The Vandals play host to Northern Illinois on Friday at 6 p.m.