SEATTLE (Nov. 19) -- Monica Herrera of Seattle Pacific University was selected as the volleyball newcomer of the year in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference.

Herrera (Jr., Lima, Peru), a transfer from Mercy College, was voted to the all-GNAC second team along with the Falcons' Carri Colvin (Sr., Vancouver, Wa./Prairie). Setter Katy Higgins (Jr., Kirkland, Wa./Redmond) received honorable mention.

Herrera established new SPU single match records for kills (30) and attacking attempts (72), plus a season record for kills average (4.12). She also led Seattle Pacific in service aces. Colvin topped the team and ranked seventh in the conference in digs (3.78).

Seattle Pacific has produced the newcomer award winner each of the last three years. Leah Wiiest won in 2000 and Cathleen Price in 2001.

Conference champion and NCAA tournament-bound Western Washington placed four players on the first team, including player of the year Liz Bishop. The Vikings' Diane Flick was coach of the year.

Great Northwest Athletic Conference Volleyball All-Star Team

First Team
Liz Bishop, Western Washington Setter 5-9 Jr. Seattle, WA
Shannon Rowland, Western Washington Outside Hitter 5-11 Sr. Bellingham, WA
Meghan Evoy, Western Washington Middle Blocker 6-0 So. Olympia, WA
Lizzy Safranski, Seattle Middle Blocker 5-9 So. Portland, OR
Brianne McCabe, Alaska Anchorage Middle Blocker 6-1 Sr. Bakersfield, CA
Nicola Parker, Western Washington Libero 5-9 Jr. Auburn, WA

Second Team
Kate Reome, Central Washington Setter 5-8 So. Nine Mile Falls, WA
Carolyn Mires, Central Washington Outside Hitter 5-10 Sr. Walla Walla, WA
Monica Herrera, Seattle Pacific Outside Hitter 6-1 Jr. Lima, Peru
Mallory Bergstrom, Alaska Fairbanks Outside Hitter 5-11 So. Bend, OR
Louise Free, Northwest Nazarene Middle Blocker 6-1 Sr. Eagle, AK
Carri Colvin, Seattle Pacific Outside Hitter 5-9 Sr. Vancouver, WA