The University of Alaska Fairbanks    

UAF's Bergstrom earns All-America honorable mention

By BOB ELEY, Sports Editor

University of Alaska Fairbanks junior outside hitter Mallory Bergstrom was recognized as an honorable-mention All-American on Monday by the American Volleyball Coaches Association.

Bergstrom, who posted some huge numbers for the Nanooks this season, was one of 99 players honored by a national committee of eight people.

There were 12 players each selected to the first, second and third teams and 63 others chosen as honorable mention. The national Player of the Year will be announced later this week.

"That puts her in the top 100 in the nation and that's pretty cool," UAF coach Phil Shoemaker said Monday evening. "It's kind of a by-the-numbers type of thing and her numbers were pretty awesome this year."

The 5-11 Bergstrom, who hails from Bend, Ore., led the Nanooks with 425 kills for an average of 4.72 per game. She is ranked 15th in the nation in kills per game. She also had 360 digs for an average of 4.0 per game.

"The really cool thing about it is that she still has an aweful lot left in her," Shoemaker said. "She's really excited about next season and so are we. This was just a great way to cap off this season."