The University of Alaska Fairbanks    

UAF's Bergstrom earns all-region honors

By RICHARD LARSON, Staff Writer

University of Alaska Fairbanks junior outside hitter Mallory Bergstrom was one of 12 players named to the American Volleyball Coaches Association Pacific Region all-star team, the Great Northwest Athletic Conference announced on Tuesday.

"The criteria just to be nominated for the team is significant," UAF coach Phil Shoemaker said. "This is another nice award for Mallory and is something I think she richly deserves."

Bergstrom led the Nanooks with 425 kills and 360 digs on the season and also had 47 total blocks and 16 service aces. She averaged 4.72 kills per game and 4.00 digs per game. She hit at a solid .243 percentage. Bergstrom was the only player named as the Great Northwest Athletic Conference Player of the Week three times this season and made the All-GNAC first team at the end of the season.

Bergstrom had 156 kills as a freshman and 325 kills as a sophomore before adding 425 last season as the Nanooks went 13-10 overall and 10-8 in conference play. Her 4.72 average kills per game ranks her 14th nationally among Division II players.

"If we could clone her, we would be in business," said Shoemaker. "It's her consistency; that's what it takes to get an award like this. If you look at all her matches from the start of the season, there might be three in which she didn't have double digits in kills and digs. That's pretty remarkable. That's performing at a high level every night."

Bergstrom was joined on the team by two other players from the GNAC as Western Washington setter Liz Bishop and libero Nicola Parker also made the squad.

"First and foremost, this is certainly a great honor for Mallory, but you don't get there on your own," Shoemaker said. "Everybody on the team can take a sense of pride and satisfaction in it."

Previous Nanooks who have made the AVCA Pacific Region all-star team are Ruth Peterson in 1995 and Heather Harrison in 1991. Angel Fairbanks made the Daktronics all-region team in 2001. The AVCA team is selected by coaches. The Daktronics team, whcih will be announced on Dec. 10, is chosen by sports information directors.

Members of the AVCA Pacific Region all-star team are eligible for All-American honors, which will also be announced in December.