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Lesu Earns Libero of the Year
BY RANDAL HOROBIK
Tribune Sports Editor
Northwest College sophomore Valerie Lesu and freshman Sandrina Hunsel were named members of the All-Region team following the conclusion of the Region IX North volleyball tournament in Glendive, Mont., this past weekend. Hunsel, along with Trapper teammate Gianesi Tarafa, were also named to the All-tournament team.
Lesu, a sophomore from Waipahu, Hawaii, finished the regular season with 573 digs for the Trappers as the team’s libero. That figure ranked her 16th in the nation for the 2010 season. Lesu is also a member of the Northwest College women’s basketball team.
Hunsel, a freshman from Paramaribo, Suriname, burst onto the scene for Northwest College this season and finished fifth nationally in kills during the regular season with 471. Given the Trappers’ year-long battle with injuries, Hunsel, who had just two years of organized volleyball experience prior to the 2010 season, became the focus of the NWC offense.
Despite her totals, Hunsel was passed over for the region’s freshman of the year honor. That award went to Olivera Medic of Western Wyoming, who was also named the region’s overall player of the year after helping lead her team to a Region IX North tournament title and a No. 2 national ranking.
Western Wyoming’s Rick Reynolds was named the Region IX North coach of the year. Casper College’s Marija Jovanovic was named the setter of the year for the region.
Hunsel and Lesu were also named to the WCCAC all-conference rosters. Hunsel was a first-team selection while Lesu’s name appeared on the roster for the second team. Sophomore Danielle York and freshman Gabrielle Fabri were both selected as honorable mention choices.
Tarafa, a freshman from Rexburg, Idaho, earned all-tournament honors after stepping up during the Trappers’ final three games of the year in Glendive. The Trappers wrapped up the 2010 volleyball campaign with a 22-18 overall record.
Northwest loses eight sophomores from its roster next year. In addition to York and Lesu, the team bids farewell to Megann Legerski, Jessica Denney, Ashton Hudspeth, Mayara Conilho, Allison Hart and Randi McInerney.