EWU’s Sonderen earns MVP award

Eastern Washington University senior Keva Sonderen, a 6-foot-1 middle blocker who hit a league-high .335 during the regular season while averaging 3.3 kills per game, was honored Tuesday as the Big Sky Conference’s most valuable player in volleyball.

Sonderen, a graduate of Gonzaga Prep, was named to the all-conference first team with teammate Lizzy Mellor, a 5-11 junior outside hitter from Colfax who paced the regular-season champion Eagles (19-7, 12-2) with an average of 3.47 kills per game.

EWU’s Andrea Verdoljack, a 5-9 junior who averaged 4.66 digs per game, was named co-libero of the year with Idaho State’s Ashley VanderBloomen. EWU’s Christina Albers, a 5-11 junior setter, and Ashley Jensen, a 6-1 junior middle blocker, were named to the second team.

Joining Sonderen and Mellor on the first team were Sacramento State’s Sandra Bandimere and Emily Wilson, and Montana State’s Kamber Kelly and Megan Zanto.

Montana’s Claudia Houle, a first-year sophomore transfer, was named the league’s top newcomer. Sac State’s Lindsay Haupt was named the outstanding freshman.

Reome named MVP in GNAC

Central Washington University setter Kate Reome, a 5-7 senior from Lakeside-Nine Mile Falls High, has been named the Great Northwest Athletic Conference player of the year.

Reome led the Wildcats to a 26-0 regular-season record and a berth in the 64-team NCAA Division II national tournament.

Reome averaged 14.16 assists per game.