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Four UCSB volleyball players awarded First Team All-Big West while a pair of newcomers land All-Freshman accolades.

Nov. 21, 2006

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - Six UC Santa Barbara women's volleyball players received All-Big West honors it was announced today. Seniors Jamie Garbisch, Emily Hendrickson and Olivia Waldowski along with junior Brett Quirarte were each named to the conference's First Team while Stephanie Brandt and Rebecca Saraceno each were placed on the conference's All-Freshman Team.

The first-team nod was the fourth consecutive Big West honor for Olivia Waldowski, she was named Freshman of the Year in 2003, was on the first team her sophomore season and earned an honorable mention nod last season. The 6'3" middle blocker has led UCSB as well as the conference in hitting percentage this season and currently boasts a .394 clip. The Irvine, Calif. native also ranks in the conference top-ten with a 3.45 kills per game average and is second for the Gauchos with .99 blocks per game.

Earning her second consecutive first-team accolade is Brett Quirarte. The junior middle blocker ranks tenth in the conference with a .293 hitting percentage on the season and tenth with a team-leading 112 blocks for a 1.14 blocks per game average.

Hendrickson is also a repeat honoree as she was awarded an honorable mention nod last season; this is her first career first-team accolade. The libero led the conference for much of the season in digs and is currently second with an average of 5.36 scoops per game. The Long Beach, Calif. native has posted 547 digs this season.

Rounding out the list of Gaucho first-team honorees is Jamie Garbisch. This is the first Big West award for the senior outside hitter who has led UCSB in kills this season with 398 total. Garbisch's 3.90 kills per game ranks third in the conference and she also ranks in the top-ten for service aces with .31 per game. The Anaheim, Calif. native has posted a team-leading 13 double-double performances this season and is second on the team with 276 digs recorded.

Freshman Stephanie Brandt earned the starting setter position at the beginning of the season and since then has posted a team-leading 1,160 assists and 185 service aces. The Irvine, Calif. native averaged 12.34 assists per game, ranking third in conference and is currently second with .39 aces per game.

Joining Brandt on the seven player All-Freshman team is Rebecca Saraceno. The 6'2" outside hitter has started every match for the Gauchos and is fifth on the team with a 2.30 kills per game average. Saraceno has recorded 30 service aces and 85 total blocks, both third amongst the Gauchos in 2006.

UCSB will complete its regular season this Friday, November 24 when they take on Albany and Western Michigan at the Baden Thanksgiving Classic in Long Beach, Calif.