For the Reporter
When she began her freshman season, Kent’s Una Areta was a reserve outside hitter learning the ropes of college volleyball at Pacific University (Forest Grove, Ore.).
After an injury pushed her into the starting lineup, she established herself as one of the top players in the league.
Conference coaches have rewarded Areta’s efforts with selection to the 2013 All-Northwest Conference Volleyball second team. The all-star teams were announced by the conference office on Tuesday.
Areta, a Kent-Meridian graduate, played in all 23 matches and started the final 13 of the season after 2012 All-NWC outside hitter Marie Rewick (sophomore, Honolulu, Hawaii) was lost to an injury. She quickly became one of the top hitters in the conference, leading the Boxers and ranking fifth in the NWC with 309 kills. She also finished fourth in the league with 3.47 kills per set.
Areta also finished fourth for the Boxers with 179 digs and an average of 2.01 digs per set.
Areta’s ledger included nine double-doubles, 10 matches with double-digit kills and five matches with 20 or more kills. Her season was highlighted by a 27-kill, 14-dig performance at Lewis & Clark on Nov. 8.
“I am excited for Una and our volleyball team for the honor,” said Pacific coach Kip Yoshimura. “She had some incredible offensive performances this past season. Defensively and in serve-receive she was much improved as the season progressed. She, along with some of the other ‘young talent,’ make for a great foundation for the Pacific University volleyball program.”
Pacific finished the season with an 8-15 overall record and tied for George Fox for fifth place in the NWC standings with a 7-9 record.
Talk to us
Please share your story tips by emailing editor@kentreporter.com.
To share your opinion for publication, submit a letter through our website https://www.kentreporter.com/submit-letter/. Include your name, address and daytime phone number. (We’ll only publish your name and hometown.) Please keep letters to 300 words or less.
