MALIBU, Calif. ­Â— Six different Pepperdine women’s volleyball players were honored today when the West Coast Conference announced its postseason awards, led by senior outside hitter Julie Rubenstein’s third straight appearance on the All-WCC first team.

 

The Waves picked up two major awards as middle blocker Kim Hill (Portland, Ore./Portland Christian HS) was named the WCC Freshman of the Year and freshman libero Stevi Robinson (Hermosa Beach, Calif./Mira Costa HS) was selected as the WCC Defensive Player of the Year.

 

Hill, Robinson and outside hitter Lilla Frederick (Huntington Beach, Calif./Cornelia Connelly HS) earned spots on the All-Freshman squad.

 

Finally, four Waves picked up All-WCC honorable mention honors: Hill, Robinson, junior setter Kiah Fiers (Palos Verdes Estates, Calif./Peninsula HS) and junior outside hitter Rachel Lumsden (Brea, Calif./Brea Olinda HS).

 

Rubenstein (Camarillo, Calif./Oaks Christian HS) earned All-WCC honors in each of her four seasons, as she was honorable mention as a freshman. Hill and Robinson were the only players in the WCC to earn three different awards this year. This is Fiers’ third All-WCC selection as she was honorable mention in 2006 and first team in 2007. Lumsden also earned honorable mention notice in 2006.

 

Rubenstein has a team-best 4.36 kills per set to go with 2.43 digs, 0.68 blocks and 0.33 aces with a .313 hitting percentage. Hill is hitting .358 with averages of 2.15 kills and 1.12 blocks. Robinson is leading the conference with 4.79 digs.

 

Pepperdine’s 10 awards overall were the most of any WCC school. The Waves ended the regular season with a 20-7 record and are ranked #23 in the Bison/AVCA national poll.

 

The Waves will wait until this Sunday (Nov. 30) to learn their postseason fate, as that’s when the NCAA Tournament field will be announced live on ESPNU at 7 p.m.

 

Pepperdine has a very strong case to make the field as an at-large squad after finishing in a tie for fourth place in the West Coast Conference. The Waves were ranked #27 in the most recently released official RPI, and they have no “bad” losses, as all seven of their defeats came against teams either nationally ranked or receiving votes in this week’s Bison/AVCA poll.