Women's Volleyball:

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Dec. 10, 2008

IRVINE, Calif. --- Lauren Kellerman (Escondido/HS), Kari Pestolesi (Huntington Beach/Edison HS) and Taryn Robertson (Valencia/HS) were named American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) All-West Region, giving UCI three honorees for the first time in program history.

Kellerman was selected to the all-region first team while Pestolesi and Robertson were named honorable mention. Kellerman, a four-time All-Big West honoree, earned her first nod from the AVCA after posting a 3.32 kill average to rank 148th in the country. Kellerman totaled 349 kills with 259 digs for the Anteaters and collected Big West Player of the Week honors after leading UC Irvine to a 3-1 upset of No. 24 Long Beach State. Kellerman concluded her collegiate career second in the record books with 4,612 career attack attempts, third in kills with 1,584 and sixth with 115 aces. She holds two spots in the season records in attempts at No. 3 (1,435) and No. 6 (1,268), set in 2006 and 2007, respectively.

Pestolesi received her second consecutive AVCA honorable mention award after leading UC Irvine in kills with 373 and service aces with 35. The sophomore ended the season third in the Big West in kills and aces and was just one of two outside hitters to claim a spot in the dig category at No. 7. Pestolesi ranked 81st in the country in kills per set and 122nd in ace average. She was voted Big West Co-Player of the Week after pacing the Anteaters to their final two wins, including a 3-1 victory over Cal Poly on the final day to secure second place in the conference. After two seasons Pestolesi is already 11th in career attempts with 2,315.

Robertson received her first AVCA recognition after ranking 24th in the country with a conference-leading 11.08 assist average. The setter was also the team's top blocker at 73 total blocks and was the lone Anteater to reach double-digits in solo blocks with 11. This season Robertson handed out 1,175 for the seventh-best mark in the UCI season records and now has amassed 3,756 to sit second in the program's career annals. The junior also added 111 kills and finished fourth on the team with 221 digs and 13 service winners.

UC Irvine posted a 17-12 overall record and 12-4 mark in the Big West to match its best conference finish of second place. The team went 10-2 in their final 12 matches to conclude the season with four Anteaters earning all-conference honors.

back to Anteaters Women's Volleyball home